ETHICS

PART I (THE MORAL AGENT)

Submitted to : Liberty Bernardo

Submitted by : Nadia J. Puyong

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I: The Moral Agent

● How does culture shape moral behavior?
●Why should culture not be the ultimate
determinant of values?
● Is there a Filipino understanding of right
and wrong? Why this interpretation?
What are its influences?
 A. Culture in moral behavior
1.Culture and its role in moral behavior?
2.What is cultural relativism? Why it is not tenable in
ethics?
3.Are there an Asian and a Filipino understanding of moral
behavior.
Strengths and weaknesses?
B. The Moral Agent: Developing Virtue as habit
1.How long is moral character developed? The circular relation of
acts that builds character and acts that emanate from character.
2.Moral development
a. The stages of moral development
b. How do we get to the highest level, conscience-based moral
decisions
 Part I. The Moral Agent

How does culture shape moral behavior?

CULTURE- describes a collective way of life, or way of doing

things. It is the sum of attitudes, values, goals, and practices
shared by individuals in a group, organization, or society.

NORMS- Cultural norms are the shared, sanctioned, and

integrated systems of beliefs and practices that are passed
down through generations and characterize a cultural group.
Norms cultivate reliable guidelines for daily living and
contribute to the health and well-being of a culture.
 CULTURE AND ETHICS

Since interpretations of what is moral are influenced by

cultural norms, the possibility exists that what is ethical
to one group will not be considered so by someone living
in a different culture.

WHAT SHAPES CULTURE

Political Leadership- political landscape changes with time,

and people with diverse beliefs and motivations hold power to
motivate and alter the thinking of a majority of people in the
country.
Is there a Filipino understanding of right and
wrong?

Filipino believes in two kinds of karma: the good karma and

the bad karma. They know that if they did something right,
it will go back to them rightfully, meaning, they could
expect good things to happen to them.
MORAL STANDARDS

Are norms that individuals or groups have about the kinds

of actions believed to be morally right or wrong as well as
the values placed on what we believed to be morally good
or morally bad.

NON MORAL STANDARDS

Refer to standards by which we judge what is good or bad

and right and wrong in a non-moral way.
Ex: standards of etiquette, the law, standards of aesthetics
NORMS + VALUES =MORAL STANDARDS
“ Not all moral are
legal and not all
legal are moral “
 A. CULTURE IN MORAL BEHAVIOR
ETHICS- are the set of moral principles that guide a persons
behavior. These morals are shaped by social norms, cultural
practices, and religious influences.
---It reflect beliefs about what is right, what is wrong, what is
just, what is unjust, what is good, and what is bad in terms of
human behavior.
MORAL BEHAVIOR- to acts according to ones moral values and
standards.
---Each role is a set of rights, duties, expectations, norms, and
behaviors that a person has to face and fulfill. It is based on
observation that people behave in a predictable way, and
individuals behavior is context specific, based on social position
and other factors.
CULTURE AND ITS ROLE IN MORAL BEHAVIOR

Within culture are moral codes that are practiced through

social behavior. Moral codes are sets of rules or guidelines
that a person or group follows in order to live a just and
good life. Moral codes are heavily dependent upon culture.
 UNIVERSAL VALUES
Universal Human Values are those ideals that we believe
should be privilege and promoted in the lives of all human
beings in spite of the differing cultures and societies
where we grew up.
THE FILIPINO WAY
The Filipino culture is so rich and diverse that it has greatly
transformed in time. Although it is composed of diverse ethno
linguistic groups spread across the islands, these cultural communities
have somehow retained their indigenous moral values and belief
systems while consciously or unconsciously embracing Western
lifestyles brought about by colonial subjugation and adverse effects of
globalization that followed.
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Cultural relativism is the ability to understand a culture on its own

terms and not to make judgments using the standards of one’s
own culture.
The mindset of the Filipinos right now, especially the younger
generations, is to keep up with the trends and to climb the social
ladder. Not thinking if their actions are benefiting to the society.
As the saying goes, “change is good” and it has proven that it
truly is good. By learning to accept and adapt to the different
cultures brought upon the Philippines, we have become better
than we were before.
WHY IT IS NOT TENABLE IN ETHICS?

Cultural relativism is far from being an ethical principle

nor a method of collective decision making. It isn't even
basically speaking a moral/ethical theory. It does not tell
us that we should tolerate different cultures or refrain
from ethically judging the behavior of others. This is a
common misunderstanding.
STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao- Filipinos open to others and

feel one with others with dignity and respect deal
with them as fellow human beings. It is a foundation
for unity as well the sense of social justice.

2. Family Orientation- Filipinos possess a genuine and

deep love for family.

3. Joy and Humor- Filipinos have a cheerful and fun-

loving approach to life and its ups and downs.
4. Flexibility, Adaptability and Creativity- we can
adjust and adapt to circumstances and the
surrounding environment, both physical and social ;
adjusts to whatever happens even in unplanned or
anticipated events.

