History of Ethics

ETHICS
-Branch of philosophy that examines right and wrong moral behavior such as
justice virtue duty and moral language
ORIGIN OF ETHICS
 Many world literatures, such as Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, portray a
set of values that suit the strong leader of a small tribe
 Valor and success are principal qualities of a hero
 In the literature of ancient civilizations, advise farmers to leave some grains
for poor gleaners, and promise favors from the good doing so
 Ancient religions and ethical thinkers put forward version of the golden rule
 Orlando [o.w] Wilson- perhaps best known as the author of the police ode
of ethics
CODE- came from latin word, it referred to any wooden board[tablet], then
to board covered with wax that were written on, and then to any
topic[codex].
ETHICS
GREEK TRADITION-good life
Happiness
JUDEO-CHRISTIAN-righteousness before god; love of god and
neighbor
World of view of ethics (Biblical or Quranic)
Ethics in the bible-refers to the system or theory produced by study,
interpretation, and evaluation of biblical morals,( including the moral code,
standards, principles, behaviors, conscience, values, rules of conduct, or
beliefs concerned with good and evil and wright and wrong), that are found in
Hebrew and Christian bibles. It comprises a narrow part of a larger field of
jewish and Christian ethics, which are themselves parts of the larger field of
philosophical ethics.

Ethics in the Bible is unlike other western etnical theories in that it is seldom
overtly philosophical. It presents neither a systematic nor a formal deductive
ethical argument. Instead, the bible provides patterns of moral reasoning that
focuses on conduct and character in what is sometimes referred to as virtue ethics.
This moral reasoning is part of a broad, normative covenantal tradition where
duty and virtue are inextricably tied together in a mutually reinforcing manner.

The ethics of the Bible have been criticized with some calling it immoral in
some of its teachings. Slavery, genocide, supersessionism the death penalty,
violence, patriarchy, sexual intolerance, colonialism, and the problem of evil
and a good god, are examples of criticisms of ethics in the bible.

KINDS OF HUMAN ACTS

1. ELICITED ACTS- are those performed by the will and are not bodily
externalized.
A. Wish is the tendency of will toward something , whether this be realizable
or not
B. Intention is the tendency of the wll towards something attainable but
necessarily committing oneself to attain it
C. Consent is the acceptance of the will of those needed to carry out intention
D. Election is the seletion of the will of those effective enough to carry out
intention
E. Use is the command of the will to make no use of those means elected to
carry out intention.
F. Fruition is the employment of the will derived from the attainment of the
thing he had desired earlier

COMMAND ACTS-Are those done either by man’s mental or baodily powers

under the command of the will.
1. Internal actions- Example; concious reasoning, recalling smething,
encouraging oneself, and controlling aroused emotions
2. External Action- Examples; walking, eating, dancing, laughing, listening
and reading
3. Combination of internal and external movements- Examples; studying,
driving a car, writing a letter, and playing chess
 MORAL DISTINCTION

DICTATES OF REASON-Stand for the norm of morality which is the standard

by which action are Judged as to their merits and demerits.

CLASSIFICATION OF ACTION ACCORDING TO NORMS OF MORALITY.

1. MORAL(GOOD)- are those actions which are in the conformity with
the norm of morality.
2. IMMORAL (BAD)- Are those action which are not in conformity
with the norm of morality.
3. AMORAL(INDIFFERENT)- are those action which stand neutral in
relation to the norm of morality. They are neither good nor bad in
themselves. But certain amoral action may become good or bad
because of the circumstances attendant to them.

VOLUNTARINESS
Comes from the Latin Word “voluntas” refering to the will. Voluntariness is
essential to an act. Without it, an act is mere act of a man.
CLASSIFICATION OF VOLUNTARINESS
1. PERFECT VOLUNTARINESS- Is present in a person who act knows and
fully intend to an act
2. IMPERFECT VOLUNTARINESS- Is present in a person who act without
realizing what he means to do, or without intending the act.
3. CONDITIONAL VOUNTARINESS- Is present in a person who is forced by
circumstances beyond his control to perform an act which he would not do
under normal condition
4. SIMPLE VOLUNTARINESS- Is present in a person doing an act willfully,
regardless of whether he likes to do it or not. It is either positive or negative.

