Module 13: Ethics, Truth, and Reason

Topic Overview
Meta-ethics is the branch of ethics that studies the nature of morality. As such, it talks about the
meaning, reference, and truth values of moral judgments. It also explains what goodness and wickedness
mean and how we know about them. Studying the methods for choosing ethical principles can be said to
be part of this more basic branch of moral philosophy.

Because it studies the meaning of ethical language and the metaphysics of moral truths,
meta-ethics deals with questions like the following: Are there objective moral truths? What does the words
‘good,’ ‘bad,’ ‘right,’ and ‘wrong’ mean? Are moral judgments a matter of subjective personal feeling? If we
say, “slavery is wrong,” are we just making a claim about our customs or are we making an objective
declaration that is true regardless of what anybody may think? How do we know if something is right or
wrong? How may ethical propositions be supported or defended?

Technical Requirements
A. Laptop

B. Speaker/Headset

C. Windows Internet Explorer

Content Outline
A. Cognitivism vs Non-cognitivism
B. Empiricism vs Rationalism vs Intuitionism

Learning Objectives
At the end of this module, the learners should be able to:
A. identify the general subject areas in ethics;
B. explain the fundamental concepts in ethics; and
C. compare and contrast the theories under each general subject area.

Preliminary Activity

Video Analysis: Go to https://study.com/academy/lesson/mora-realism-truth-reasoning.html. Explain the

basic ethical concept of this short video clip.
Discussion/Instructional Flow

Meta-ethical theories are commonly classified semantically as either cognitivist or non-cognitivist;

epistemologically as empiricist, rationalist, or intuitionist.

1. Cognitivism vs. Non-cognitivism

a. Cognitivism states that moral judgments convey propositions that is, they are “truth bearers” or
they are either true or false. Most ethical theories are cognitivist as they contend that right and
wrong are matters of fact. The most famous forms of cognitive ethics are the moral realism and
ethical subjectivism.

Moral Realism claims that the existence of moral facts and the truth (or falsity) of
moral judgments are independent of people’s thoughts and perceptions. It maintains that morality is
about objective facts, that is, not facts about any person or group’s subjective judgment.

Ethical Subjectivism, on the other hand, holds that the truth (or falsity) of ethical
propositions is dependent on the attitudes or standards of a person or a group of persons.
Subjectivism is obviously contrary to moral realism.

b. Non-cognitivism denies that moral judgments are either true or false. It claims that ethical
sentences do not convey authentic propositions, hence are neither true nor false.

Emotivism is the moral popular form of non-cognitivist theory. It submits that moral
judgments are mere expressions of our emotions and feelings. Like exclamatory sentences, ethical
sentences cannot be said to be either true or false according to the theory.

2. Empiricism vs. Rationalism vs. Intuitionism

a. Moral Empiricism is a meta-ethical stance which states that moral facts are known through
observation and experience.

The theory is an extension of empiricism in epistemology which states that all knowledge
of matters of fact is derived from experience and that our mind is not equipped with
pre-experience concepts. Some forms of moral empiricism hold that moral truths are reducible
to matters about people’s opinions or cultural conventions and thus are recognizable by
observation or their conventions.
 b. Moral Rationalism contends that moral facts and principles are knowable a priori, that is, by
reason alone and without reference to experience.

As rationalism in epistemology claims that knowledge about reality is gained through

non-empirical deductive system, most forms of moral rationalism purport that moral facts are
known through rational inferential process. In general, the theory relies on reason rather than
intuition in justifying a belief or action.

c. Moral Intuitionism submits that moral truths are knowable by intuition, that is, by immediate
instinctive knowledge without reference to any evidence.

The theory claims that we have intuitive awareness of value or morality and that it defines
the basis of our ethical knowledge. It thus insists that the moral value of actions may be known
intuitively, even if their consequences have not been uncovered.

In its general form, it claims that some moral facts can be known without inference.
Hence, some empiricist and rationalist theories that promote non-inferential moral knowledge
may be compatible with moral intuitionism.

