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For Educational Purposes
For Educational Purposes
2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
Teaching objectives:
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
Teaching process:
1. Ask students to give the definitions of “Intrinsic Value” and “Instrumental Value”,
and complete the Worksheet (1): Instrumental Value and Intrinsic Value
2. The teacher should first explain Knowledge Content of the Subject (3) and (4),
and stress the fact that both the good and the bad characteristics can be
changed by the external environment.
3. Divide the students into groups of 4 or 5, and give each group one of the
following six worksheets:
Ask the students to discuss the worksheets in their groups, and then ask each
group to select a representative to report their answers.
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
4. Once students have given their opinions, the teacher may explain and give out
answers.
5. Divide the students into groups of 4 or 5, and give each group one of the
following stories:
6. Once students have given their opinions, the teacher may explain and give out
answers.
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
What is “Intrinsic Value”? A certain action is virtuous, since it has in itself the
characteristics of virtue. For instance, while “humanity”, “righteousness”, “truth”,
“goodness” and “beauty” may all be understood differently by people of different
cultures, religions or ages, the vast majority of people would still acknowledge that
they are virtues.
What is “Instrumental Value”? The importance of some values lies in the fact that
we can obtain some higher or more important value through them. For example,
through sacrifice, struggle and diligent study, we can achieve a happy life.
However, people from different times, places and cultures all have different
interpretations of corresponding concepts. For example, China and the West may
have different views of the word “human rights”. Chinese people often explain
“human rights” as the right to food and shelter of the country’s 1.3 billion people,
while Western people often stress that “human rights” are the civil rights of citizens to
participate in politics.
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
history, and vary between different periods, places and cultures. In the same way,
people from different periods, places and cultures. In the same way, people from
different periods, places and cultures also have different views of what characteristics
should be detested. For example, ancient Chinese people believed that “There are
three sins against filial piety; of these, having no descendant is the greatest”; in other
words, the ancients regarded not having children as the most detested characteristic
for a woman. However, views today are different, and a woman who is fully able to
have children will often use a variety of contraceptive methods to avoid getting
pregnant.
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
Traditional Chinese moral values Over the last few hundred years, the rise
emphasise “benevolence”, in political awareness and the increase in
“righteousness”, “proper conduct” and participation in society has resulted in a
“wisdom”, or “courtesy”, continual strengthening of people’s desire for
“righteousness”, “integrity” and “sense “democracy”.
of shame”. “Proper conduct”, which
could be group as “proper conduct” or After “democratic” values were
“courtesy”, is regarded as a core championed by the French Revolution and the
value, and inherently includes an American Declaration of Independence in the
unexpressed moral value. 18th and 19th centuries, people began to
admire democracy and view it as a tool for
In modern society, we still achieving “equality” and “universal love”, and
acknowledge that “proper conduct” for improving people’s lives.
has moral value but its value always
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
In modern society, the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues” and “gentle obedience”
are to some extent not only no longer regarded as virtues to be admired, but are even
regarded by a proportion of educated people as characteristics to be detested. The Three
Obediences and Four Virtues and Gentle Obedience are regarded as serious crimes
against the human dignity of women, and some feminists believe that these
characteristics are obstacles to the full human development of women and key reasons
for their unequal treatment.
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
In modern society, changes in class occur rapidly and people value efficiency and
effectiveness, and so the value of “presumptuousness” has gradually decreased, and the
media even praises stories of “whistle blowing” and “challenging authority”. For example,
the concepts of “civil disobedience”, “protest marches” and “demonstrations” have been
widely reported and even praised by the media in recent years. In ancient times,
however, such actions would certainly have been viewed as damaging the social order.
Although society has not reached a point where “rebellion is not a crime and revolt is
justified”, “presuming” to go beyond one’s “status” is perhaps no longer regarded as a
detested characteristic.
The concept of “filial piety” has been regarded as a virtue and an important value
(either as an intrinsic or instrumental value) in China from ancient times to the present
day. However, the concept has been defined differently in different times and different
regions. In ancient China, the Classic of Filial Piety defined filial piety as repayment of the
upbringing given by one’s parents and affirmation of parents’ authority, and consequently
obeying parents’ instructions and orders, and acting according to their wishes. In modern
society, definitions of filial piety are largely limited to the former – repaying parents for
bringing us up and taking care of us.
