PHILOSOPHY
MEANING, NATURE AND SCOPE OF
ETHICS
Structure:
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Introduction
1.3 Meaning of ethics
1.4 Nature of ethics
1.4.1 Ethics is a normative science
1.4.2 Ethics is a science of character
1.4.3 Ethics is not a practical science
14.4 Ethics is not an art
1.5 Scope of ethics
1.5.1 Moral Sphere
1.5.2 Social Sphere
1.5.3 Religious sphere
1.5.4 Political sphere
1.6 Sum up
1.7 Glossary
1.8 Self-Assessment Questions
1.9 Suggested Reading and References
P a g e 1 | 147
,1.1 Objectives:
• To explain the meaning of ethics
• To discuss how ethics is different from other sciences
• To elaborate the content and problem of moral consciousness
• To explain the role of ethics in the operation of human conduct
1.2 Introduction:
Ethics is the philosophical study of morality. It is one of the main branches of philosophy
which corresponds to the traditional division of philosophy into formal, natural and moral
philosophy. It can be turned into a general study of goodness, right action, applied ethics, meta-
ethics, moral psychology and metaphysics of moral responsibility. The general study of goodness
and right action is the main task of ethics. It has correlatively its substantive question as: how
are we rational beings and what moral principles should govern our choice and pursuit?
1.3 Meaning of Ethics:
The word Ethics is derived from the Greek word ‘ethos’ which means character or
conduct. Ethics is also called as moral philosophy or philosophical thinking about morality. This
morality has been further elaborated as action and behavior which is concerned with ‘good’ or
‘evil’, of particular traditions, groups or individual.
The term ‘moral’ and ‘ethical’ is often used as equivalent to right or good as opposed to
‘immoral’ and ‘unethical’. It doesn’t mean morally right or morally good but it definitely pertains
to morality.
Ethics is that science which is concerned with moral behavior or with right or wrong and
good or evil of human behavior. It propounds those principles which make our conduct moral. It
becomes clear when we explain the derivation of the words right and good. The word right is
derived from Latin word ‘rectus’, which literally means ‘straight’ or ‘according to rule’. It means
that we are concerned with those principles which make our conduct right or straight.
The analysis of the word ‘right’ explains one aspect of ethics. Rules are the means and
whenever there are means, there must be an end or goal as well. If Right is the mean of conduct,
then the question arises that what should be its end. We get the answer to this only when we
analyze the word good which is derived from the German word ‘gut’. Gut means everything
useful or serviceable for some end or purpose. When we say that such and such school is good,
what we actually mean is that it is useful for education of the children. Thus, in our daily life we do
not interpret good as something which is useful for some end rather, we mean by it, the end or
good itself. So, we arrive at the conclusion that ethics is concerned with end or goal of life. As we
know in our life and in the lives of others there are innumerable things that can be regarded as
good. Ethics as a science is not concerned with particular good of the individuals; on the
contrary it is concerned with the supreme goal or the ultimate end with reference to which the
entire life of individual is directed - the ‘Summum Bonum’.
P a g e 2 | 147
,1.4 Nature of Ethics:
Ethics refer to guide what human ought to do, usually in terms of right, obligations,
fairness and specific virtue. It is related to issues of propriety –rightness and wrongness, what is
right in ethical, what is wrong in unethical. Sometimes the word ‘proper’, ‘fair’ and ‘just’ are
also used in the place of right and ethical.
A layman might remark that ‘pleasure is good’ or prosperity of nation is good. The
gravity of the problem arises when we equate pleasure or prosperity with good. It may be agreed
upon that pleasure or prosperity is one of the good things of life. But no man with a sane head on
his shoulder would assert that good is nothing but pleasure or prosperity is the definition of good.
At the time of Plato and Aristotle a good man or ethical man was the one who was a good citizen
So far as the practical aspects of the study of ethics is concerned, it may be urged that if
ethics is a theoretical study of moral problems. Such declaration might not have any practical
value for the man in the street. It is said that experience alone enrich the ethical aspect of human
mind that no amount of theoretical knowledge can possibly raise man’s ethical standard.
Socrates declared long ago that virtue is knowledge. What he was trying to point out that no one
could be moral by accident or without true knowledge of the nature of moral act. In Jaina ethics
which is known to be the practical application of non-violence as the highest virtue, it has been
stated that ‘knowledge must precede compassion’. These statements are themselves enough to
indicate that knowledge of virtue is the foundation of the practice of virtue.