Post Activity

Directions: Go online to www.OurHappySchool.com. Through its search engine (upper right section), look
for the article, “10 Ethical Theses of Confucius.” Read the article and make an analysis of Confucius’ ethics
in relation to the moral theories discussed in this module. Make a write-up to answer this question by
following the format and content requirements of the Six (6) Facets of Understanding. Think also of the
appropriate title of your write-up. Be guided by the following questions in conceptualizing your write-up.

Explanation. What is your general understanding of the lesson by writing your ideas in your own words?

Interpretation. What meaningful story based on your observation and experiences that would support your
explanation?

Application. How can you apply the knowledge you have acquired from the lesson in a realistic context?

Perspective. What appropriate theory that could best explained your general understanding of the lesson
or a research literature or research findings cited by an expert in the field?
 Empathy. How are you going to use your acquired knowledge in dealing with other people in order to get
inside another person’s feelings and worldview?

Self-knowledge. What is your added learning that can be applied to your work as future professional in the
field of your specialization?

Also, be guided by the technical format of your write-up (Font-Times New Roman; 12-Font Size;
1.5-Spacing; Justify-both margin; each paragraph is indented).

Rubric of Assessment
Rubrics Written Materials (e.g., essay, reflective writing, reaction paper)

3 - Meets
Criterion 4 - Exemplary 2 - Developing 1 - Poor
Expectations
Gives complete Gives wrong
details and/or Gives almost answer/s.
descriptions of complete details Gives incomplete Nevertheless, the
required items to and/or descriptions, details but correct student tried to
Content
present. with one or two items exceed one from answer the material.
Presentation of ideas items lacking from those required. Effort should exceed
is focused and clear. those required. two lines to merit a
point.
Gives sequential Gives sufficient
description of description of Shows somewhat
answers provided. answers provided. logical organization of Poorly organized.
Succeeding Succeeding ideas but are vaguely Abrupt thoughts are
Organization of sentences build on sentences build on presented. Evidence of inserted into
Thoughts what is stated from what is stated from shifting ideas with discussion that is
the previous ones. the previous ones, poor transitions and unrelated to
Logical transitions though sequence of are abrupt in preceding ideas.
from one idea to ideas may be presentation.
another are evident. improved.
Skillfully evaluates
Gives sufficient
the material
evaluation of
presented based on Gives simplistic Insufficient reasoning;
Critical Thinking relationships among
facts, reflections, analysis of ideas lack of analysis
ideas but may be
insights, or
improved
reasoning
Essay looks fairly neat; Essay looks untidy;
Essay looks neat and Essay looks neat;
Grammar and spelling and Needs much
has no spelling and has few spelling and
Presentation grammatical errors are improvement in
grammatical errors grammatical errors
very notable grammar and spelling

Evaluation
Choose at least two (2) moral issues enumerated below. Discuss your answer on the said issues
based on the following perspectives. Write your answer on the table provided below.

1. Surrogate Motherhood 7. Birth Control

2. Drug Addiction 8. Abortion
 3. Suicide 9. Masturbation
4. Murder 10. Incest
5. Euthanasia or Mercy Killing 11. Adultery
6. Capital Punishment 12. Premarital Sex

Moral Issue
Description of the Moral Issue
Moral Realism
Ethical Subjectivism
Emotivism
Empiricism
Rationalism
Intuitionism

Bibliographical Reference
Mañebo, J., Calano, MJ., Buraga, J., & Paragas, R., (2013). Ethics. A Critical Evaluation of Moral
Philosophies. Mutya Publishing House, Inc., Malabon, City.

Corpuz, R., & Corpuz, B., ((2020). Ethics. Lorimar Publishing, Inc., Quezon City.

Pasco, M.O., Suarez, V.F., & Rodriguez, A.M., (2018) Ethics. C & E Publishing, Inc., Quezon City