If we take “loyalty” as another example, we can see that Japanese and Chinese
people have different interpretations of to whom or to what one should be loyal. Japanese
corporations have operated a system of lifelong employment, and employees are loyal to
their employers. When the Japanese economy began to decline in the 1990s and many
companies found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy, Japanese employees frequently
worked overtime on a voluntary basis to help their companies reduce costs, and in some
cases even asked their wives and children to come to the office to help out; this was
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It is evident from this that without a sense of sympathy, shame, modesty and
morality, we are not truly human. Sympathy is the basis of humanity, shame is the
basis of righteousness, modesty is the basis of proper conduct, and morality is the
basis of wisdom.
People have these four senses, just as they have four limbs. If someone has
these senses but does not exercise them, they are abandoning themselves. Anyone
who possesses these four senses will develop and strengthen them.”
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Suggested Answers
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Our core values: Hong Kong's advantages; Building blocks for modernity
Hong Kong had accumulated a long history of fighting for a better system. The
incessant efforts made by the Hong Kong people have produced a unique local
culture that is underpinned by some core values most treasured by them and in
line with the global modern civilisation. These core values include: liberty,
democracy, human rights, rule of law, fairness, social justice, peace and
compassion, integrity and transparency, plurality, respect for individuals,
and upholding professionalism. More and more Hong Kong people are
convinced that in their pursuit of a higher quality of life, we must also adhere to the
core values essential to sustainable development: broad-based community
participation in public affairs, inter-generational equity, and economic development
with a human focus, environmental protection and reconciliation with nature.
We believe that Hong Kong is more than an economic city. It is where over six
million people search for a greater meaning in life and build a better home to live
in. By losing its core values, Hong Kong will become a city without soul and her
people will then lose 'Hong Kong'. We, therefore, cannot afford to keep silent.
Defending these core values is not just for the sake of preserving Hong Kong's
way of life, it serves to continue the cultural mission of modernising the Chinese
nation as a whole.
We are deeply distressed, but not in despair. We sign this Declaration in order
to give support to each other and convey a key message to everyone and various
organisations in Hong Kong: Let us stand firm on our core values. Let us work
together, across different sectors and parties, to build our future together.
Let us live out Hong Kong's core values in the social, political, cultural and
other aspects of our daily life. Let us act now so that tomorrow our children can
take pride in what we are defending today!
http://www.hkcorevalues.net
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1. Which fourteen Hong Kong’s core values are mentioned in the “Preserving
Hong Kong’s Core Values Declaration”? List them.
2. What do you think these fourteen core values mean? Why do people admire
them? Are they intrinsic values or instrumental values? Write the answers for five of
them.
Definition Reason it is admired Intrinsic value or
Instrumental value
Example: The people have the Democracy embodies Instrumental value
Democracy right to elect and the principal of equality
dismiss rulers to for all, as every single
govern their own person has the right to
country elect their government.
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Suggested Answers
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Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world;
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which
have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human
beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been
proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people; Whereas it is essential, if man
is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and
oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law; whereas it is
essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations; whereas the
peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental
human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men
and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom; whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-
operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of
human rights and fundamental freedoms; Whereas a common understanding of these
rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realisation of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping
this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote
respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both
among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories
under their jurisdiction.
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
1. What good qualities that people admire are mentioned in the “Universal Declaration
of Human Rights” above. List them.
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3.2 Normative Ethics --- Virtue and Value Theory --- Values and Qualities
2. What do you think the meanings of the good qualities that people admire which
are mentioned in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” are? Why do people
admire them? Should they be classified as intrinsic or instrumental values? Write the
answers for five of them.
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Suggested Answers
Dignity Equality Rights Liberty Justice Peace Freedom from fear Respect
Rule of law Friendly relations
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What do you think “faith”, “hope” and “love” mean? Why do people admire them? Should
they be classified as intrinsic or instrumental values? Write the answers for five of them.