TYPES OF VOLUNTARINESS
1. DIRECT- Primarily intended by the doer
 2. INDIRECT- Act or situation which is the mere result of a directly willed act

MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS

1. IGNORANCE- Absence of knowledge which a person ought to
possess
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNORANCE
A. VINCIBLE- Can easily reminded through ordinary diligence and reasonable
efforts
B. INVINCIBLE- Is a type which a person possess without being aware of it,
or having awareness of it, lacks the means to rectify it.
Therefore it is unethical to use ignorance as a defense in committing wrong.
MAXIM “IGNORANCE OF THE LAW EXCUSES NO ONE”

2. PASSION- Either tendencies towards desirable objects or tendencies

away from undesirable or harmful things.
CLASSIFICATION OF PASSION

A. POSITIVE EMOTION- Love, delight, hope, bravery etc.

B. NEGATIVE EMOTION-Hatred, sadness, despair fear, anger, etc.
NOTE: passions are psychic responses therefore they are either moral or immoral,
however, man is bound to regulate his emotiona and submit them to the control of
reason.
3. FEAR- Disturbance of the mind of a person who is confronted by an
impending danger or harm to himself or loveones
NOTE: Fear is an instinct for self-preservation
4. VIOLENCE- Refers to any physical force exerted on a person by
another free agent for the purpose of compelling said person to act
against his will
5. HABITS- Is a lasting readiness and facility, born of frequently
repeated acts for acting in a certain manner.
-it also implies that a habit is not easy to alter or overcome it requires
strong will to correct habbit successfully.
ACTION AND EMOTIONS
Man does an act with emotion and feeling. In doing this act, he does not
only evoke sentiments, but his decision or intention to perform is swayed by his
emotion.
NOTE: Emotions are generally instinctive in origin. In short, the degree of
their intensity, clarity or awareness makes them human acts to be judged as good
or eil. Therefore, Man’s thought ans actions are colored by his emotion.

CONCEPT OF ETHICS AND VALUES FORMATION

ETHICS
 Is the science of morality of human acts and rationa human behavior
 Ethics is the capacity to determine the right conduct and the knowledge of
what is right from wrong
VALUES
 Is qualitatively determined behavior which has a normative obligatory
character and presupposes the liberty of possible decision
 Are the application of ethics

A police code of ethics s established to help police officers make decisions that
serve the public in a positive manners.

Code of Ethics(police)
In 1957, the international association of Chief of Police adopted a document
entitled law enforcement code of ethics. Except for the 1956 California code in
which it was modeled this IACP document seems to have been the first CODE OF
ETHICS for police.
-among the important police today is the interpol code for law enforcement
officers, the U.S. Military Police Code of Ethics, the United Nation Code of
Conduct for Law enforcement officers, and the current IACP code(adopted in
1989)

Whatever it is called, a code of ethics will belong to no one ot three categories:

1. Professional code applying to all, and only, members of a certain profession,
such as the IACP code for police.
2. Employer’s code applying only to members of a particular police department
like the police code of conduct and ethics of new south wales for the NSW
police department); or
3. Organizational code applying only to members of some professional,
fraternal, or technical organization

Four senses in common English usage of ethics

1. Synonym for ordinary morality
2. Those standards of conduct
3. Concerned with moral good
4. Morally permissible standards of conduct

