CHAPTER 1: MORAL AND NON-MORAL STANDARDS

When classes were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you have been staying
at home most of the time. In the television, social media, or in print you see different ways by
which people display their behavior. Some might be appealing to you; others may make you feel
disgusted. But why such reactions? What makes you happy when you like a Facebook post; and
sad when the post seems not right?
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. define ethics and morality and differentiate them;
2. Identify the nature and purpose of morality, and
3. differentiate between moral and non-moral standards.

Activity

Take a deep breath and say the word “morality” in your mind three times. Then, on a
separate sheet of paper write a one-sentence description for each picture using your
understanding of the word morality as the guide of your judgment.
Photo A

Photo C
Photo B

Google photos

Analysis: Why do you think doing right actions is important?

Ethics
Ethics is the philosophical study of the nature of good life, of right action, and of duty and
obligation to do good. It is a sub-branch of philosophy under Axiology, a philosophy concerned
with human values. Hence, ethics is the philosophical study of morality we call moral philosophy.
It consists of universal beliefs or principles about what goodness is. Ariola (2018) enumerated
four ethical principles that can be found across cultures: a.) non-killing principle; b.) non-lying
principle; c.) non-stealing principle, and; d.) principle revolving sexual conduct. Examples of
issues that are ethical in nature includes honesty, freedom, and love.
From this, we can say that ethics is theoretical as it tries to critically reflect on the nature
of goodness or of the ideals of what’s moral and what’s not. Standards that govern professional
practice are also ethical principles. Physicians and nurses are some of the many health
professionals who give frontline services in this COVID-19 pandemic. The reason why they risk
their lives in the name of their professions is because they are ethically-bound to the life-giving
oath that they have taken.
 Morality
Morality on the other hand is about the rules that govern the promotion of human goodness
so that individuals and the society may flourish (Pojman, 2005). Morality then speaks of norms
(Pojman, 2005) or rules of human conduct. If ethics is theoretical, morality is practical and most
of the time relative. What we believe to be moral
in our culture may not be for the other. Religion
also influences our view of morality. For example,
Muslims consider eating pork as haram or
forbidden because the Holy Quran says that pork
is impure while for Catholics, a fiesta is incomplete
without lechon baboy.
Although law and morality should go hand-
in-hand, it is not always the case. Law is a system
of rules in a specific country enacted by its ruling
agency and once violated a corresponding
punishment is given. Cheating during a quiz may
be morally unacceptable but you can’t be put to jail
just because you let your classmate copy your
answers. Hence, what is immoral may sometimes
be not illegal

ETHICS AND MORALITY

Differences between ethics and morality.
Photo D

Morality is about what is right and

wrong—some things are right, others are
wrong. Morality is the code or rules in
Why be ethical? which our actions are judged against
shared values. Ethics are principles that
` Morality is, as Socrates said, “How we form those moral codes (Boone, 2017).
ought to live.” It is therefore important that we
study Ethics so that we would be able to align our
thinking, feeling, and action to what is good and beneficial not only to ourselves but to a much
larger community as well. For Boone (2017), Ethics helps us understand the world by providing
structure to it through the standards, virtues, and rules that it provides that guide our behavior; he
explains why it is important for us to act ethically with these points:
1. Acting ethically is a requirement for life. Ethics help us choose the best way to act so
that the things that we do will not be aimless, pointless, and random; hence, we live a life that is
happy, productive, and purposeful.
In this time of pandemic, you have a moral obligation to yourself to keep your mind and
body healthy by following certain health measures.
2. Acting ethically is a requirement for society. Kindness matters; it helps unite the society.
As members of a much wider community there are roles to play and rules to follow. Ethics helps
build relationships that keeps the society from falling apart.
 That is why, people are advised to stay at home in order to save other people’s lives during
this pandemic. If a Manila-based worker wants to go back to his province, he needs to see his
plan according to a much larger scheme of things before deciding and not just according to his
individual needs. One must do his or her part in making everyone safe and avoid the risk of viral
contagion by not travelling; it is in this sense that the Balik/Hatid Probinsya Program of Senator
Bong Go becomes problematic.
3. Acting ethically has a religious purpose. Because we need incentives to act morally,
religion provides such reward. Acting according to the norms of religion would make you take hold
of the promise of an eternal reward, doing otherwise would entail an after-life suffering. That is
why, for some people, doing what is right would mean following the commands of the holy text of
their religion.
In 2021, the Philippines will celebrate its 500 years of being Christianized. Christianity was
signalled in the country when Magellan and his troops first landed in Homonhon Island, Eastern
Samar. Our country is the only predominantly Catholic nation in the Asian region. In the present
COVID-19 situation, it was featured in the news that President Duterte said to shoot all those who
would violate the lockdown rules. Is his statement morally upright based on the teachings of
Christianity?
4. Acting ethically is for the benefit of oneself. The golden rule, “Do unto others what you
want others do unto you”, means that kindness begets kindness. Even when one behaves
appropriately because of self-interest, surely good things will follow. For Eastern philosophy, a
good act brings good karma.
We have this proverb “Ang susi sa kaligayahan ay ang pagiging mapagmapasalamat”.
That is why, you feel happy when you pack food for our COVID-19 frontliners because you feel
grateful for their heroism. That feeling of happiness is a personal gain yet it benefits not only
yourself but others as well.
5. We act ethically because humans are basically good. This is the major claim of moral
philosophy. Humans are naturally good and they try to behave accordingly. Do humans act
accordingly because they have to, or do they pursue an ethical life because there are acts that in
themselves are naturally good and worth pursuing? What do you think?
The Purpose of Morality
Living ethically assures that everyone will
flourish. Although morality may restrict
our freedom, acting morally upright
brings greater freedom to do good to
oneself and to others. Pojman (2005, p.7)
enumerates these purposes of morality:
1. To keep society from falling apart
Photo E
2. To ameliorate human suffering
3. To promote human flourishing
4. To resolve conflicts of interest in just
and orderly ways
5. To assign praise and blame, reward
and punishment, and guilt