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Suggested Answers
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The Seven Deadly Sins are seven serious types of sinful behaviour that
humans are guilty of according to Catholicism. Since the 14th century, the Seven
Deadly Sins have been a common creative theme for European artists, and are
universally recognised by the people of later times. The 4th century Greek monk
Evagrius Ponticus first chose eight patterns of evil thought which were most
harmful to the soul. These were: gluttony, lust, greed, sadness, acedia, anger,
vainglory, and pride. Evagrius Ponticus believed that people at the time were self-
centred, and extremely proud and lazy.
In the 6th century, Pope Gregory I cut this list of eight sins down to seven by
combining “vainglory” and “pride”, merging “acedia” and “sadness”, and adding
“envy”. He placed them in an order based on the degree to which they are
opposed to love. This order is: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust.
Later theologians such as St. Thomas Aquinas, however, had different views
regarding this order.
The 13th century Dominican priest St. Thomas Aquinas listed manifestations
of each type of sin. Catholic doctrines also offer analyses by St. John Cassian and
Pope Gregory I, which discuss serious sins commonly encountered by believers,
such as the premise that the greed of thieves stems from desire.
Catholicism also proposes seven virtues which are opposed to the seven sins.
Sins Virtues
Lust Purity
Gluttony Self-restraint
Greed Vigilance
Sloth Integrity
Wrath Composure
Envy Giving
Pride Humbleness
What do you think each of the Seven Deadly Sins means? Why do people
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Suggested Answers
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What do you think is meant by each of the “Three Poisons”? Why are they
detested by humanity? Give the answers for them.
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Suggested Answers
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During the Yuan dynasty, the teachings of the Song dynasty Confucianist Zhu
Xi became the standard texts for the imperial exam system, while in the Ming and
Qing dynasties, his theories went on to become the way of thinking officially
promoted by the government. One of Zhu Xi’s key principles was “preserving
heavenly principles and eliminating human desire”. However, he did not mean that
we should eliminate all desires, as this is impossible; instead Zhu Xi was asking us
to get rid of all the material and private desires in human nature. The distinction
between “heavenly principles” and “human desire” lies in whether a desire sustains
the instinct to live.
The concept of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues for women already
existed in China at this time. They included “obeying the husband after marriage”,
and this meant that a woman had to be loyal and faithful to her husband, keeping
her chastity and not remarrying after he died, even to the point of sacrificing her
life for him. However, in the early Song period, ideas regarding sex remained quite
relaxed, and the concept of women preserving their chastity did not become the
mainstream. For example, the mother of the famous Song politician Fan Zhongyan
remarried, while the great politician Wang Anshi chose a new husband for his
son’s wife to remarry after his son became mentally ill. However, by the late Song,
Neo-Confucianism gradually became a mainstream way of thinking in society, and
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the ruling classes heavily promoted ideas of female chastity, such as “hunger is a
small matter, while losing one’s chastity is a disaster”.
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The concept of women not remarrying after the death of their husband stems
from “chastity”. Do you think that the idea of “chastity” has changed between
ancient times and the modern era?
Is chastity a virtue, a
neutral value or a
characteristic that people
detest?
Reason
Is chastity an intrinsic
value or an instrumental
value?
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Suggested Answers
Is chastity a virtue, a
neutral value or a
Virtue Virtue
characteristic that people
detest?
Is chastity an intrinsic
Intrinsic value or
value or an instrumental Intrinsic value
instrumental value
value?
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man/husband.
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Worksheet (9):
Story --- The celibacy of monks in Chinese Buddhism
As a religion which first took root in India, Buddhism exhibits strong Indian
cultural characteristics in many areas, including its moral values and lifestyle. In
the early years of Buddhism’s transmission to China, some of its religious customs
very obviously differed from mainstream Chinese values. For example,
contemporary Chinese rulers criticised Buddhist monks’ clothing because it
improperly displayed their chests and arms. At that time, Buddhist monks and
hermits had completed Master Mou’s Treatise Dispelling Doubts (Mouzi Lihuolun),
which reflects upon common misunderstandings of Buddhism in contemporary
Chinese society and attempts to dispel their doubts.
The chapter of the Confucian Classic of Filial Piety entitled the “Scope and
Meaning of the Treatise” states: “Our bodies, down to the last hair and piece of
skin, come to us from our parents, and we may not dare to injure or wound them.