DEFINITION OF TERMS
A. POLICE ETHIC- It is the particular science that treats the principle of
human morality and duty as applied to law enforcement.
B. ETHICS- It is the normative science of the conduct of human being living in
society. They are rules of conduct.
 Science of the morality of man
 Study of human motivation, and ultimately of human rational
behavior.
 Ethics is a branch of philosophy which studies the principles of right
or wrong in human conduct. It come from the latin word “ethos”
means customary behavioral moral.
C. VIRTUE- It is a habit which inclines man to act in a way that harmonizes
with his nature
D. MORAL VIRTUE- It concern those action that pertains to one duty
towards his neighbors and himself
E. CONSCIENCE- It is the voice of reasoning biding oneself to something
right or avoid something wrong. If one always follows conscience he shall
never do wrong
F. RIGHT- It is the oral power to own, to use, or to exact something. It gives
man a title by which he can justify claim as his own.
G. COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY- It refers to the doctrine that imposes
commensurate accountability to one who is vested with authority to exercise
management/leadership function.
H. COMMAND- It is the authority of a person lawfully exercises over
subordinates by virtue of his ranks and assignment or position.
I. RESPONSIBILITY- It refers to the obligation to perform duties and
function and to the consequences of activities under one’s command.
J. MAXIMUM TOLERANCE- Refers to the conceptual policy laid down for
observance of all law enforcement personnel to exercise outmost restraint
and self-control int the performance of their official function.
K. HUMAN RIGHT- Includes all right enjoyed by individual as provided for
under the constitution, and other international instruments such as the united
nation declaration of human rights.
L. DISCIPLINE- Self-control or obedience
M. CONDUCT – Personal behavior
N. ELECTIONEERING- Directly or indirectly participating in partisan
political activities.
 MODULE 2

What does values mean?

 It is defined as an assessment of worth. Values have direct bearing on
the social actions of individuals, such as moral and ethical actions.
 Values are shared experience. They have certain degree of assumed
commonality. They are communal with a strong concern for others
The following are some of the strong values of filipinos:
A. Utang na loob
B. Hiya
C. Marunong makisama
D. Marunong kummilala ng utang na loob

Police, Defined
 Is defined as a body of civil officers, especially in a city, organized under the
authority to maintain order and enforce law, the whole system of internal
regulation of a state; or the local government of a city or town; the
department of government that maintains and enforces law and orders, and
prevents, detects, or deals with crime.
Ethics, Defined
 Derived from the Greek word “Ethicos” or that pertains to ethos, which the
English translation is customs, or character.
 Is the branch of philosophy that tries to determine thegood and right things
to do.
Ethics is a practical science of the normality of human conduct
Ethics is the normative science of the conduct of human beings living in societies-
science which judges the conduct to be right or wrong, to be good or bad.
Note: Police Ethics- a practical science that treats the principles of human
morality and duty as applied to aw enforcement.
Discretion, Defined
Cautious and correct judgement unhampered by legal rule. The act or liberty of
deciding according to justice and propriety, and proper under the circumstances,
without willfulness or favor.
c, Defined
Is a quality held to be of great moral value. It also moral excellence, righteous or
goodness. A habit that inclines person to act in a way that harmonized with his
nature.
Note:
Moral Virtue- Is concern those actions pertains to one’s duties towards his
neighbors and himself.

Four cardinal virtues that serves as the basis of formulating the standards
behavior of policeman
 PRUDENCE (discretion)- It is one’s ability to govern and discipline
oneself by means of reason and sound judgement.
1. It is a virtue which attracts the intellect to choose the most effective
means for accomplishing what is moraly good and for avoiding what is
morally evil.
Note: the manifestation of prudent man are: wise, judicious, sage, sane, sapient
and sensible. Imprudence is the opposite of prudence.
 TEMPERANCE- it is one’s ability to moderate or to avoid something
It is virtue which regulates that carnal appetite for sensual(fleshly) pleasures.
 FORTITUDE- firmness of mind. ”it is the courage to endure without
yielding. A virtue which incites courage.
NOTE; fortitude exercise by the means of:
 Patience- Calmness and composure in enduring something.
 Perseverance- It is the ability to go on in spite of obstacle or opposition.
 Endurance- It is the ability to last
  JUSTICE- It is a virtue tat inclines the will to give to each one his rights

