Determinants of ethics

Determinants of ethics

These are the factors in human behaviour that determine whether it is good or bad. There are three such determinants of ethics, namely the object, the end, and the circumstances. Object means what the free will chooses to do in thought, word, or deed or chooses not to do. By end is meant the purpose for which the act is willed, which may be the act itself (as one of loving God) or some other purpose for which a person acts (as reading to learn). In either case, the end is the motive or the reason why an action is performed. By circumstances are meant all the Elements that surround a human action and affect its morality without belonging to its essence. Some circumstances so affect the morals of an action as to change its species. Other circumstances change the extent of kindness or badness of an act. In bad acts they are called aggravating circumstances. To be ethically good, a human act must agree with the norm of morality on all three counts; in its nature, its motive, and its circumstances. Departure from any of these makes the action morally wrong.

Object of a Human Action

The object of an action is the first part of any action in a morality assessment. The object of any action is its essence. It is that which makes an action be what it is and not something else. Every action has an object. The object distinguishes the act from every other act. That object can be something good, bad or indifferent—that is, neither good nor bad. Lying and telling the truth are examples of two actions that are distinguished from each other according to moral criteria. The following principles apply to the object of every action.

An action whose object is bad by its very nature will remain bad and nothing can improve it—neither circumstances, nor purpose, nor intention. A lie, defined as speaking contrary to what is in the speakers mind, remains a lie despite the purpose or circumstance involved. Purpose and circumstance do not make it anything (another object) except a lie.
An action that is good may become bad because of circumstances or purpose. For example, telling the truth is a good act. By telling the truth, when silence would suffice, to destroy another person’s good name or character makes the good act of telling the truth a morally bad act because of the speaker’s purpose or intention.
An action that is indifferent (neither good nor bad) may become good or bad because of circumstances or purpose. Walking may be an indifferent act. But walking into a store to steal becomes a morally evil action because of the purpose.

Circumstances of a Human Action

Circumstances are those qualities that make an abstract act concrete and individual. Circumstances include such things as the act being done at a particular time, in a particular place, by a particular agent, in a particular manner. Moral circumstances, not physical, are the criteria for assessing the goodness or badness of a human action.9 Moral circumstances may increase the goodness or badness of a human action. To strike another person in self-defense is one thing; to strike another without any provocation or justification is another matter.

Some moral circumstances are aggravating when they increase the goodness or badness of an action. Thus, stealing from a homeless person is an aggravating circumstance that increases the badness of an already bad act. Circumstances are extenuating when they decrease the amount of badness of an action. For example, to steal 10 rs. from the Chase Manhattan Bank is not as bad as stealing 10 rs. from a homeless person, but it is still an evil act. Moral circumstances are specifying when they make an indifferent act become good or bad, or when they give a new kind of goodness or badness to an action. For example, taking Money from a till is an indifferent act. If the money belongs to the taker, the act is all right. But if the money belongs to another person, it is an evil, immoral act.

Some philosophers maintain that circumstances are the sole criterion for judging the morality of a human action. Joseph Fletcher, in particular, reflected this position.10 To a certain extent, subscribers to the teleological theory (interpretivists) may appear to focus more closely on the circumstances of an action, to the extent that they strive to understand or give meaning to a human action. However, interpretivists need not limit their consideration of morality to mere circumstances; they also can, as stated above, consider the nature of the action and its purpose.

The most difficult problem in situation ethics is that it often makes morality subjective and relative. There is nothing to prevent two persons in same circumstances from giving two diametrically opposite meanings to the same action. This implies that an action that is morally good for one person is morally evil for another. Although interpretivists do subscribe to human reason as an interpreter of human actions, the person who focuses on the situation alone cannot be sure of the moralitiy of at least some actions.

The Purpose of a Human Action

The end of a human action is the purpose the person had in mind while doing the act. It is the intention. People can have only one purpose or have a variety of purposes in doing a particular act.11 We can deduce certain principles based on the purpose in mind when performing the act.

An action that is indifferent because of its object may become good or bad because of the purpose. For example, jogging in itself is an indifferent act. When done to maintain good Health, it becomes a good act. When done to arrive at a place where the person commits theft or murder, it becomes an immoral action.
An action that is good because of its object may become more good or less good or even bad because of the purpose. For example, to give a donation to a homeless person is a good action. If you give the donation just to get rid of the person, it is still a good action, but not as good as in the first case. If you give the donation to lure the homeless person into doing something evil or immoral for you, the donation becomes an immoral act.
An action that is evil by its object may become more wrong or perhaps less wrong, but never good by its purpose. For instance, telling a lie is morally wrong. But telling a lie to defame another person is more wrong. Telling a lie “to get out of trouble” or to protect the interests of another person is still lying and still wrong, but less wrong because of the purpose. A good end does not justify a bad means.

Ethics are the moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior. They are the standards of right and wrong that guide our actions. Ethics can be based on a variety of factors, including culture, religion, personal values, Education, experience, Personality, and situational factors.

Culture is one of the most important determinants of ethics. The values and beliefs of a particular culture can have a strong influence on the ethics of its members. For example, in some cultures, it is considered ethical to take bribes, while in others it is considered unethical.

Religion can also play a role in shaping ethical beliefs. For example, some religions teach that it is wrong to kill, while others teach that it is sometimes justified in certain circumstances.

Personal values are another important determinant of ethics. A person’s individual values can influence their ethics. For example, someone who values honesty may be more likely to tell the truth, even when it is difficult.

Education can also play a role in shaping ethical beliefs. People who are educated about ethics are more likely to be aware of ethical issues and to make ethical decisions.

Experience can also influence a person’s ethics. For example, someone who has been the victim of a crime may be more likely to believe that it is wrong to commit crimes.