This is the beginning of filial piety. When one has established one’s character
through the practice of the proper way, such as to make one’s name famous in
later ages and thereby bring honour to our parents, this is the end of filial piety. It
begins with the service of one’s parents, proceeds to the service of the ruler, and is
completed by the establishment of character”. Thus, children should not violate the
wishes of their parents, family elders or ancestors by their actions. This shows that
the Chinese cultural concept xiao, commonly translated as “filial piety”, is in fact
not limited to reverence for one’s parents; reverence for one’s parents is only the
beginning of the way of “filial piety”. Since the time of Confucius and Mencius,
China has promoted the idea that “there are three sins against filial piety; of these,
having no progeny is the greatest”. Of the numerous misunderstandings and areas
of confusion regarding Buddhism, one area that was heavily criticised by the
contemporary Chinese gentry was the Buddhist concept of monastic life, which
required monks and nuns to leave home and live a life of celibacy in a monastery
or nunnery.
Mencius’ Li Lou I describes the “three sins against filial piety”, which are:
1. Deceiving one’s parents with flattery and causing them to ignore
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righteousness;
2. Not entering public service and pursuing a career when one’s
parents are elderly and living in poverty;
3. Not marrying and having no children to continue to worship one’s
ancestors.
Mencius said: “There are three sins against filial piety; of these, having no
progeny is the greatest. Because of this, Shun married without informing his
parents, in case he should have no progeny. A gentleman would judge that it
would have been the same if he had informed them.”
Mouzi replied:
A pure soul and the state of non-activity are the deep wonders of monastic
life… The Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties all had good social practices, and the
people thoroughly read the works of the Sages. They read the Classic of Poetry,
the Classic of History, the Classic of Rites, the Book of Changes and the Classic of
Music and the Spring and Autumn Annals. They studied rites and laws, revered
virtue and morality, and they lived harmoniously with their neighbours in the
villages and streets. This is something that those of middling moral standards
pursue. Those of high moral standards aim to conquer their desires, and pursue
values of a higher level.
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Definition
Reason
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Suggested Answers
Ancient China Modern Society
Children must respect their
parents and show gratitude for
their parents’ kindness in
raising them. Children should Children must respect
not violate the wishes of their their parents and show
Definition parents, family elders or gratitude for their
ancestors by their action, and parents’ kindness in
should put them first in all raising them.
matters. There are three ways
of being unfilial, and the most
serious is to have no posterity.
Is the “filial way” a
virtue, a neutral value
Virtue Virtue
or a characteristic
that people detest?
Children are brought into the
world by their parents, and so Parents are kind to
they are the property of their children in raising them,
Reason
parents. In front of their and children should
parents, children do not qualify repay this kindness.
equally qualify as people.
Is the “filial way” an
intrinsic value or an Intrinsic value Intrinsic value
instrumental value?
Have people’s They have changed. In ancient With the rise of
attitudes to the “filial times, the basic unit of society individualism in modern
way” changed with was the family, and so times, society places
the times? Why? everything was determined by comparatively more
the family, which was centred emphasis on individual
on the interests and standards factors such as values,
of parents. Consequently, freedoms and equality.
children had to act in Consequently, besides
accordance with their parents’ the need to respect their
standards. parents, children are not
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Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I do not permit a
woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. For
Adam was first formed, then Eve. Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being
deceived, has fallen into disobedience; but she will be saved through child-
bearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.
Bible 1 Timothy Chapter 2
Source II: The “Three Obediences” first appeared in the Confucian classics of
the Zhou and Han, Rites and Ceremonies, Mourning Dress and Zi Xia. The Three
Obediences states that a woman, as a daughter, wife or mother, should obey men.
The subjugation of women goes back further, and in fact the Chinese character for
woman comes from the Shang dynasty oracle bone image of a woman kneeling
down and prostrating herself. The Book of Changes includes a sign and passage
which advocates that women practice lifelong obedience and fidelity to their
husbands, and women were later required to sacrifice their lives for their husbands
or remain chaste in widowhood,
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Women not only had to remain chaste and not remarry, but also had to endure
every hardship necessary to raise her sons, and respectfully obey her sons as the
leaders of the family, such that the sons decided all important matters.
Definition
Is obedience a virtue, a
neutral value or a
characteristic that people
detest?
Reason
Is obedience an intrinsic
value or an instrumental
value?
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times? Why?
Suggested Answers
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