Cristine Joy F.

Ferrer’
BSA

Ethics Prelim Exam

Answer in not less than three(3) sentences

I. Cite your opinion regarding the following

1. Euthanasia
Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient's suffering.
I am against willful extermination or the euthanasia being authorized. I do believe that
human existence is a gift from God, and that ending one's own life isn't right and
unethical. We are not given the right to play the role of God. Tolerating willful
extermination as a suitable choice might contrarily affect cultural perspectives as well as
the relationship of humans. With regards to life and death, I believe that miracles do
occur; there have been instances of patients awakening after years in a state of
unconsciousness. No matter how beneficial it is to others, I am still against it.

2. Ethics
As we all know ethics determine what behaviors are "right" or "wrong." In addition, ethics
is the standards or codes of behavior expected of an individual or by group. Ethics requires us
to consider whether our actions are morally correct or not. It also inquires as to how those
character traits that aid human flourishing (such as integrity, honesty, faithfulness, and
compassion) manifest themselves in daily life. An example of ethical behavior is being honest
(an individual's ethic carries over from their personal life to their professional life and ensures
they are truthful in all situations).By guiding people's behavior, ethics can make a society more
peaceful, harmonious, and enjoyable to live in. Because the eyes of the law are not always
available, ethics acts as a self-governing system to keep human self-interest and the good of
society in balance.

3. Morality
We define morality as the set of standards that enable people to live cooperatively in
groups. It’s what societies determine to be “right” and “acceptable.” We usually do not
distinguish the difference between ethics and morality but what we know is that they have
something to do with right and wrong. For me, our morality somehow depends on our
surroundings as it influenced it, together with our religions and cultures. For example, some
believe that killing is wrong as it is against religious beliefs and teachings. However, some make
an exemption for killing in a war to safeguard the nation or killing for self-defense. Morality
changes as our society changes also. But,if someone is against what you believe or something
related to your morality,then respect it, let them accept something on their own. If they don’t
want to, then accept and just respect it.
4. Moral Dilemma
A moral dilemma is a situation that involves a choice, decision, act/action, solution that
may include an unpleasant problem or situation where you feel you simply do not know what to
do or which way to turn. A moral dilemma is a conflict situation in which the choice one makes
causes a moral harm, which cannot be restlessly repaired. It is a situation in which it is very
difficult to decide what to do because all the choices seem equally good or equally bad. Let me
give a situation and a question, you are driving to work one day when suddenly you get involved
in a two-car crash. A pedestrian is killed. While you are getting out of your car, the other driver
comes up to you in tears, convinced they had killed the innocent passer-by. You know the fact
that it was you who did it. There are no witnesses to the accident. You know that the culprit will
be sent to prison for their crime. Will you let the driver take the blame? What will you do?

5. Moral Standards
These are rules about the kinds of actions that are morally right and wrong, as well as
the values placed on what is morally good or bad. Specifically, moral standards deal with
matters which can either seriously harm or seriously benefit human beings. Based on my
example in number three about killing, we can say that it has something to do with our moral
standards. We believe that killing is very wrong but as we go deeper, there are instances that
we do something because of an acceptable reason like we kill that person because of self-
defense.

II. Explain the following.

1. Why is it that only human beings can be ethical?

Because we are rational, autonomous, and self-conscious. We are the only ones that
can make a decision and decide what is actually right and wrong and what is acceptable or not.
We can make judgments and reflect on what we are doing that others can’t. We have a
capability to change our perspectives and the way we behave. Others, like animals, don't have
cognitive capacities to understand the complex rules of humans but rather based on their
experiences. We, humans, are the only ones who can make and understand the complex rules
that we call ethics.

2. When do we say that an act is moral or nn-moral?

For me, we can say that an act is moral if there’s a goodness with it and if it follows the
moral rules. Just like for example, one of your relaties committed a crime, he stole money from
a stranger. The moral thing that you can do is to return it to the owner despite a result where
your relative suffers but the owner will be able to buy something for his family. On the other
hand, we can say that your act is non moral if one acts contrary to or does not obey or conform
to standards of morality. Just like for example, you wear shorts at a formal dinner party.

3. Was there ever a time that you compromise your moral convictions? How did you feel about
it?
 Yes, there are times that I compromised my moral convictions. I usually say yes even
when my heart says no. I usually agree with what they said even if I don’t. Just like in my
course, they want me to become an accountant but my heart says I want to become a computer
engineer. I always felt that I’m just here to fulfill what others want. But, I do believe that
everything happens for a reason. I know that God has a plan for me and this is His will. I will
accept it because I know that His plans are bigger than mine.