Ethics is a branch of philosophy that is also known as moral philosophy. The philosophical approach of ethics establishes whether an action is right or wrong. The basic principle of applied ethics is analysis of a situation and establishment of the correct course of action through the use of moral knowledge (Griffin, 2015). Applied ethics are most applicable in controversial issues, such as euthanasia, abortion or homosexuality. Such issues raise controversy in the sense that there are usually several groups with conflicting views on the matter. Meta-ethics on the other hand tries to explain the meaning of the term “right”. In existence, are three theories which attempt to explain the meaning of “good” and “evil”. Moreover, these two terms have been defined differently by different cultures (Pettit, 2015). In my opinion, good and evil do not have a concrete definition; rather, they can be used to define the kind of a world that we live in. for instance, good pushes life forward, while evil spins life out of control. In this view, people desire that which is good and despise that which is bad.
In the light of these argument, what therefore constitutes moral judgement? A moral judgement ought to be based on moral principles and facts and it out to be logical. A moral judgment is that which is consistent with our moral and non-moral beliefs. This literally means that when we are making judgements about issues that concern ourselves, there should be no exception. In addition to this, there should be relevant facts which support the judgment. Finally, when making moral judgements, moral principles should not be overlooked. Moral principles should be able to withstand criticism and scrutiny and therefore they should be sound and acceptable ("Factors to Consider When Making Judgments About Controversial Issues," n.d.). Culture defines who we are as individuals; cultural beliefs influence our behavior. If we grow up in a culture that defines a certain action as wrong, the we will live our whole life considering that particular action as wrong.
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References
Factors to Consider When Making Judgments About Controversial Issues. (n.d.). Ethical Decision Making in School Administration: Leadership as Moral Architecture, 103-118. doi:10.4135/9781452274843.n6
Griffin, J. (2015). What Can Philosophy Contribute to Ethics? What Can Philosophy Contribute to Ethics? 114-127. doi:10.1093/acprof: oso/9780198748090.003.0010
Pettit, P. (2015). The Asymmetry of Good and Evil. Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics, Volume 5, 15-37. doi:10.1093/acprof: oso/9780198744665.003.0002
