Ethics

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Filipino Culture and Morality

Module 5 Filipino Culture and Morality,

Morality and Conscience

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Discuss the meaning of cultural relativism
2. Prove why cultural differences are not applicable to Ethics
3. Compare and contrast the Filipino psyche and Asian thinking
4. Enumerate the development of values
5. Appreciate the importance of conscience
6. Answer the question of the "greatest good."

Cultural Relativism
Culture relativity is a concept that cultural norms and values must be understood based on
the culture he is adhered to. As the saying goes, "different strokes for different folks," meaning that
if I am to understand a situation, the explanation must primarily begin with my culture. According
to William Graham Sumner, in his book "Folkways," written in 1906, culture can only be
understood in its value and content. For example, it is December 30 for the Filipinos. It is of value
for it is Rizal Day but is worthless to the Americans and the Japanese.
On the other hand, February 22 is Washington's Birthday to the Americans but of no value
to the Filipinos or the Japanese. The same is true every February 6, the foundation of the Japanese
Empire, but it is just an ordinary day to Filipino and American calendars. The example reflects the
significance or insignificance of these dates reflecting a national holiday to some and an ordinary
day to others. In the first place is Jose Rizal to the Japanese and Americans, but he is adored in the
Philippines. Conversely, George Washington is just a face in a one-dollar bill as far as Filipinos and
Japanese are concerned but a revered persona in America.
Ethics and Cultural Relativism
Before we delve into that, let us define ethical relativism, which is the theory that holds that
morality is related to the tenets of his culture. Right or wrong, a certain belief that prevails in
culture is shared by everyone. In a nutshell, everybody thinks the same way, considering that
anyone who belongs to a certain society subscribes to every norm they dictate. This is universality
in culture, for as everyone believed, culture is shared by everyone, and denial of their practices is a
pariah among their ranks. However, not everyone shared their beliefs because blind obedience
denies man the fundamental right of his freedom of choice. With his free will, he can decide what
is right or wrong, but he is aware of what his culture dictates to him and what to obey. For
example, During the Second World War, NAZI Germany believed that the extermination of Jews
was the "final solution" that may be akin to ethnic cleansing. The dictates of their Fuehrer Adolf
Hitler, have to be taken into account by every German, and it is expected that every German must
obey them to the letter. But not all Germans believed in this. Among them were a German
Course Module
industrialist and war profiteer Oscar Schindler who saved twelve hundred Jews from the
Auschwitz Concentration Camp to work in his metal factory. This proves that ethical relativism is
untrue. To discuss further, although Communist China Party Chairman believed in the apogee of
communism of human development and abhorred western culture, his successors believed
otherwise. Among them was Deng Xiaoping, who even went to the US and began China's rise to
industrialization –the worst enemy of the communist/socialist ideology.
Filipino psyche and morality
Being a nation of multi-cultural race, Filipinos are also cosmopolitan, and our hospitality
extends to almost every nation in the world. Filipinos are happy people that are known for their
hospitality, subtleness, patience, and fun-loving. Despite coming from a third-world country,
personal and family honor are given priority if given a choice. They value education highly, and
that poverty is not an excuse to get a scholastic degree. At an early age, Filipinos consider shame
as the worst among the negative trait they avoid. They value dignity as an important value in life
that they cannot live in a society that considers them an outcast. Spanish and American colonial
rule that lasted for more than four centuries is the major ingredient in the Filipino psyche.
Being a happy people that is understandable. Comparing Filipinos to other Asian nations,
they are generally more easy-going than their Asian counterparts. In a study conducted by the
Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Constituency (PERC), the Filipinos are "the easiest
people in Asia to get along with." In the 2006 Happy Planet Index (HPI), the Philippines ranked
17th out of 178 countries, with the progressive United States at 150. This shows that materialism
is not a primary source of Filipino happiness. In a study conducted by Howard, he described
Filipinos as nice, cheerful, and open people. Everyone is welcomed, even social misfits being the
most nonjudgmental and the least racist country in Asia. Filipino negative traits in an article
written by Alisa Krutovsky mentioned that Filipinos have a colonial mentality and are often tardy
during appointments.

