Welcome to our module 2, on "what ethics is!"

In this section we refine our notion of the subject that is Ethics and our understanding of it as a true science.

BY the end of this unit you will be able to identify the following:

1) How ethics is a true science

2) What true science consists of

3) What material and formal objects are as concerns ethics

We can say that ethics is a science. Properly understood, and regarded in the most comprehensive terms, a science is an organized body of knowledge, which is founded upon a set of first principles, and which systematically seeks knowledge of things in terms of their causes. Ethics qualifies as a science because it meets those criteria.

On Wednesday we covered much of this material. This clip gives you a sense of how to situate this in the life of St Thomas Aquinas.

If ethics is a science, and it must be founded upon some first principles. All can be subsumed under a single, comprehensive principle which is stated as follows: Good is to be done and evil is to be avoided. This, the most basic and most general of moral principles, is recognized as the first principle of ethics. From it all the more particular principles flow. As a first principle, it very clearly displays the quality of being self-evident. That one should do good and avoid evil is not something that has to be demonstrated. We immediately see it as the foundation of the whole moral life.

Good and Evil

A further treatment of this topic can be found here

Class 1 Ethics Introduction What is Ethics Student notes.docx.

Assignments:

Complete the following assignment by writing a reflection on what ethics means to you?

Burns Assignment What is Ethics?

You should complete the discussion posts according to the following page. You should post to replies to two of the questions and also reply to 2 of your classmates posts. Click below for the discussion

Burns Discussion 2 What is Ethics? Relativism versus realism

TO DO FOR THIS PAGE YET

personal content created by you relating to the unit (like a mini ‘lecture’)
activities (we will work on this in Week 3)