 Ethics

is derived from the Greek word Ethos

which means custom or particular.

 Ethics:is the study of the moral behavior or

conduct of man as viewed from ultimate
principles insofar as these principles are
known by human reason.

 Materialobject: human acts, i.e. the subject

matter of the science of Ethic’s
investigation.
 The formal object of Ethics is the particular
point of view which Ethics consider in
dealing with the subject matter; and this is
the right conduct of man, the rectitude of his
actions.

Ethics point of view is to consider all human
acts in reference to right reason which is the
immediate norm of morality.
 Truths presupposed in Ethics:
2. The existence of God. God is the Creator of
man and his last end. God is also the Author
of the natural and moral law, the supreme
judge of all human actions.
3. The dignity of the human person, together
with the duties and rights given to man to
fulfill his destiny
4. The immortality of the soul. The hope for
eternal life and eternal rewards sustains man
in his struggle against evil.
 Importance of Ethics
2. Ethics importance is derived from the
significance of its material and formal
object.
3. There is nothing more important to the
individual than the acquisition of the
ultimate purpose of life.
4. Life in society is only possible by practicing
the moral principles regulating human
relations.
Christianity is not merely a moral
program

Christian morality is different from

ethical systems and other religious
beliefs
Christianity is the revelation of the
mystery of God as Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.

Meaning, it is the communication of

divine life and knowledge to man.
God as our Father and we as his
children.
Jesus did not come as a moralist,

but as the incarnate love of God.

He did not come to replace one set

of rules with another but to promote
a totally new way of living.
Jesus saving message includes a
moral system united to it in such
a way that Christianity cannot
be separated from morality.
Faithalso possesses a moral
content.

Itgives rise to and calls for a

consistent life commitment
Itoriginates from God’s self-
revelation.

God revealed his ethical program

when he created the first man and
woman, and he reaffirmed it with
the Ten Commandments which he
gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.
This moral program finds its highest
perfection in the moral message
taught by Jesus of Nazareth
The concepts of good and evil are
determined by God
Therefore the ethical content or
requirements for human conduct are
not derived from what man thinks is
reasonable, just or coherent, but
from what God indicates to be so.
 The ethical requirements of the Gospel
require the aid of God’s grace.
 Since it deals with a life lived on the level of
God, it will only be realized with the aid of
grace.
 Therefore the fulfilment of the ethical
requirements of the Gospel require the aid of
God’s grace since they are above human
strength and beyond natural human
accomplishment.
 The Call : Christian life stems from a call
from God. Christianity is defined as a
vocation.
 The Response: Man must respond
affirmatively to this call from God.
 The following: the call of Jesus is designed
for the hearer to follow.
 Discipleship:The call of Jesus is ordered to
being his disciple
 By baptism participates in the same life of
Jesus, so much so that the life of Christ is in
him.
 The life of Christ is defined by St. Paul as :To
put on the Lord Jesus Christ