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Moral Standards and Non-moral Standards

Why distinguish?
• Some values have moral implications and some don’t
• To avoid unnecessary imposition of one’s own cultural standard on others
• To find a common moral ground that cuts across cultures

Moral standardS
involve serious wrongs or significant benefits
ought to be preferred to other values
Promote the well-being of humans, animals and the environment
are not established by authority figures
have the trait of universalizability
are based on impartial considerations
are associated with special emotions (guilt, shame or remorse)

Non-Moral standardS
• Standards by which our judgement has no moral implication
• Standards of etiquette
• Standards of law
• Standards of aesthetics
• Performance standards

Moral dilemma
• Two actions that one can possibly choose
• There is a moral reason for choosing
• One cannot possibly choose all possible actions
Personal Moral Dilemma
• experieced and resolved in the personal
level Organizational moral Dilemma
• members of the organization are in involved in a moral conflict
• involves issues on corporate practices, policies relationship with workers and
clients Structural Moral DIlemma
• person or group of persons who holds a high position in society faces a
morally conflicting situation that will affect the entire society

Freedom as the foundation of morality

• Morality involves choice
• Why only humans can be ethical?
• rational, autonomous and self-conscious
• Only humans have the capacity for free moral judgement
• Resposibility follows freedom -exercise of freedom is not without consequences

Culture and Moral BehavioR

• “cultura” or “cultus” to cultivate
• A way of life
• Social environment
• it is transmitted, shared and acquired through learning
• Molds us in to the person we are
• Establishes common objectives
• social influence is impressed on our behavior

Elements of culture

• Values - standard for discerning what is good and just

• Beliefs - convictions that people hold to be true
• Norms - define how to behave in accordance with what a society has defined as
good, right, and important (formal and informal)
• Mores - are norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group
• Symbols - gestures or objects that have associated meanings
• Language - a symbolic system of communication
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Culture has great impact in the development of the human person

• Knowledge
• Thought
• Relationship
• Religious belief
• Moral development

How culture influnces moral behavior

• Culture provides principles, norms, customs, laws and moral demands
• It define systematic patterns of behavior
• It imprints moral principles
• It promotes or rejects principles to attain the objective of the society
(normative principles)
• It sets restrictions and boundaries
• Culture shapes the moral character of a person

Cultural Relativism
The idea of universal truth in ethics is a myth.
The customs of different societies are all that exist.
Our own code of ethics has no special status, it is merely one among many
To say that a custom is ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’ would imply that we can judge that
custom by some independent standard of right and wrong, but no such standard exists.

The Cultural Differences

Different cultures have different moral codes.
Therefore, there is no objective ‘truth’ in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of
opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture

Cultural relativists claim the following:

1. Different societies have different moral codes.
2. The moral code of a society determines what is right or wrong within that society.
3. There are no moral truths that hold for all people at all times.
4. There are no moral universal standards.
5. The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is but one among many.
6. It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures. We should always be tolerant of them.

What Follows If Cultural Relativism Is True?

We could no longer honestly say that the customs of other societies are morally
inferior to our own.
We could no longer justifiably criticize the code of our own
society. The idea of moral progress is called into doubt.

Why There Is Less Disagreement Than It Seems

The difference is in our belief systems, not in our values.
We cannot conclude that, because our customs differ, our values
differ. The difference in customs may be due to something else.

Some Values Are Shared by All Cultures

Any culture that continues to exist must care for its young. Infants who are not
cared for must be the exception rather than the rule.
Every society must also value truthfulness.
Some prohibition against murder is also a necessary feature of any society if it
is to persist.

Objections on Cultural Relativism

1. Different societies have different moral codes.

True, but some values are shared by all cultures.
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2. There are no moral truths that hold for all people at all times.

In order to criticize other cultures, however, we can appeal to broad principles.

3. The moral code of a society determines what is right or wrong within that society.

This is closely tied to what people believe to be right; however, the code and
the people can be in error.

4. The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is but one among many.

True, but one moral code might be better or worse than others.

5. It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures. We should always be tolerant of them.

We shouldn’t tolerate everything. Human societies have done terrible things,

and we can acknowledge moral progress.

Cultural relativism rightly warns us about the danger of assuming that all our
preferences are based on some absolute rational standard.

Cultural relativism has us keep an open mind regarding the practices of both our
culture and the cultures of other societies.

