Related questions:
v Ethics and morality. Discuss.
INTRODUCTION
Considering the way most writers especially in these contemporary times make use of the words “ethics” and “morality”, one would be tempted to think that they both mean the same thing. Although, both concepts may have been confused as the same, they are actually different. This write-up aims at clarifying both concepts as regarding their meaning and their relationship with one another.
THE PURPOSE OF ETHICS
An understanding of the purpose of Ethics would give a good exposition as to the connection between ethics and morality. Accordingly, the main purpose of ethics as a discipline is to evaluate and justify the principles of morality and then guide human conduct alongside them.
WHAT IS MORALITY
Morality simply refers to stipulated rules and codes guiding human conduct. It thus asserts the rightness and wrongness of human behaviour and actions. The term “morality” is etymologically derived from the Greek words “Moralia”- meaning “morals” and “Mos”-meaning “conduct”.
WHAT IS ETHICS
Ethics has been basically defined as the normative science of human conduct. As a major branch of philosophy, it prescribes the criteria for moral living. Its etymology is the Greek word “ethos” which means “custom”. Due to the fact that certain actions which have been seen as good or bad may not be reasonably applied so, in particular situations; ethics aims at instituting criteria by which such acts and moral decisions could be justified and certified.
DISTINCTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ETHICS AND MORALITY
Some of the ways in which ethics and morality relate, as well as differ is analysed as follows;
Morality is the implementation of value systems as regards virtue or vice. Thus, virtuous moral acts like love, obedience to authority, kindness, and philanthropy and so on are encouraged in human society and, vicious acts like murder, lying, rape, bestiality and the likes are discouraged. On the other hand, ethics asserts the justification of morality based on some particular criteria via its theories. A concern of ethics could be, “should an oppressive authority be obeyed” or “on what basis could we justify such authority?
Morality is based on the rational nature of man and his latent ability to recognize those acts which are virtuous and those which are bad via right reason or common sense. Thus, morality aims at telling “what” actions are good and which are vicious. On the other hand, ethics is based on a systematic reflective process that is deep and critical in enquiry, for the sake of just acts. Thus, ethics asks “why” certain actions should be perpetuated. It exposes situations in which some particular acts that are objectively seen as good could become bad, and vice versa.
Morality is the basis and the central concern of Ethics as a discipline. Hence, without ethics there would be no morality, or even if there will, it would be abused and misused. On the other hand, Ethics, even though it mainly discusses morality, there are other issues with which it is concerned like politics, law etc. Thus, aside morality, it does other things.
JORAM GRAFF HABER”S ANALYSIS
In J. G. Haber’s book, “Ethics for today and tomorrow”, a utilitarian principle of ethical application is presented. This would give us a clearer picture of what ethics does with morality.
In summary, a story is been told in the book of how a man on sea has only one life saver for one person. It happened that he came across two people needing rescue, of which one is a known scientist, on the verge of discovering a cure for cancer. The possibility that he has not written his findings down implies the great importance that life of the scientist has, to humanity. However, the other man is a brother to the potential rescuer even though his life does not have such great significance to humanity, which that of the scientist has. Thus, the dilemma of who to save then confronts the rescuer.
Consequently, if the rescuer is to follow “morality” which says “...be your brother’s keeper”, he would without thought save his brother. But, if he is to apply the ethical principle of utilitarianism which asserts “...the greatest happiness for the greatest number”; then he would have to save the scientist and leave his brother behind. Obviously, this act may not be easy for him but that is the domain of ethics; to justify conditions in which some particular moral principles should be applied. This is an example of what ethics does with morality.
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CONCLUSION
The etymological closeness and conceptual similarity is what is quite responsible for the confusion of ethics and morality together by some people. But, on a closer look at the context and notion of both terms, one would see the apparent difference, even though they share very unique similarities. However, on a conclusive note, it is relevant to understand that ethics and morality are very much inseparable.