Personality can also play a role in a person’s ethics. For example, people who are high in agreeableness are more likely to be cooperative and to follow rules, while people who are high in conscientiousness are more likely to be careful and to plan ahead.

Situational factors can also influence a person’s ethics. For example, someone who is under pressure to succeed may be more likely to make unethical decisions.

It is important to note that the determinants of ethics are not always clear-cut. In some cases, there may be competing factors that influence a person’s ethical beliefs or behaviors. For example, a person who values honesty may also value loyalty to their friends. In this case, they may be faced with a difficult decision if their friends ask them to do something that they know is wrong.

Ultimately, each individual must decide for themselves what they believe is ethical. However, it is important to be aware of the factors that can influence ethical beliefs and behaviors. By understanding these factors, we can make more informed decisions about our own ethical choices.

Here are some examples of how the determinants of ethics can play out in real life:

A person who grew up in a culture where bribery is common may be more likely to offer or accept bribes, even if they know that it is wrong.
A person who is religious may be more likely to follow the Ethical Teachings of their religion, even if those teachings conflict with the law or with the ethics of the majority culture.
A person who values honesty may be more likely to tell the truth, even when it is difficult or inconvenient.
A person who has been educated about ethics may be more likely to recognize ethical issues and to make ethical decisions.
A person who has had negative experiences with crime may be more likely to believe that it is wrong to commit crimes.
A person who is high in agreeableness may be more likely to cooperate with others and to follow rules, even when those rules are not in their own best interests.
A person who is high in conscientiousness may be more likely to be careful and to plan ahead, even when those actions are not necessary or required.
A person who is under pressure to succeed may be more likely to make unethical decisions, such as cheating or stealing.

It is important to note that these are just a few examples of how the determinants of ethics can play out in real life. There are many other factors that can influence a person’s ethical beliefs and behaviors. It is also important to remember that each individual is unique and that there is no one right way to be ethical.

What is ethics?

Ethics is the study of morality and the principles that govern our behavior. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions of right and wrong, good and evil, and Justice.

What are the different types of ethics?

There are many different types of ethics, but some of the most common include:

Deontological ethics is based on the idea that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences.
Consequentialist ethics is based on the idea that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences.
Virtue ethics is based on the idea that the morality of an action is determined by the character of the person who performs it.
Practical ethics is concerned with the application of ethical principles to real-world problems.

What are some ethical dilemmas?

Some common ethical dilemmas include:

The trolley problem is a thought experiment in which a person must decide whether to sacrifice one person to save five people.
The prisoner’s dilemma is a game theory scenario in which two prisoners must decide whether to cooperate with each other or betray each other.
The Heinz dilemma is a thought experiment in which a man must decide whether to steal a drug to save his wife’s life.

What are some ethical theories?

Some common ethical theories include:

Kantianism is a deontological theory that holds that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences.
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that holds that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences.
Virtue ethics is a theory that holds that the morality of an action is determined by the character of the person who performs it.
Existentialism is a theory that holds that individuals are free to create their own values and morality.

What are some ethical principles?

Some common ethical principles include:

Autonomy is the principle that individuals have the right to make their own decisions.
Beneficence is the principle that we should act in ways that benefit others.
Non-maleficence is the principle that we should avoid harming others.
Justice is the principle that we should treat others fairly.
Fidelity is the principle that we should keep our promises.
Veracity is the principle that we should tell the truth.

What are some ethical codes?

Some common ethical codes include:

The Hippocratic Oath is a Code of ethics for physicians.
The Code of Hammurabi is a code of law from ancient Babylonia.
The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral principles that play an important role in Judaism and Christianity.
The Nuremberg Code is a set of ethical principles for human experimentation.
The Declaration of Helsinki is a set of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects.

What are some ethical issues in business?

Some common ethical issues in business include:

Bribery is the act of offering or giving money or other benefits to someone in order to influence their actions.
Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain.
Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their race, religion, gender, or other personal characteristics.
EMPLOYMENT practices such as child labor, sweatshop labor, and discrimination are also ethical issues in business.
Environmental issues such as pollution, Climate change, and deforestation are also ethical issues in business.
Intellectual Property Rights such as copyrights, trademarks, and patents are also ethical issues in business.
Marketing practices such as false advertising, deceptive pricing, and predatory pricing are also ethical issues in business.
Social responsibility is the idea that businesses should be accountable for their impact on Society.

What are some ethical issues in technology?

Some common ethical issues in technology include:

Privacy is the right to be free from intrusion into one’s personal life.
Security is the protection of information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence is the study of the moral implications of artificial intelligence.
Ethics of Robotics is the study of the moral implications of robots.
Ethics of Nanotechnology is the study of the moral implications of nanotechnology.
Ethics of Biotechnology is the study of the moral implications of biotechnology.
**Ethics of Genetic engineering

Which of the following is not a determinant of ethics?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is an example of a cultural determinant of ethics?
(A) The belief that it is wrong to steal
(B) The belief that it is wrong to kill
(C) The belief that it is wrong to lie
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is an example of a religious determinant of ethics?
(A) The belief that it is wrong to steal
(B) The belief that it is wrong to kill
(C) The belief that it is wrong to lie
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is an example of a personal value that can influence ethics?
(A) Honesty
(B) Integrity
(C) Respect
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is an example of a legal determinant of ethics?
(A) The law against murder
(B) The law against theft
(C) The law against fraud
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is the most important determinant of ethics?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the least important determinant of ethics?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the most likely to change over time?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the least likely to change over time?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the most likely to vary from person to person?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the least likely to vary from person to person?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the most likely to be influenced by the Environment in which a person lives?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the least likely to be influenced by the environment in which a person lives?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the most likely to be influenced by a person’s upbringing?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law
Which of the following is the least likely to be influenced by a person’s upbringing?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The law