Ethics and Accountability
Hilario M. Olivo Jr.
Ethics and accountability 1. Explain the difference between ethics and morality.
On the basis of etymology, there is no difference between ethics and morality. On one hand, ethics comes from the Greek word ethos meaning “custom”. For the purpose of knowing, we can define ethics as the “study of the methods and principles used to distinguished rood from bad, [and] right from wrong action” (Articulo, 2003). On the other hand, morality comes from a Latin word mos or moris, which also means custom. It is usually understood as a rule of human action (conduct), which is established through the repetition of acts and it is observed or exercised as a rule of society which becomes generally obligatory and binding to all (Babor, 2006). In this regards, ethic is also called moral philosophy.
There is of course an undeniably affinity of ethics with moral philosophy and vice versa, based on their etymological construction. However, there is a slight difference between the two. This difference can be traced, if not asserted, by way of applying the concept of theory and practice in ethics (ibid).
Ethics, as a normative philosophical science, is a theoretical science of good and bad or right and wrong actions. So, ethics provides the principles on the morality of human acts; it equips the man with a (theoretical) knowledge of the morality of human acts (Babor, 2006). We know, however, that knowing is different from doing. It does not necessarily follow that man does what he knows. This means that ethics does not actually guarantee that man will be moral or good. One can only become moral (or good human person) when one applied ethics. In other words, when one does the theories of ethics one actually performs the theory, meaning one is actually doing ethics. This is morality: the praxis of the theory (Ethics) (ibid). If morality, therefore, is the practice of ethics, morality, then, should be properly called applied ethics.
While ethics (as
Ethics and accountability 1. Explain the difference between ethics and morality.
On the basis of etymology, there is no difference between ethics and morality. On one hand, ethics comes from the Greek word ethos meaning “custom”. For the purpose of knowing, we can define ethics as the “study of the methods and principles used to distinguished rood from bad, [and] right from wrong action” (Articulo, 2003). On the other hand, morality comes from a Latin word mos or moris, which also means custom. It is usually understood as a rule of human action (conduct), which is established through the repetition of acts and it is observed or exercised as a rule of society which becomes generally obligatory and binding to all (Babor, 2006). In this regards, ethic is also called moral philosophy.
There is of course an undeniably affinity of ethics with moral philosophy and vice versa, based on their etymological construction. However, there is a slight difference between the two. This difference can be traced, if not asserted, by way of applying the concept of theory and practice in ethics (ibid).
Ethics, as a normative philosophical science, is a theoretical science of good and bad or right and wrong actions. So, ethics provides the principles on the morality of human acts; it equips the man with a (theoretical) knowledge of the morality of human acts (Babor, 2006). We know, however, that knowing is different from doing. It does not necessarily follow that man does what he knows. This means that ethics does not actually guarantee that man will be moral or good. One can only become moral (or good human person) when one applied ethics. In other words, when one does the theories of ethics one actually performs the theory, meaning one is actually doing ethics. This is morality: the praxis of the theory (Ethics) (ibid). If morality, therefore, is the practice of ethics, morality, then, should be properly called applied ethics.
While ethics (as
References: Agapay, R. B. (2001). Ethics and the Filipino. Mandulyong City: National Bookstore. Articulo, A. C. & Florendo, G. G. (2003). Values and work ethics. Meycauayan City: Trinits Publishing, Inc. Babor, E. R. (2006). Ethics: the philosophical discipline of actions. Manila: Rex Bookstore. Coppens, C. (1895). A brief textbook of moral philosophy. New York: Catholic Book School Company. Quito, E. S. (2008). Fundamentals of ethics. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc. Timbreza, F. T. (2007). Bioethics and moral decisions. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc. -------------------------------------------- [ 2 ]. These conditions will be discussed in answering question number 4.