Thus, the theoretical discussion of the ethical problem is the very foundation of its
application in practical life. Western civilization is laying more emphasis on material progress
and kept science apart from the religion and metaphysics from ethics. The dualistic attitude of the
west has disrupted the normal life of the individuals and has brought man to the brink of
committing suicide. In spite of man’s mastery over nature his dream of interplanetary travels is
coming true, but the common man of the world is not at peace with himself. Doubt and fear are
ripe in the world today. The ethical ideals laid down by the Indian sages thousands of years ago
are universal standards that can be followed at all time and are lasting cure for the evils which
have crept into modern society. It is true because these ideals were never regarded as mere
theories of morality but as mode of spiritual life by adopting which individual and society
develops in harmonious manner.
The brief analysis about the nature of ethics clearly shows that it is concerned with human
life and that it judges human behavior from normative point of view. That is why various
definitions of ethics have been formulated by various thinkers. Mackenzie points out that ethics
is a general study of ideal involved in human life. Dewey says that the subject matter of ethics is
to point out what is right and good in conduct. G. E. Moore considers supreme good as subject-
matter of ethics. All of these indicate that the subject matter of ethics includes social behavior of
man. The nature of ethics is incomplete, unless and until we explain nature of normative science.
1.4.1 Ethics is a normative science:
It is mainly concerned with what ought to be done rather than what is the case. It differs
from positive science. A positive science is concerned with facts and explains them by their
P a g e 3 | 147
, causes, but ethics deals with values. It evaluates standard or norms by which we can judge human
action to be right or wrong. Logic and Aesthetics are also considered as normative sciences.
1.4.2 Ethics is a science of Character:
Ethics is different from natural and factual science: it is a normative science. Every science
is concerned with a particular department of knowledge. So, ethics as a science has its own
particular sphere. It deals with certain judgements that we make about human conduct.
In the word of Muirhead “Ethics is not merely concerned with temporal behavior but it
forms the basis of legal decision”. According to Intuitionists ethics is the science of right. Right
is the basic concept. It ought to be obeyed under all circumstances. It is the duty to act in
accordance with laws and wrong to act against them. Man is bound to follow them; this view is
called duty predominating ethics. According to Formalist ethical laws are end in themselves.
They are not meant to some other ideal. Immanuel Kant held that goodwill is the only jewel. He
meant that there is nothing in the world or even out of it that can be called good without
qualification, except good will. The conscience is innate and it acquires the knowledge of good and
bad easily. In the view of this, Telelogist said that good is the supreme element; duty is for
ethical emancipation, not for duty’s sake. Laws are not for the sake of law but for the attainment
of good. To abide by law is a duty because it achieves ethical good. Any act is right or wrong in
relation to the standard of good.
1.4.3 Ethics is not a practical science:
Ethics is not a practical science: it only guides us to achieve a specific goal. Its way is not
like practical science which is a means for the realization of an end or ideals. For example, the
medical science is a means to remove the causes of disease. So, ethics tries to see what the
ultimate goal of life is and how this goal can be reached.
1.4.4 Ethics is not an art:
Art depends upon result while ethics is based on motive. In the words of Mackenzie, in
art the ultimate appeal is to the work achieved, whereas in morals the ultimate appeal is to the
inner harmony. Art especially deals with acquisition of skill to produce objects. So, ethics is
different from art because it consists of goodness which is really intrinsic end. Mackenzie again
points out that ethics can never be regarded as an art because virtue has two special features that
are not at all significant in art. First of all, virtue implies activity. We cannot regard a man virtuous
as long as he is not the one who knows morality, but one who actually practices it. In case of an art
the possession of skill is more important than the actual activity. In other words, a good painter is
one who can paint beautiful; a good man is not one who can, but one who acts rightly. A good
painter is good when he is asleep or on a journey. A good man is not good when asleep or on a
journey. Thus, goodness is not a capacity or potentiality but an activity. That is why Aristotle
points out that ‘virtue is a kind of habit’. It is the habit of right choice. In other words, virtue is a
synthesis of knowledge and habit, consciousness and activity, thought as well as will.
