Ethics, Morality, and Value Theory: Core Principles

Ethics: Definition and Normative Science

Ethics (from the Greek ethos, meaning way of life, custom, or character) is a normative science of law concerning the behavior that people ought to have. It studies the principles of morality and valuable conduct.

Ethics provides the reasons why a behavior is justified or discarded. It is an approach that helps individuals guide and freely choose their own behavior.

Distinguishing Normal (Fact) and Normative (Law)

• Normal (Fact): What often happens; statistically normal behavior.
• Normal (Law) / Normative: What ought to happen, governed by a rule or law.

Behaviors that are statistically normal but violate normative law include: fraud, religious fanaticism, and political abuse.

When human behavior coincides with normative law, one can say they have acted in an ethical manner, according to the specific rules of Ethics.

Human Acts vs. Acts of Man

• Human Acts: The direct subject of ethics (actions performed with freedom and knowledge).
• Acts of Man (Amoral/Immoral Acts): Actions performed without freedom or moral deliberation.

Core Ethical Principles

• Rationale: To act with intelligence and reason.
• Solidarity: Promoting the welfare of all, not just one's own.
• Effectiveness: Good intentions are insufficient; commitment and action are required.
• Avoid Harm to Others: Seek improvement and development. Ethics builds, it does not destroy.
• Principle of Lesser Evil or Side Effect: Accepting actions that cause minimal damage in exchange for achieving a greater good.

Morality, Values, and Axiology

Moral: From the Latin mos or mores, meaning custom, in the sense of rules acquired by habit.

Value: From the Latin valere, meaning "to be strong" or "healthy." A quality appreciated that characterizes and gives meaning to the positive and integral development of an individual and society. Values are felt.

Axiology: The Philosophical Study of Values

Axiology is the philosophical discipline responsible for the study of values.

Axiological criteria often coincide with acting based on one's own conviction. Through this approach, an individual can act calmly and with genuine responsibility because their conscience is not divided; they choose and act according to what they genuinely perceive as valuable and have endorsed.

Ethical Values and Application

Ethical Values: Qualities of human behavior that guide the individual toward virtue.

Ethical Values (Applied): The application of knowledge regarding human conduct values in society for the common good.

Classification of Values

• Material Values: Security
• Aesthetic Values: Beauty
• Scientific Values: Truth
• Moral Values: Goodness (The Well)

Value and Valuation

Aspects of Valuation include: Nature, Subjective Culture, and Perception.

Characteristics of Value: Objectivity and Subjectivity

• Objectivity: Values are objective, meaning they exist in reality whether or not they are known or perceived.
• Subjectivity: Values are created by the subject (the individual).

The subjectivist view holds that values are not inherent realities; they do not exist in themselves, but rather people assign them worth based on the pleasure or displeasure they produce.