Ethics originated from the Greek word "ethos," meaning "way of living." It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the study how people behave especially in social situations. It is founded on logical reasons behind our moral choices. Ethics is a set of firmly established principles that determine the distinction between morally correct and incorrect actions. It revolves around concepts such as human rights, responsibilities, societal welfare, fairness, justice, and certain virtues. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES: Beneficence is an ethical principle which focuses on taking actions that will benefit or “do good” to other people. It can be classified as kindness, charity, compassion, or mercy towards other people. Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of avoiding causing intentional harm toward another human being. The principle asserts that causing harm to others, even for the greater good, is unacceptable. Autonomy refers to the ethical principle that acknowledges people’s right to make choices for themselves based on their values and beliefs. Justice is an ethical principle that emphasizes on the significance of equal treatment for all individuals, irrespective of their social status or position. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that places the ethical value of an action based on its consequences. In utilitarianism, moral judgments and actions are determined by their ability to produce the most favorable outcomes while immoral decisions and actions are characterized by their tendency to yield unpleasant consequences. Deontology is an ethical theory that states that adherence to a universally accepted set of rules determines what is morally right or wrong. Actions that follow the developed set of rules can be seen as moral, but actions that go against them is considered immoral. The rights-based ethical theory refers to the standards set for evaluating the rightness or wrongness of an action or decision based on how it respects a person's rights. Any actions or decisions that violates the rights of an individual is considered an immoral act. Virtue-based ethics pertains to an ethical theory in which the determination of moral correctness is based on an examination of the qualities and attributes associated with a morally upright and dignified individual. Actions that adhere to the qualities determined by society are considered moral acts, while actions that do not adhere to the said qualities are considered immoral.

1. ETHICS AND
ETHICAL THEORIES
Lesson 1 - Social and Professional Issues in IT
MR. ROWELL L. MARQUINA
IT Instructor, PUP Biñan

2. FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL ANALYSIS
WHAT IS
ETHICS?

3. WHAT IS ETHICS?
Raymond Baumhart, a sociologist, surveyed
about people’s beliefs of what ethics is, and
here are the results:
▪ "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell
me is right or wrong."
▪ "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs."
▪ "Being ethical is doing what the law
requires."
▪ "Ethics consists of the standards of
behavior our society accepts."
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/giving/images/Baumhart%20-%20Raymond%20C%20-%20203w%20x%20250h.jpg
Reference: . "11. Ethics and Problem Solving." 2021, https://core.ac.uk/download/524531741.pdf.

4. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND FEELINGS
Feelings can sometimes provide us
with answers to ethical dilemma as
we always we want to "do the right
thing," but feelings can also stop us
from behaving ethically especially
when confronted with our fears or
conflicting interest.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/you-kisses-still-give-me-butterflies-royalty-free-image-1628014130.jpg

5. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND FEELINGS
The relationship with or for
whomever you are performing or
dedicating an action may impact
your ethical judgements.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/you-kisses-still-give-me-butterflies-royalty-free-image-1628014130.jpg

6. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND RELIGION
Religion can serve as a foundational
source for ethical principles, but the
idea of right and wrong is confined
to the type of religion a person
belongs to. If one accepts this
premise as true, what religion should
we base our ethics on?
IMAGE SOURCE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Religious_syms_bw.svg/800px-Religious_syms_bw.svg.png

7. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND RELIGION
What is your view on the difference
between the standards set by religion
for men and women?
IMAGE SOURCE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Religious_syms_bw.svg/800px-Religious_syms_bw.svg.png

8. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND LAWS
The law can provide ethical foundations
for its citizens, but like feelings, it is also
subjected to specific commitments and
objectives. Also, each country has its
own set of laws based on its context,
culture, and values system, and just like
religion, if we believe that law should be
the foundation of ethics, then whose
country’s law are we going to follow?
IMAGE SOURCE: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/law-and-order

9. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND LAWS
What is your opinion about countries
where abortion is legal and a benefit
of the healthcare system?
IMAGE SOURCE: https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1427368129/vector/fetus-baby-asks-for-help-is-removed-from-the-womb-with-gynecological-forceps-
concept.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=194t4jAeoB_C6_GEinxPVOZKJYJ0HQ2L4WyhSLYMzlY=

10. WHAT IS ETHICS?
IMAGE SOURCE: https://img.freepik.com/premium-vector/happy-young-woman-surrounded-by-hands-with-thumbs-up-applauding_113065-772.jpg
Social acceptance is based on the values
system and benefit of society. Because of
this reason, social acceptance cannot be
the basis of ethics because it can be
different in each community. It can also
continuously change because of the
generation of people living in the society.
ETHICS AND SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

11. WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS AND SOCIAL
ACCEPTANCE
What is your opinion about
societies where arranged
marriage is accepted as a
cultural practice in India?
IMAGE SOURCE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4064/4619130640_e203a0fc4d.jpg

12. WHAT IS ETHICS?
Ethics originated from the Greek
word "ethos," meaning "way of
living." It is a branch of
philosophy that deals with the
study how people behave
especially in social situations.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.scu.edu/media/mobi/blog-variants/Ethics-Blog-760x550-760x550.png
It is founded on logical reasons
behind our moral choices.