Thus, the goal and consequence of ethics, science and art are different. If we observe the
discipline of philosophy to be the quest for knowledge, then there is no clear-cut boundary between
P a g e 4 | 147
MEANING, NATURE AND SCOPE OF
ETHICS
Structure:
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Introduction
1.3 Meaning of ethics
1.4 Nature of ethics
1.4.1 Ethics is a normative science
1.4.2 Ethics is a science of character
1.4.3 Ethics is not a practical science
14.4 Ethics is not an art
1.5 Scope of ethics
1.5.1 Moral Sphere
1.5.2 Social Sphere
1.5.3 Religious sphere
1.5.4 Political sphere
1.6 Sum up
1.7 Glossary
1.8 Self-Assessment Questions
1.9 Suggested Reading and References
P a g e 1 | 147
,1.1 Objectives:
• To explain the meaning of ethics
• To discuss how ethics is different from other sciences
• To elaborate the content and problem of moral consciousness
• To explain the role of ethics in the operation of human conduct
1.2 Introduction:
Ethics is the philosophical study of morality. It is one of the main branches of philosophy
which corresponds to the traditional division of philosophy into formal, natural and moral
philosophy. It can be turned into a general study of goodness, right action, applied ethics, meta-
ethics, moral psychology and metaphysics of moral responsibility. The general study of goodness
and right action is the main task of ethics. It has correlatively its substantive question as: how
are we rational beings and what moral principles should govern our choice and pursuit?
1.3 Meaning of Ethics:
The word Ethics is derived from the Greek word ‘ethos’ which means character or
conduct. Ethics is also called as moral philosophy or philosophical thinking about morality. This
morality has been further elaborated as action and behavior which is concerned with ‘good’ or
‘evil’, of particular traditions, groups or individual.
The term ‘moral’ and ‘ethical’ is often used as equivalent to right or good as opposed to
‘immoral’ and ‘unethical’. It doesn’t mean morally right or morally good but it definitely pertains
to morality.
Ethics is that science which is concerned with moral behavior or with right or wrong and
good or evil of human behavior. It propounds those principles which make our conduct moral. It
becomes clear when we explain the derivation of the words right and good. The word right is
derived from Latin word ‘rectus’, which literally means ‘straight’ or ‘according to rule’. It means
that we are concerned with those principles which make our conduct right or straight.
The analysis of the word ‘right’ explains one aspect of ethics. Rules are the means and
whenever there are means, there must be an end or goal as well. If Right is the mean of conduct,
then the question arises that what should be its end. We get the answer to this only when we
analyze the word good which is derived from the German word ‘gut’. Gut means everything
useful or serviceable for some end or purpose. When we say that such and such school is good,
what we actually mean is that it is useful for education of the children. Thus, in our daily life we do
not interpret good as something which is useful for some end rather, we mean by it, the end or
good itself. So, we arrive at the conclusion that ethics is concerned with end or goal of life. As we
know in our life and in the lives of others there are innumerable things that can be regarded as
good. Ethics as a science is not concerned with particular good of the individuals; on the
contrary it is concerned with the supreme goal or the ultimate end with reference to which the
entire life of individual is directed - the ‘Summum Bonum’.
P a g e 2 | 147
,1.4 Nature of Ethics:
Ethics refer to guide what human ought to do, usually in terms of right, obligations,
fairness and specific virtue. It is related to issues of propriety –rightness and wrongness, what is
right in ethical, what is wrong in unethical. Sometimes the word ‘proper’, ‘fair’ and ‘just’ are
also used in the place of right and ethical.
A layman might remark that ‘pleasure is good’ or prosperity of nation is good. The
gravity of the problem arises when we equate pleasure or prosperity with good. It may be agreed
upon that pleasure or prosperity is one of the good things of life. But no man with a sane head on
his shoulder would assert that good is nothing but pleasure or prosperity is the definition of good.
At the time of Plato and Aristotle a good man or ethical man was the one who was a good citizen
So far as the practical aspects of the study of ethics is concerned, it may be urged that if
ethics is a theoretical study of moral problems. Such declaration might not have any practical
value for the man in the street. It is said that experience alone enrich the ethical aspect of human
mind that no amount of theoretical knowledge can possibly raise man’s ethical standard.
Socrates declared long ago that virtue is knowledge. What he was trying to point out that no one
could be moral by accident or without true knowledge of the nature of moral act. In Jaina ethics
which is known to be the practical application of non-violence as the highest virtue, it has been
stated that ‘knowledge must precede compassion’. These statements are themselves enough to
indicate that knowledge of virtue is the foundation of the practice of virtue.
