Ethics vs Morality: Definitions and Human Discernment
Defining Amoral and Immoral Actions
Amoral: This refers to actions that run outside the power of the moral domain; they do not belong to the realm of morality. Examples include coughing, sneezing, barking, or birds singing. Immoral actions are those that belong to the realm of morality but refer to actions contrary to good and evil, such as stealing, lying, and cheating.
Etymology of Ethics and Morals
Ethics: Of Greek origin, it comes from the word ethos, meaning habit. Moral: This comes from the Latin word mores, meaning customs. The term mores was chosen by the philosopher Cicero (Roman) to translate the Greek word ethos directly into Latin.
The Dual Etymology of Ethics
The word ethos has a dual etymology:
- Written with eta: This has a much broader and richer conceptual meaning, referring to the unique mode of being human. This is evident not only in human actions but in everything that is the fruit of that creative action.
- Written with epsilon: This means custom.
Ethical connotations apply to fields such as medicine, law, engineering, and politics—essentially whatever is the work of man. Regarding the moral nature of man, only humans are described as being "moral."
The Act of Discernment
The act of discernment consists of three parts:
- Knowledge
- Understanding
- Differentiation
Reason and the Human Will
Reason is a faculty of knowledge. In the specific area of morality, it is renamed discernment. Man is not only a thinking being but a being that acts. While reason allows for the understanding of the world, the faculty by which the human individual determines themselves to action is not reason, but the will. It is our will that defines us as free beings. The ability to think and be free are the defining qualities of a moral person.
Understanding Discernment
The word discernment comes from the prefix dis and the root cernere, meaning to sift or separate. The natural ability to discern is present in all individuals regardless of culture, historical period, race, or religion.
Discernment presents itself as a process of constant development over a lifetime. Once discernment is generated, it creates an awareness of the events in question. For example, in Chile, at age 14, individuals have civic-legal responsibilities.