Morality – a review
Morality, according to Perry, is man's effort to harmonize conflicting human interests. As
mentioned in the past modules morality of a person is different from another person. One example
is the case of public execution. Some sectors in the Philippine society consider this evil to take life
contrary to their belief that taking human life is against the laws of God. On the other hand, public
execution, especially the most humane type, lethal injection, is necessary to curb men from
committing evil deeds. Morality is the goodness or evilness of the act that may be justifiable.
People mistook that anything we find good is moral because man's pursuit of happiness is the
primary reason we live in this world. This is not true, for man's desire to be good is innate in him
and may prevent his pursuit of such an act. A married man might entertain extra-marital affairs,
especially with a lovely woman who also implies an interest in him, which is "good" for that is a
means to his pursuit of happiness. But then again, he might neglect this passion once he recalled
his marital vows, which is the greater good.
Values
Values are anything that satisfies human needs. Aristotle once said that the ultimate good is
finding things that will give us happiness, and that is where happiness comes in; he added that
value is a "fitting function" –anything significant to us. Anything that enriched our life or at least
made it means, such as a special someone, a friend, our laptop, our birthdays, or anything special,
is valuable. Even our beliefs and principles are values we share with our offspring that will guide
them to adulthood. Values may also come as actions of our own or of others that we classify as
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Filipino Culture and Morality

good acts are values, while evil deeds are not because they result in unhappiness. Morally good
values are genuine, for their goodness is evident, whereas evil is called apparent values, for they
are evil things masquerading as good.
Kinds of Values
1. Biological values are important because they are for the physical survival and growth of
man examples are food, shelter, work, pleasure, medicine, and the likes.
2. Psychological values contribute to his psychological and social life, examples as
companionship, friendship, marriage, etc.
3. Intellectual values – this developed man's mental fulfillment such as truth, science, art,
and religion
4. Moral values – this is for the formation of one's character. Examples are generosity,
kindness, charity, and honesty.
Conscience
Is it a feeling or inner voice that serves as a guide to the correctness or error of one's
behavior? Some authors viewed it as the "inner law" or the "sixth sense" that gives premonitions
to acts we are to perform or acts we already did. Where did this come from? Moral conscience is
the innate idea of following God's unwritten dictum of "follow good and obey evil ."Man is good,
for man is a creation of God, being the source of goodness. He created man endowed with free will
but induced conscience to ensure His words are heard.
An upright conscience is necessary for human dignity because it knows moral principles
and practices them in each circumstance. Only prudent judgments can recognize the truth. Anyone
who follows his conscience is prudent, for he is guided by human reason and God's voice. God is
the source of the truth, and through conscience, man can grasp a semblance of reason. Inasmuch
as conscience is present in the man, he assumes responsibility. When an evil act is performed, he
realizes his error by feeling remorse for his action and later regret it, which is a manifestation of
conscience. A show that is willfully done appears to be guided by conscience. Thereby
responsibility is undeniable.
The Greatest Good
Jeremy Bentham, a British philosopher during the 19th Century, answered that question
when he said that the "greatest good is for the greatest number ."He introduced Utilitarianism,
which simply states that the ends of action must be good. If it is not, then the action is unjustified.
Which is simply anything of use is good while useless is evil. But like a double-edged sword, it also
has a good side. He implied the spirit of humanity where everyone lived on a single planet and
their desire to be happy and good is innate in man. Everybody wants to be happy, so the best thing
is to follow happiness and goodness that is common to everyone. Being children of God, we have
identical aspirations, so whatever we find good might also be good to others.

Course Module
References and Supplementary Materials
Books and Journals
1. Panopio, Isabel, et al; Sociology focus in the Philippines; Ken Inc.; Quezon City
2. Agapay, Ramon B.; Ethics and the Filipinos; Mandaluyong Metro Manila, National
Book Store Inc.
3. Babor, Eddie R.; Ethics – The Philosophical Discipline of Action; Manile, Rex Book
Store
4. Montemayor, Felix; Ethics the Philippines; Navotas Metro Manila; National Book Store

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. Filipino character and Personality; http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-
asia/Philippines/sub5_6c/entry-3867.html; June 2015
2. Ethical Relativism; http://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-
making/ethical-relativism/; August 1, 1992
3. Moral Conscience; https://catholicity.com/catechism/moral_conscience.html; 2018