13. WHAT IS ETHICS?
Ethics is a set of firmly
established principles that
determine the distinction
between morally correct and
incorrect actions.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.scu.edu/media/mobi/blog-variants/Ethics-Blog-760x550-760x550.png
It revolves around concepts
such as human rights,
responsibilities, societal
welfare, fairness, justice, and
certain virtues.

14. FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL ANALYSIS
HISTORY OF
ETHICS

15. ANCIENT LITERATURES
Ancient literary works, such as the Epic of
Gilgamesh, Homer's Iliad, and the Icelandic
Eddas, provide insights into the ideals of
exemplary leadership, whereby courage and
justice are regarded as paramount
characteristics. Individuals can engage in
morally objectionable actions, provided that
these actions are directed towards combating
malevolent entities or individuals engaging in
deviant behavior..
IMAGE SOURCE: https://cdn.thecollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-of-gilgamesh-fights-humbaba-wael-tarabieh.jpg

16. SOCRATES
The Socratic Method, attributed to Socrates,
entails the establishment of moral truths through
the process of questioning the views of others
rather than relying on direct explanations. It
presented a contrasting viewpoint to the
Sophists, who believed they possessed inherent
knowledge of concepts such as justice, piety,
temperance, and law. The Socratic method is a
dialectical approach to discourse wherein
participants engage in a structured exchange of
questions and answers.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://iep.utm.edu/wp-content/media/Socrates2.png

17. SOCRATES
Socrates believed imposed the saying “an
unexamined life is not worth living,”. Socrates
presupposes reason is essential for the good life.
▪ One's true happiness is promoted by doing
what is right.
▪ When your true purpose is served, you are
achieving happiness. Happiness is evident
only in terms of a long-term effect on the
soul.
▪ Human action aims toward the good in
accordance with purpose in nature
IMAGE SOURCE: https://iep.utm.edu/wp-content/media/Socrates2.png

18. PLATO
Plato believes that human behavior is
influenced by three primary sources:
desire, emotion, and knowledge.
According to Plato, these three parts
of our souls should be balanced to
make good decisions and moral
choices. Letting one take too much
control of our minds is not good for us
and leads to bad decisions.
IMAGE SOURCE:
https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/sites/default/files/styles/tall_rectangle_custom_user_small_2x/public/images/contributor/plato_360x450.jpg?itok=oC0U0lCq&timestamp=141
4179137

19. ARISTOTLE
In his Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle
stated that a good person demonstrates
sound reasoning and excellent
character. A person with good character
knows what the right thing to do is and
feels strongly about it. Also, Aristotle
emphasized that it is imperative to
recognize that virtues and success are
naturally linked.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Aristotle_Altemps_Inv8575.jpg/640px-Aristotle_Altemps_Inv8575.jpg

20. HINDUISM
The Epic of Mahabharata serves as the
fundamental basis of Hinduism,
encompassing the core principle of
dharma. Within this epic, the notion of
dharma is expounded upon,
representing a comprehensive
understanding of natural law and the
obligatory responsibilities necessary for
the preservation of the inherent cosmic
harmony.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91uIIc5KsOS._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

21. GAUTAMA BUDDHA
Gautama Buddha’s four noble truths:
▪ duhka, the suffering that is part of life.
▪ all human suffering is caused by desire
that cannot be satisfied,
▪ only be renouncing the desire could
the suffering be ended,
▪ desire could only be relinquished by
following Noble Eightfold Path
IMAGE SOURCE: https://images-bonnier.imgix.net/files/his/production/2020/10/28102620/01_buddha_statue_parallax.jpg?auto=compress,format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-
x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ar=1:2&w=1074&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint

22. GAUTAMA BUDDHA
The Eightfold Path consists of
eight practices:
▪ right view
▪ right resolve
▪ right speech
▪ right conduct
▪ right livelihood
▪ right effort
▪ right mindfulness
▪ right meditation
IMAGE SOURCE: https://images-bonnier.imgix.net/files/his/production/2020/10/28102620/01_buddha_statue_parallax.jpg?auto=compress,format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-
x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ar=1:2&w=1074&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint

23. CONFUCIUS
Confucius primarily emphasized ethical
philosophy. Particularly preoccupied with
the establishment of a harmonious
society, he postulated that two human
qualities—ren and li.
▪ ren – humaneness
▪ li – acceptance of society
The golden rule of Confucianism is “Do
not do unto others what you would not
want others to do unto you.”
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DENISE-BOSSARTE-UNSPLASH.jpg

24. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
St. Thomas Aquinas formulated a
comprehensive framework known as
natural law theory, which integrated
principles from both Biblical teachings
and Aristotelian ethics. This theory
posits that the moral standards of
human conduct are derived from the
inherent nature of individuals.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://cdn.britannica.com/33/212033-050-91EBF6C3/St-Thomas-Aquinas-poplar-tempera-Demidoff-Altarpiece.jpg

