Ethics- BatStateU

MODULE 10
REASON AND IMPARTIALITY AS REQUIREMENTS FOR ETHICS

Introduction
In this module, students will learn the concepts of reason, morality, and impartiality. It will
help them to think rationally what is good and what is bad; and to be just and fair to benefit not
themselves but to benefit the majority. This module gives emphasis on the principle that every
person is equally important and to give equal consideration to the interests of majority. Lastly, it
will help students to develop their logical, rational and analytical thinking.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
l) Discuss the ethical requirement of reason and impartiality.
m) Discover different occupations where reasons, impartiality, and morality are part of their
professions
n) Apply reason and impartiality on the different societal issues.
o) Develop possible solutions on the current situation of the country.

Learning Content

Reason and Impartiality

Humans have not only feelings but also reason, and reason plays a vital role in Ethics. In
fact, moral truths are truths of reason; that is, a moral judgement is true if it is espoused by better
reasons than the alternatives (De Guzman et al. 2017).

Reason is the ability of the mid to think, understand, and form judgments y a process of
logic. It is an innate and exclusive human ability that utilizes new or existing information as bases
to consciously make sense out of thing while applying logic. It is also associated with thinking,
cognition, and intellect (“Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirement for Morality”). In the
article “Kant and Hume on Morality,” Reason and experience are required for determining the
likely effects of a given motive or character trait, so reason does play an important role in
moral judgment.

According to De Guzman et al. (2017), reason spells the difference of moral judgments
from the mere expressions of personal preference. If after eating someone says, “I like a sweet
cake,” he is not required to support it with good reasons for that is a statement about his/her
personal taste and nothing more. But in the case of moral judgments, they require backing by
reasons. In the absence of sensible rationale, they are merely capricious and ignorable. Moral
deliberation is a matter of weighing reasons and being guided by them. In understanding the

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nature of morality, considering reasons is indispensable. Truth in Ethics entails being justified
by good reasons. That is, the rightful moral decision involves selecting the option that has the
power of reason on its side.

Being defined by good reasons, moral truths are objectives in the sense that they true
no matter what we might want or think. We cannot make an act moral or immoral just by
wishing it to be so, because we cannot merely will that the weight of reason be on its side or
against it. And this also explains why morality is not arbitrary. Reason commends what it
commends, regardless of our feelings, attitudes, opinions, and desires. Since the connection
between moral judgments and reasons is necessary important, then a proposed theory on the
nature of moral judgment should be able to give an account for the relation. In focusing on
attitudes and feelings, both Emotivism and Subjectivism fail to accomplish this important thing
De Guzman et al. 2017).

As stated in the article “Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirement for Morality,”
impartiality is manifesting objectivity. It is the quality of being unbiased and objective in creating
moral decision – underscoring that a (morally) impartial person makes moral decisions relative to
the welfare of the majority and not for specific people alone. According to De Guzman et al.
(2017), impartiality involves the idea that each individual’s interest and point of view are equally
important. Also called evenhandedness or fair-mindedness, impartiality is a principle of justice
holding that decisions ought to be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias,
prejudice, or preferring the benefits to one person over another for improper reasons.

Impartiality in morality requires that we give equal and/or adequate consideration to the
interests of all concerned parties. The principles of impartiality assumes that every person,
generally speaking, is equally important; that is, no one is seen as intrinsically more significant
than anyone else. Other ethicists however, suggest that some clarifications is required. From the
impartial standpoint, to say that no one is seen as intrinsically more significant than anyone else,
is not to say that there is no reason whatsoever for which an individual might demand more moral
attention or better treatment than others. Many ethicists supposed that from the impartial point of
view, properly conceived, some persons count as more significant, at least in certain ways. A
virtous and respectable religious leader maybe supposed to be more significant than a mere maid;
so an emergency (say, a building on fire) the decent religious leader ought to be rescued first. The
reason, nonetheless, is not that the religious leader is intrinsically more significant; rather, it is that
he makes greater contribution to the society (De Guzman et al. 2017).

Why are Reason and Impartiality the Minimum Requirements for Morality?
Is someone tells us that a certain action is immoral, we may ask why it is so, and if there is
reasonable answer, we may discard the proposition as absurd. Also if somebody utters that a
particular act is wrong and explains that it is because it does not happen to fits his taste, then we
also do not count his claim as legitimate ethical judgment. Clearly, thus reason is a necessary
requirement for morality (De Guzman et al. 2017).

In the article “Impartiality,” it was stated that the only respect in which morality requires
impartiality is with respect to violating moral rules—for example, those rules prohibiting killing,
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causing pain, deceiving, and breaking promises. It is only with regard to these kinds of moral
rules—those that can be formulated as prohibitions—that it is humanly possible to act impartially
with regard to a group large enough to be an appropriate group.

As stated in the article “Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirement for Morality,”
Reason and impartiality become the basic prerequisite for morality as one is excepted to be able
to deliver clear, concise, rightful, and appropriate judgments made out of logic and understanding
in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner while considering the general welfare to accurately
concoct moral decisions.