Thus, the theoretical discussion of the ethical problem is the very foundation of its
application in practical life. Western civilization is laying more emphasis on material progress
and kept science apart from the religion and metaphysics from ethics. The dualistic attitude of the
west has disrupted the normal life of the individuals and has brought man to the brink of
committing suicide. In spite of man’s mastery over nature his dream of interplanetary travels is
coming true, but the common man of the world is not at peace with himself. Doubt and fear are
ripe in the world today. The ethical ideals laid down by the Indian sages thousands of years ago
are universal standards that can be followed at all time and are lasting cure for the evils which
have crept into modern society. It is true because these ideals were never regarded as mere
theories of morality but as mode of spiritual life by adopting which individual and society
develops in harmonious manner.
The brief analysis about the nature of ethics clearly shows that it is concerned with human
life and that it judges human behavior from normative point of view. That is why various
definitions of ethics have been formulated by various thinkers. Mackenzie points out that ethics
is a general study of ideal involved in human life. Dewey says that the subject matter of ethics is
to point out what is right and good in conduct. G. E. Moore considers supreme good as subject-
matter of ethics. All of these indicate that the subject matter of ethics includes social behavior of
man. The nature of ethics is incomplete, unless and until we explain nature of normative science.
1.4.1 Ethics is a normative science:
It is mainly concerned with what ought to be done rather than what is the case. It differs
from positive science. A positive science is concerned with facts and explains them by their
P a g e 3 | 147
, causes, but ethics deals with values. It evaluates standard or norms by which we can judge human
action to be right or wrong. Logic and Aesthetics are also considered as normative sciences.
1.4.2 Ethics is a science of Character:
Ethics is different from natural and factual science: it is a normative science. Every science
is concerned with a particular department of knowledge. So, ethics as a science has its own
particular sphere. It deals with certain judgements that we make about human conduct.
In the word of Muirhead “Ethics is not merely concerned with temporal behavior but it
forms the basis of legal decision”. According to Intuitionists ethics is the science of right. Right
is the basic concept. It ought to be obeyed under all circumstances. It is the duty to act in
accordance with laws and wrong to act against them. Man is bound to follow them; this view is
called duty predominating ethics. According to Formalist ethical laws are end in themselves.
They are not meant to some other ideal. Immanuel Kant held that goodwill is the only jewel. He
meant that there is nothing in the world or even out of it that can be called good without
qualification, except good will. The conscience is innate and it acquires the knowledge of good and
bad easily. In the view of this, Telelogist said that good is the supreme element; duty is for
ethical emancipation, not for duty’s sake. Laws are not for the sake of law but for the attainment
of good. To abide by law is a duty because it achieves ethical good. Any act is right or wrong in
relation to the standard of good.
1.4.3 Ethics is not a practical science:
Ethics is not a practical science: it only guides us to achieve a specific goal. Its way is not
like practical science which is a means for the realization of an end or ideals. For example, the
medical science is a means to remove the causes of disease. So, ethics tries to see what the
ultimate goal of life is and how this goal can be reached.
1.4.4 Ethics is not an art:
Art depends upon result while ethics is based on motive. In the words of Mackenzie, in
art the ultimate appeal is to the work achieved, whereas in morals the ultimate appeal is to the
inner harmony. Art especially deals with acquisition of skill to produce objects. So, ethics is
different from art because it consists of goodness which is really intrinsic end. Mackenzie again
points out that ethics can never be regarded as an art because virtue has two special features that
are not at all significant in art. First of all, virtue implies activity. We cannot regard a man virtuous
as long as he is not the one who knows morality, but one who actually practices it. In case of an art
the possession of skill is more important than the actual activity. In other words, a good painter is
one who can paint beautiful; a good man is not one who can, but one who acts rightly. A good
painter is good when he is asleep or on a journey. A good man is not good when asleep or on a
journey. Thus, goodness is not a capacity or potentiality but an activity. That is why Aristotle
points out that ‘virtue is a kind of habit’. It is the habit of right choice. In other words, virtue is a
synthesis of knowledge and habit, consciousness and activity, thought as well as will.
Thus, the goal and consequence of ethics, science and art are different. If we observe the
discipline of philosophy to be the quest for knowledge, then there is no clear-cut boundary between
P a g e 4 | 147