An understanding of Asian and Filipino MORAlity

Hinduism

• Reincarnation

• Law of Karma

• To do evil deeds will result in rebirth at the lower levels of

life Buddhism

• Buhhda is a teacher and model

• Life is full of sufferings

• Noble truth about Sorrow

• Noble truth of the Arising of sorrow

• Noble truth of the stopping of sorrow

• Noble truth of the way

1. Right understanding and viewpoint (based on the Four Noble Truths).

2. Right values and attitude (compassion rather than selfishness).

3. Right speech (don't tell lies, avoid harsh, abusive speech, avoid gossip).

4. Right action (help others, live honestly, don't harm living things, take care of
the environment).

5. Right work (do something useful, avoid jobs which harm others).

6. Right effort (encourage good, helpful thoughts, discourage unwholesome

destructive thoughts).
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7. Right mindfulness (be aware of what you feel, think and do).

8. Right meditation (calm mind, practice meditation which leads to nirvana)

The five precepts of Buddhism

1. Do not harm or kill living things.

2. Do not take things unless they are freely given.

3. Lead a decent life.

4. Do not speak unkindly or tell lies.

5. Do not abuse drugs or drink alcohol.

Confucianism

Social order would flow naturally if they were cultivatedin the realm of everyday
interaction which centers on the family

PRECEPTS of Confucianism

Collectivism. Confucianism is known for collectivism. Collectivism promotes the welfare of

the group.
Filial Piety. Confucianism emphasizes filial piety in relationship between parent and
child. Mentoring. Mentoring is a process of helping a less-experienced person by a
more mature individual
Reciprocity. Relationships connote mutual attitudes and responses
Seniority. Seniority is a value in setting up social hierarchies.
Moral authority. Moral ascendancy over subordinates

Cardinal virtues of Confucianism

Benevolence
ability to recognize the need of others
being sensitive on the needs of others, to recognize their needs, and accordingly, to
respond to these needs.
Righteousness
righteousness and duty (doing things that ought to be done)
Propriety.
It can be understood as good manners, politeness, civility and rituals
It is a genuine way of relating with others, a way in which impulses are tamed,
transforming them into civilized expressions of human nature and social conduct
Wisdom.
an advance cognitive functioning and intellectual growth.
ability of the individual to find rational enlightenment and to act based on this
rational enlightenment
Trustworthiness.
refers to faithfulness and trustworthiness, especially in spoken words

Understanding Filipino Moral Identity

Religious inclinations
• Split level Christianity
• Disparity between what we ought to do and what we are
doing Perception of others
• Hiya
Pakikisama
Utang na loob
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Filipino Customs and Tradition

1. Close family ties
2. Bayanihan
3. Courtship
4. Religion
5. Superstition
6. Marriage and Wedding Customs
7. Death
8. Christmas season
9. Fiestas
10. Living with Parents

Filipino Family values and social values

1. Paggalang
2. Utang na loob
3. Pagpapahalaga sa pamilya
4. Smooth interpersonal relationship
5. Compadre System
6. Suki relationship

Universal values
• Generally shared by all cultures

• Behavioral standards that are necessary to live in a harmonious and peaceful society

Examples of Universal values

• Happiness
• Peace
• Love
• Freedom
• Safety
• Intelligence
• Truth
• Human respect
• Equality
• Justice
• Nature
• Health
• Life
• Human dignity

Moral Character
• Character – set of qualities that make us unique and stand out from others
• Moral character can be conceptualized as an individual's disposition to think, feel,
and behave in an ethical versus unethical manner (Cohen, 2014)
• Good moral character
• A person with the (right) values

• Native traits – genetic characteristics

• Early childhood development – social influence is strongest during the you age
• Surrounding culture – social factors that influence our behavior
• Age – as a person advances, his worldview is changing
• Gender - a person is expected to conduct himself/herself according to the
roles of his/her gender

Stages of Moral Development

By Lawrence Kohlberg

Preconventional – based on rewards and punishment

• Stage 1 Punishment orientation
• Stage 2 Pleasure-seeking orientation
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Conventional
• Stage 3 Good boy/Good girl orientation
• Stage 4 Authority orientation

Post Conventional
• Stage 5 Social Contract – based on personal moral standards and acceptance of
rules (social contract orientation):
• Stage 6 Morality of Individual principles – guided by self-chosen universal
ethical principles

Sources:
De Guzman, Jens Micah., et al.(2018) Ethics: Principles of Ethical behavior in society.Mutya
Gallinero, Winston B., et al. (2018). Ethics. Mutya Pub.: Malabon.
Gazzingan, Leslie B., et al (2018). Panday Lahi: Muntilupa.
Leano, Roman & Guia-on, Arthur. (2018). Ethics for College students. Mindshapers Co.: Manila.
MacKinnon, Barbara & Fiala, Anrew. Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues. Cengage: USA.
Pub.: Malabon.
Ocampo, Ma. Liza Ruth. (2018). Ethics Primer: A young person's guide to moral reasoning.
Vibal Pub.: Manila.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Lawrence_Kohlberg%27s_stages_of_moral_development