Note: There are three division of justice

 COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE- It is a virtue that regulates those action
that involves the rights that exist between one individual and
another individual. Any violation of commutative justice imposes in
the guilty person the duty of restitution. (the duty of repairing the
harm caused)
Example: police master sargeant Manayan violates commutative justify
if he is steal the gun of pat. Reyes.
 DISTIBUTIVE JUSTICE- It regulates those actions that involves the
right which an individual may claim from security.
The state must distribute the common burdens and privileges equitably and
must make it possible for each citizen to exercise his right.
Example: A Mayor violates distributive justice if he confers an honorary
title on an underserving relatives of his
 LEGAL JUSTICE- It is virtue that regulates those actions which society
may justly require of the individual for the common good.
Example: The state may take laws concerning imports. If a man smuggles
contraband into a country, he violate the legal justice.

What is the Doctrine Command Responsibility?

The doctrine imposed commensurate accountability to the one who is
vested with authority to exercise management leadership functions.
Notes:
Command- It is an authority lawfully exercise over subordinates by
virtue of his rank or assignment or position.
Responsibility-The obligation to perform duties and functions and to
the consequences of activities under one’s command.
CANNONS OF POLICE ETHICS
A. Primordial police responsibility- To serve and protect the
citizenry
B. Limitation of police authority- Police authority is subject to
limitation and regulation of the constitution and other pertinent
laws.
C. Knowledge of the law and other responsibilities- being a law
enforcer, police officers are expected to be knowledgeable about
the law that they need to be enforce.
D. Use of proper mean to obtain proper ends- only those legally
allowed action should be taken by the police officers in the
delivery of justice.
E. Cooperation of public officials- They are likewise expected to be
cooperated to other public officials and other agency in the
performance of their duties especially if that cooperation is
necessary in their operation
F. Proper conduct and behavior- Police officer are expected to
conduct themselves in manner that will never place the
organization in bad light.
G. Conduct toward the community- Members of the community
should be considered as partner in crime prevention and peace
and order.
H. Conduct in arresting law violators- no unnecessary force nor
violation is needed. Observance og the rights og the person to be
arrested must be always considered.
I. Firmness in refusing gifts
J. Impartial presentation of evidence- only pieces of evidence
which are obtained lawfully should be utilized bias or motive
should be avoided.
K. Attitude toward police profession-they must consider their
profession as noble calling. Hence, they must love, care and
protect the image of the profession through deeds
IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS AND VALUES
Ethics is an indispensable knowledge. Without ethical perception, man is
only an animal. Without values, man as a rational being is a failure
Moral values are the only true measure of what man ought to be
Moral values are the foundation foundation of every human society
CORE MORAL VALUES
Police officers should be have the following core moral values
A. Love of God- give god what is due to him
B. Respect of authority- treat freedom with a sense of self determination and
exercise intelligently obedience.
C. Selfless love of people- respect human life and to love
D. Chastity- respect the dignity of human sexuality
E. Responsible dominion over material things- should share it with his fellow
men bearing in mind that the material world is limited.
F. Truthfulness- never telling what is not
THE POLICE OFFICERS GREED
1. GOD BELIEVER
I believe in god, the supreme being, the great provider, and the creator of all men
and everything dear to me. In return, I can do no less than love him above all
obeying his word, seek his guidance in the performance of my sworn duties and
honor him at all time
2. Respect for authority
I believe that respect for authority is a duty
a) I respect and uphold the constitution, the laws of the land and the
applicable rules and regulation
b) I recognize the legitimacy and authority of the leadership, and obey legal
orders of my superior officers
3. Love and service to people
I believe in selfless love and service to people.
Towards this end, I commit myself to the service of my fellowmen over and above
my personal interest
4. Respect for the sanctity of marriage and rights of women
I believe in the sanctity of marriage and family life. I shall set the example of
decency and morality, shall have high regard for family life and value of marital
fidelity
5. Responsible domination and stewardship
I believe in the responsible dominion and stewardship over material things. I shall
inhibit myself from extravagance and ostentatious display of material things. I
shall help protect the environment and conserve nature to maintain ecological
balance.
6. Trustworthiness
I believe in the wisdom of truthfulness. I must be trustworthy and I shall uphold
the truth at all times.