The Nature of Moral Principles

To lead a moral life, one follows moral principles. These are practical guides that govern
our actions and these principles have these traits or characteristics (Pojman, 2005):
1. Prescriptivity. As what the word “prescribe” means, moral principles are imperatives, they
give commands. For example, “Do not steal” or “Love your enemies.”
2. Universalizability. Moral principles must apply to all relevantly similar situation. If cheating
is prohibited in a certain exam, then in all kinds of exam, cheating must not be tolerated. The key
here is consistency. Just like the golden rule, do not do to other people all the things that you
don’t want to be done to you.
3. Overridingness. Moral principles take precedence over other principles or one moral
principle may take over another. For example, civil disobedience may be morally upright when it
is done with a higher cause. That is why, going to rallies during the Martial Law or in the present
Anti-Terrorism Bill mañanita rallies are considered right even when they mean social
disobedience because they serve a greater purpose and that is to defend human freedom.
4. Publicity. Moral principles should be known by all who should follow them; they shouldn’t be
a secret because we use these principles to give commands, to assign rewards or punishment or
to give advice.
5. Practicability. Moral codes should be workable and they should not lay a heavy burden to
those who follow them. In other words, they could be done. If posting in Facebook your criticism
about the government would mean terrorism, then the Anti-Terrorism Bill is impractical because
turning a blind eye to what the government is
doing is not a practice of democracy. MORAL & NON-MORAL STANDARDS

Moral versus Non-moral Standards Moral standards involve the rules people
have about the kinds of actions they
Moral standards are principles that believe are morally right and wrong, as
have moral impact. They definitely point out well as the values they place on them.
what is right and wrong, good or evil. Moral Non-moral standards refer to rules that
standards provide a structure on how you are are unrelated to ethical considerations
going to live your life and how you relate with (ourhappyschool.com, 2018).
others in harmony as it outlines the values that
you share with others to promote goodness to
everyone, or the common good. That is why, not keeping your word, taking advantage of others,
or tarnishing your friend’s reputation in social media are seen as moral misconducts because they
do not promote goodness. Rules about table manners, classroom procedures and routines, or
dressing up for a party are considered non-moral standards because they are outside the scope
of morality, they do not have ethical considerations and would not give a great dose of guilt when
not followed. To violate a moral code with intention is to be immoral. An amoral act is neither
moral nor immoral. Feeling angry is natural, anger is amoral; but the act of killing someone due
to anger is another thing—it is immoral.
By now, you shouldn’t be surprised if in the preceding activity only the middle picture
speaks about morality. Answering your phone in a meeting, although it is disturbing to others,
does not mean immorality but stealing (the middle picture)does. To sleep during a classroom
discussion does not have a great moral impact but the intention for doing so may convey a moral
question.
ASSESSMENT
Answer directly the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Make a Venn Diagram on Ethics and Morality. Mention the similarities and differences of
Ethics and Morality.
2. Describe the nature and purpose of morality.
3. Make a T-Chart on the differences between moral and non-moral standards.

REFERENCES

Boone, B. (2017). Ethics 101: From Altruism and Utilitarianism to Bioethics to Political Ethics,
An Exploration of the Concepts of Right and Wrong. NY: Adams Media.

Pojman, L.P. (2005). How Should We Live? : An Introduction to Ethics. CA: Cengage Learning.