Humanity
Ethics
quick ideas about ethics. What is ethics? What are the great ethical principles? How to get the ethical rules right? What is the fundamental principle of ethics?
EspañolA. Ethics
1. What is ethics?
Ethics is the name given to the set of norms that regulate human behavior so that it is correct. That is, ethics is a compilation of rules of good conduct. The science that studies these things is also called ethics.
2. How to get the rules of good conduct right?
There are several ways:
- Following religious principles. Each religion regulates human behavior seeking to please God, and this is a good orientation. In this line stand the three great religions: Islam, Jews and Christian religions (Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics). Of special importance are the moral norms of the Catholic religion, which bring together the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. This knowledge is a great help for acting rightly.
- Following philosophical theories. The great philosophies have devoted abundant effort to expressing ethical orientations. Thus, those who follow Marxism, relativism or laicism have their ethical thinking very regulated.
- Heeding one's own conscience and the counsel of good people. This way of acting can be combined with the previous systems, and like them it will be more or less valid according to whether it gets the truth right — what in truth is of benefit to man.
3. Why are there behavioral rules?
There are ethical rules because man is of a certain nature and not of others, so that there are actions that benefit him and acts that harm him. For example, man is subject to physical laws and cannot fly or pass through walls. Likewise, man is subject to biological laws and is obliged to eat and breathe. In this same way, there are moral behaviors that benefit man and actions he must avoid.
4. Examples of ethical rules?
The best and most famous ethical rules are the Ten Commandments, where God himself showed man what it is beneficial for him to do.
5. Any system for detecting false ethical rules?
One system is to apply that rule to a well-known case. For example, a well-known case is that stealing and murdering are wrong. If an ethical rule leads to results where stealing and murdering are acceptable, then that ethical rule is false.
6. An example?
Let us see whether relativism is correct or not. According to this position, there are no truths — everything depends on the opinions of each person. Applying this relativist ethical criterion, we see that murder can be correct since there are people who think so (terrorists, hired killers...). Therefore relativism is false, and one must be careful when crossing a relativist's path, lest he stab you with a dagger. Other systems for detecting false ethics are mentioned in the principles we now examine.
B. Ethical principles
1. What are ethical principles?
They are fundamental ethical rules from which the rest can be deduced.
2. What are the great ethical principles?
There are several ways of expressing them. They can be said to be these:
- Do good and avoid evil.
- Do not wish for another what you do not wish for yourself.
- Do not act against human nature.
- Human dignity must be promoted.
- Not everything goes.
- Evil must not be done even to achieve a good.
3. What is the fundamental principle of ethics?
The first ethical principle is: "do good and avoid evil." This is something self-evident. Good must be done, evil must be rejected. It is not the same to act rightly as to act wrongly. The other principles and rules are consequences of this one, and they guide in choosing good or help to recognize evil.
4. Which ethical principles help to recognize evil?
All of them help, but especially the 5th and 6th:
- Not everything goes. There are evils and evil must be rejected. If an ethical idea concludes that everything is permissible, that ethical idea is false. For example, the ethical rule "it is good to do whatever I feel like" permits everything and is clearly false, since one sometimes feels like doing evil things such as taking drugs or hitting one's neighbor. Not everything goes.
- It is not correct to act badly, not even to achieve a good. Evil must be rejected, also in this case. Let us see an easy example: it is not correct to murder someone even to achieve the good of ridding myself of his odious character.
5. Which ethical principles help to recognize good?
The six principles cited help to recognize good, but especially principles 2nd, 3rd and 4th:
- Do not wish for another what you do not wish for yourself. The first principle indicates that good must be done. This second principle clarifies that good must be done to all, and to get it right it uses as a guide the good that one wishes for oneself. It is a great ethical principle. It is understood that one wishes good for oneself.
- Do not act against human nature. This principle is a consequence of the first two. Good must be done and evil avoided, therefore one must not act against the human way of being. (See natural law.)
- Human dignity must be promoted. Another consequence of the first two principles. Whoever promotes human dignity does a good to human beings and therefore acts correctly. It is another ethical principle that helps greatly in achieving correct behavior.
6. What is the greatest good that can be sought?
The greatest possible good is drawing close to God, who is the infinite Good. This is important, since according to the first principle good must be done, and with greater urgency the greater that good is. So the main thing man must do is draw close to God, please him, love him.
7. What is the greatest good that can be wished for one's neighbor?
It coincides with the greatest good for oneself. Hence the greatest act of charity is the apostolate: striving to bring others close to God.
8. What is the best summary of ethical rules?
The best ethical rule is this: "You shall love God above all things, and your neighbor as yourself." To love means to desire the good, so this rule of love seeks the greatest good for oneself, gets right the good for others, and fulfills the six principles cited.