25. IMMANUEL KANT
Immanuel Kant posited the Kantian Ethics
which stated that moral decisions are
based on the idea of duty. Kant said that
people must follow a Categorical
Imperative, which is a moral order that has
an inherent duty to be followed. Whatever
you do should be done out of a sense of
duty, because that gives it moral value.
IMAGE SOURCEhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Kant_gemaelde_3.jpg

26. JEREMY BENTHAM AND
JOHN STUART MILL
Jeremy Bentham and John
Stuart Mill were proponents of
Utilitarianism, a philosophical
perspective that posits that
morally correct behaviors are
those that are expected to yield
the highest level of overall
happiness for the largest
possible group of individuals.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://theoriesandanalysisofmediaethics.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/jj.jpg

27. 20TH CENTURY
At the beginning of the 20th century, there
were many discussions and debates in the
area of metaethics, which is the
philosophical study of what ethics is all
about.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/FourExistentialPrecursors.jpg/220px-FourExistentialPrecursors.jpg
A range of points of view was presented,
including moral realism, which says that
moral truths are based on objective
realities that are separate from human
knowledge.

28. 20TH CENTURY
Evolutionary ethics, was also
presented which says that moral
behavior is the result of learned
patterns of behavior that have
helped evolution work well.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/FourExistentialPrecursors.jpg/220px-FourExistentialPrecursors.jpg

29. FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL ANALYSIS
ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES

30. BENEFICENCE
Beneficence is an ethical
principle which focuses on
taking actions that will benefit
or “do good” to other people.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.1vibrantlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/young-woman-giving-money-to-homeless-beggar-man-sitting-in-city-.jpg
It can be classified as kindness,
charity, compassion, or mercy
towards other people.

31. NONMALEFICENCE
Nonmaleficence is the ethical
principle of avoiding causing
intentional harm toward
another human being.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/7196877808_0e5d10d0f6_h.jpg
The principle asserts that
causing harm to others, even for
the greater good, is
unacceptable.

32. AUTONOMY
Autonomy refers to the
ethical principle that
acknowledges people’s
right to make choices for
themselves based on their
values and beliefs.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://st4.depositphotos.com/12985886/39157/i/450/depositphotos_391577690-stock-photo-cheerful-woman-outstretched-hands-sitting.jpg

33. JUSTICE
Justice is an ethical
principle that emphasizes
on the significance of equal
treatment for all individuals,
irrespective of their social
status or position.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/diverse-group-of-people.jpg

34. FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL ANALYSIS
ETHICAL
THEORIES

35. UTILITARIANISM
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that
places the ethical value of an action
based on its consequences.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Prison-Jail-051118.jpg
In utilitarianism, moral judgments and
actions are determined by their ability to
produce the most favorable outcomes
while immoral decisions and actions are
characterized by their tendency to yield
unpleasant consequences.

36. DEONTOLOGY
Deontology is an ethical theory that
states that adherence to a universally
accepted set of rules determines what
is morally right or wrong.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://anthropology365.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/cain-killing-abel-unknown-19th-century.jpg
Actions that follow the developed set of
rules can be seen as moral, but actions
that go against them is considered
immoral.

37. RIGHTS-BASED ETHICS
The rights-based ethical theory refers
to the standards set for evaluating the
rightness or wrongness of an action or
decision based on how it respects a
person's rights.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-12/UNDP_ZWE_HumanRightsDay_December2022_mia_byo_02%20%281%20of%201%29.JPG
Any actions or decisions that
violates the rights of an individual
is considered an immoral act.

38. RIGHTS-BASED
Examples of Human Rights:
▪ the right to life
▪ the right to liberty
▪ the right to vote and be elected
▪ the right to religion
▪ the right to freedom of expression
▪ the right to travel
▪ the right to work
▪ the right to marry
▪ the right to an education
▪ the right to be treated as equally
▪ the right to personal privacy
▪ the right to own property
IMAGE SOURCE: https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/02/15/91/97/1000_F_215919749_zApBxlnNJBrCf5UplF16u7EjYiVNTIxJ.jpg
RIGHTS-BASED ETHICS

39. VIRTUE-BASED ETHICS
Virtue-based ethics pertains to an ethical
theory in which the determination of moral
correctness is based on an examination of
the qualities and attributes associated with
a morally upright and dignified individual.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D12AQEgtJOH4TpigQ/article-cover_image-
shrink_720_1280/0/1603933816005?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=tkegbsGmzCm1Q8eB55JDrFcIYHFHmnuBhsp-0D8entY
Actions that adhere to the qualities
determined by society are considered moral
acts, while actions that do not adhere to the
said qualities are considered immoral.

40. ETHICS AND
ETHICAL THEORIES
MR. ROWELL L. MARQUINA
Professional Lecturer,
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Email Address:
rowell.marquina001@deped.gov.ph
sirrowellmarquina@gmail.com
rmarquina@mitis.edu.ph