My Own Perspective on What Constitutes an Ethical Life

In our everyday life, we are confronted with those situations wherein we have to choose from different options. In every decision we made, a corresponding choice is given up and a related risk is embraced.  Thus, ethics is created to guide each and every one of us in making appropriate decisions and actions. But is that what ‘ethics’ really mean for us? Is it just a guiding principle that determines right from wrong? Does it really give us a concrete definition of what it means to have a good life? Or, does it just remain so general that it needs to be reflected by each individual? By that, what is the ethical life for you then?

            In PHILO 107, I get to learn a lot of ethical principles by different philosophers. Among each philosopher’s ethical claim, there is just one determining point – the goal or end of each individual. To sum up all claims of every philosopher, the telos of man is set to lead us towards a good life. But the question is what constitutes a good life and what is our standard of ‘good’ since those are the points where each and every claim differs? 

            According to Plato, the ‘good’ for him is those acts that tend to go back to man’s original goodness. I agree to him that there is part of us which really seeks to do well but I also agree to Aristotle when he disputes the absoluteness of Plato’s claim. It is not that I don’t believe to any Absolute being, it is just that, the way Plato presented his ethical philosophy, seems to give no room for errors. As for me, it is a nature of man to live with  struggles of reaching out the good and it does not define the individuality of a person if in this material world, he would not able to reach the good that Plato defined it to be. I am more inclined to Aristotle’s Philosophy on the other hand, wherein the good for him is that object of action in the neutral sense – to achieve happiness (not a feeling but some sort of living a proper life). I consider Aristotle’s claim as more realistic among others because it speaks more of the true nature of man as a rational being. I agree when Aristotle says that our human endeavor is purposive in nature and our purpose is to live in accordance with reason; and best if we incorporate this with excellence. Aristotle’s claim is oftentimes applicable in our daily struggle in this complex world. We end up basing our decisions on reason. But sometimes, our own reasoning may lead us wrong. With such conflicting part though, Aristotle somehow defended it with the claim: “the ‘quality of the act’ would determine the goodness of our end”. The quality of the act for me speaks more of the true intention of the doer himself. It somehow verifies the motives hidden within the depth of his soul – his dignity. By that, ethical life for me then denotes more on how we manage to use our rationality in this material world. It is either we use it for good or for bad. It is good for me if we make the most out of our being rational through serving the needs for the welfare of the humanity. What then is the use of our rationality if we cannot serve our purpose? Like Kant, I believe that we have moral duties to do. If Kant believes that duty-based ethics would determine the good, for me, the good is when we actualize our purpose – to love and serve one another. If everyone will just base their decision out of the ‘act of love’, humanity might not face ethical dilemmas. ‘Act of love’ here, does not mean the literal love we know that is based on feelings; instead, it means love as a virtue. Kant says “Never use humanity as means but as an end-in-itself.” If this postulate would just been use as a guiding principle by each individual, our purpose would possibly be served. The fact that we humans are all created as rational beings, it signifies that we are all equal. We do not have the right to step on the lives of others just to reach the top. Furthermore, what is unethical for me is when we limit the capacity of our rationality solely for our own benefit. Self-fulfillment will not be actualized if you are ego-centered. As what the principle of utilitarianism has said: “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”, the determining point of good is the percentage of the humanity being affected of such act or decision. The only point of utilitarianism which I do not agree with is the basis of what is good –the result of the act (whether it produces pleasure or pain). I do not agree in their formula of goodness wherein pleasure is equal to good and pain is equal to bad. This idea is not somehow permanent. Pleasure at times does not always bring good and the same thing with pain. For me, I always appreciate pain for oftentimes we realize a lot of things in the process. We get to learn something out of those painful situations that we are in and sometimes it even leads us to decide ethically.  Moreover, I think that St. Aquinas’ moral philosophy accidentally justifies that pain is not bad at all because in pain, we get to reunite and recognize our Creator – God. In times where we are face with so much trouble, conscience would lead us to our ‘Hope’- God.

            To summarize everything, what is ethical for me is simply a matter of actualizing our purpose as a rational being: to love and serve the humanity in accordance with spiritual virtues. In every decision that we make, we should be mindful whether it would provide ‘good’ possible for the well-being of the humanity in this material world. With that, how do I make these ethical principles (moral philosophy of the different philosophers and own version of ethical principle) relevant to my life? Well for me, I would bear all these learning throughout this journey towards my end; for like humans having its purpose, I know these learning would serve its purpose as well. Also, I would always remind myself that these ethical principles would not just remain as a guiding principle for me, but it would become part of my individuality as a rational being for without this paper, I would not realized that I have learned something in this semester. And lastly, I hope to apply these principles that I think appropriate enough in times where I would be confronted with decision making stuff. This paper was made possible because grade triggered me to do such but what amazed me is the reality that I get to discern what ethical life is, for me.