Learning Activity
Directions: Each group will think 2 occupations or professionals. Using what they had learned
from reason, impartiality, and morality, each group will create a persuasion map and write down
all the facts, examples, and information to back up their reasoning. End your persuasion map with
a conclusion.

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GRAPHIC ORGANIZER RUBRIC

DIRECTIONS: Using the following criteria, choose the appropriate number from the
following scale that reflects your assessment of the student’s work.

1 = Weak 2 = Moderately Weak 3 = Average 4 = Moderately Strong 5 = Strong

11. The graphic organizer has an appropriate title and labels.

12. The graphic organizer’s lines, boxes, and text are neat and legible.
13. The information in the graphic organizer is accurate.
14. The spelling, grammar, and punctuation of the text on the graphic
organizer are accurate.
15. The graphic organizer presents the information in a manner that is easy
to follow.
16. The relationships presented in the graphic organizer are correct and
clear.
17. The form in which the graphic organizer portrays the information is
appropriate to the relationships being represented.
18. The graphic organizer demonstrates an understanding of the
topic, its relationships & related concepts.
19. The graphic organizer fulfills all the requirements of the
assignment.
20. Overall, the graphic organizer represents the student’s full
potential.

TOTAL:

Comments:_________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Learning Assessment
Directions: Make a reaction paper on the following topics based on the principle of reason,
impartiality, and morality. Provide pieces of evidence that will support your viewpoint and develop
possible solutions on the following issues.

1. Covid-19 response of Department of Health.

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2. Alleged corruption and anomalies at PhilHeallth.

3. Passage of Anti-Terrorism Law
4. ABS-CBN franchise renewal
5. NCR and CALABARZON was under Modified ECQ again

[Type the document title]

Skills 5 4 3 2 1
Content and Analysis: -insightful clear ideas that Some ideas are The paper contains Ideas are not
the extent to which and/or sophisticated fully clearer than others an attempt to developed. Little to
the response conveys ideas that fully address address the and address the address the no textual evidence
complex ideas and the prompt and are prompt and are prompt. Ideas are prompt, but the is used.
fully supported by supported by supported by some writer provides little Mostly personal
information clearly relevant, accurate and relevant, accurate relevant clear, relevant
and responses.
specific evidence from and sufficient evidence. evidence.
accurately in order to appropriate sources. evidence.
respond to the task Evidence used is Evidence used is
and justified and clearly justified and
support an analysis of developed. developed
the text
Organization The paper follows a The paper follows The paper follows The paper does not The paper does not
clear and logical a logical train of a somewhat follow a train of follow a train of
train of thought. thought. confused train of thought. The paper thought. The paper
The introduction and The paper’s thought. is missing is missing
conclusion are introduction and The paper has an introduction or an introduction and
effective conclusion an introduction conclusion and the conclusion and the
and the writer always are functional and conclusion writer uses few writer fails to use
uses topic sentences and the writer and the writer topic sentences topic sentences
and effective always uses some and/or transitions. and/or transitions.
transitions uses topic topic sentences
sentences but less and adequate
effective transitions.
transitions.
Command of Quotations are Effectively Evidence is Evidence chosen Little or no
Evidence smoothly blended in. utilizes present, but does not support evidence is used.
Evidence is highly quotations, Superficial. Quotes ideas/claims. Quotes
persuasive and Evidence is are used, but not are irrelevant.
effective. believable and well blended.
convincing.
Reflections Conscious and Thoughtful Basic Ideas lack Does not address
thorough understanding of understanding of development; the prompt or gives
understanding of the the writing the writing misunderstanding of a basic plot
writing prompt and prompt. Analysis prompt and the prompt or text; little summary without
the subject matter. is believable subject matter. No to no reflection on commentary
Creative/original and convincing, a in-depth the text.
ideas and insights; few reflection.
extensive, insightful assertions may
commentary. lack
specific examples,
but
are still logical.
Mechanics and Demonstrates a Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrate a lack
Conventions mastery of writing control of the control of the emerging control of of control of
conventions conventions conventions conventions with conventions with
Language use includes a variety of that do not with infrequent some errors that frequent errors that
sentences marked by hinder errors, includes hinder make
varying opening comprehension, minimal variety in comprehension, lacks

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words and structure; includes some sentence structure variety in sentence comprehension
effective syntax and variety in and transitions. structure and difficult.
grammar. transitions and transitions.
sentence
structure.

Learning References
24. Kant and Hume on Morality (2018) Accessed August 9, 2020
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-hume-morality/#ReasEmotMora
25. Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirement for Morality. Accessed August 9, 2020
https://www.coursehero.com/file/44441436/Gr-5-Ethicspptx/
26. De Guzman, J. M., Tesico, M. D., & Paras, W. D. (2017). Ethics Principles of Ethical
Behavior in Modern Society. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
27. Impartiality (2020). Accessed August 9, 2020
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/impartiality