5. Hard Work and Industry- we have the capacity for

hard work given proper conditions ; to raise one’s
standard of living and to possess the essentials of a
decent life for one’s family.

6. Faith and Religiosity- Filipinos have deep faith in

God.
 WEAKNESS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER
1. Extreme Personalism- Filipinos view the world in terms of
personal relationship. We tend to give personal interpretations
to actions.
2. Extreme Family Centeredness – excessive concern for the
family creates an in-group to which the Filipino is fiercely loyal
to the detriment of concern for the larger community or for the
common good.
3. Lack of Discipline – The Filipino’s lack of discipline is
manifests in a casual and relaxed attitude towards tome and
space which manifest itself in lack of precision and
compulsiveness, in poor time management and procrastination.
4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative- Filipinos are generally
passive and lacking in initiative.

5. Colonial Mentality- Filipinos have a colonial mentality

which is made up of two dimensions :
a.Lack of patriotism
b.An actual preference for things foreign

6. Kanya-Kanya Syndrome- Filipinos have a selfish, self-

serving attitude that generates a feeling of envy and
competitiveness toward others, particularly one’s peers who
seem to have gained some status or prestige.
B. The Moral Agent: Developing Virtue as habit

MORAL CHARACTER AND VIRTUES

"CHARACTER“ is derived from the Greek word

'charaktêr,' which was initially used as a mark
impressed upon a coin.
Later mean a distinct mark by which one thing was
distinguished from others, and then chiefly to mean the
assemblage of qualities that distinguish one person
from another.
Stress on distinctiveness or individuality tends to
merge“ character" with "personality" in modern usage
 At the beginning of Book II of the Nicomachean Ethics,
the Greek philosopher Aristotle tells us that there are
two distinct of human excellences:
1.Excellences of Thought
2.Excellences of Character
MORAL CHARACTER
refers to having or lacking moral virtue
philosophers usually think that moral character traits, unlike other
personality or psychological traits, have an irreducibly evaluative
dimension; that is, they involve a normative judgment.
The agent is morally responsible for having the moral character trait
itself or for the outcome of that trait. Hence, a certain moral
character trait is a trait for which the agent is morally responsible.
THE CIRCULAR RELATION OF ACTS AND
CHARACTERS

Not all acts help to build moral character, but those acts
which emanate from moral characters certainly matter in
moral development, hence, there appears he apparent
circular relationship between individual acts and moral
character.
Moral development should also be understood in the sense
of human flourishing.
This flourishing is attained by the habitual practice of moral
and intellectual excellences, or‘ virtues.
Virtuous traits of character ought to be stable and
enduring and are not mere products of fortune, but of
learning, constant practice, and cultivation.

But we have to add that virtuous traits of character are

called excellences of the human being because they are
the best exercise of reason, which is the activity
characteristic of human beings.

In this sense, the Greek moralists believe, virtuous acts

complete or perfect human life
B. The Moral Agent: Developing Virtue as habit

MORALITY Pertains to the standards of right and wrong

than an individual originally picks up from the
community.

MORAL DEVELOPMENT
it refers to the ways people choose between right and
wrong as they mature. Morals are influenced by social and
cultural norms, as well as established laws.
 The Theory of Moral Development
was developed by American
psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg.
Kohlberg's theory is built upon Jean
Piaget's two-stage theory of moral
development. According to Piaget's
theory, a child's idea of rules,
punishments, and morals change with
age.

LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
(1927-1986)
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST
 STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Level 1 Pre conventional Morality

Stage 1 Obedience and punishment orientation
Stage 2 Individualism and Exchange
Level 2 Conventional Morality
Stage 3 Good Interpersonal Relationships
Stage 4 Maintaining the social-order
Level 3 Post Conventional Morality
Stage 5 Social Contract and Individual rights
Stage 6 Universal principles
Level 1. Preconventional morality- is the first stage of moral
development, and lasts until approximately age 9.

Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation.

The child/individual is good in order to avoid being punished.
If a person is punished, they must have done wrong.

Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange.

At this stage, children recognize that there is not just one
right view that is handed down by the authorities. Different
individuals have different viewpoints.
Level 2. Conventional morality is the second stage of
moral development, and is characterized by an
acceptance of social rules concerning right and wrong.

Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships

The child/individual is good in order to be seen as being
a good person by others. Therefore, answers relate to
the approval of others.

Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order.

The child/individual becomes aware of the wider rules
of society, so judgments concern obeying the rules in
order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt.
Level 3. Postconventional morality is the third stage of
moral development, and is characterized by an individuals’
understanding of universal ethical principles.
Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual Rights
The child/individual becomes aware that while rules/laws
might exist for the good of the greatest number, there are
times when they will work against the interest of particular
individuals.

•Stage 6. Universal Principles.

People at this stage have developed their own set of moral
guidelines which may or may not fit the law. The principles
apply to everyone.