ETHICS THROUGH THICK AND THIN,

AND ETHICS AND RELIGION

 LESSON 1:
MORAL CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZAION
Globalization has significantly reduced distance barriers, compressing space and time, and
enabling the free transfer of capital, goods, and services across national borders. This has led to faster
intercontinental transactions, allowing for the impact of events happening millions of miles away on
local events.

Globalization has transformed social geography from primarily territorial to increasingly

transnational, allowing individuals to interact with people from around the world. This has led to the
possibility of events happening oceans away affecting local ones. However, the concept of transnational
harm, defined as damage or loss caused by a person, is also a concern, as it defines human obligation to
others and the natural environment.
 Moral Challenges of
Globalization

The rise of radical
inequality
Technological advancements are causing a
growing wealth gap, with the majority in
poverty. Globalization, used by capitalist
countries to maintain dominance, is seen as
morally condemnable from consequentialist
and deontological perspectives. Convenientists
argue that globalization fails to maximize
happiness for the majority, while deontological
perspectives condemn it for treating exploited
populations as "means to an end" rather than
"end in themselves."
The problem of managing global
environment to prevent global
ecological collapse
The world faces numerous environmental
issues, including depleting ozone, global
warming, and species reduction. Industrial
activity, primarily in the West and Asia,
affects the entire world, while advanced
countries benefit from it. Human population
growth threatens to exceed Earth's capacity
to support, exacerbating global
environmental problems.
The intrusion of international
economic organizations on
indebted nations
International financial institutions, such as the
World Bank and International Monetary Fund, act
as mediators in international agreements, lending
money to countries for developmental plans.
Established in 1944, they led to the Bretton Woods
Agreement, establishing the US dollar as the global
currency. However, their accountability and
influence are questionable, as they can forcibly
impose economic policies on societies worldwide,
potentially losing state sovereignty.
 Calls for a Global Ethic
Scholars suggest a global ethic is necessary to address global ethical issues and promote peace and
justice. This universally accepted set of principles can regulate global interactions and lessen social
injustices committed by the global community.

As discussed in our topic about Cultural Relativism, university Professor James Rachels enumerated
three universal values shared by all cultures. These are:

CARING FOR THE MURDER IS TELL THE

YOUNG WRONG TRUTH
 Moral Absolutism:
An ethical perspective on universal value

Moral absolutism is the ethical belief that actions can be judged

as right or wrong based on absolute standards, regardless of
situational background. It is promoted by philosophers like
Plato and Aristotle, with Immanuel Kant being the most
prominent. Kant believed in treating humanity as an end and
promoting good or goodwill without qualification.
 Moral Absolutism:
An ethical perspective on
universal value
Moral absolutism is the ethical belief that actions can
be judged as right or wrong based on absolute standards,
regardless of situational background. It is promoted by
philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, with Immanuel Kant
being the most prominent. Kant believed in treating humanity
as an end and promoting good or goodwill without
qualification.
 Advantages of Moral
Absolutism

It allows moral rules to be evaluated

critically.

It is fair as people are treated the same as

the rules are the same for everyone.

If a moral rule is right, then there would

be no need to have different rules for
different people because the absolute
rules are universal.
 Criticism to Moral
Absolutism

Sometimes it is not appropriate to treat people

the same due to circumstances that arise from
different situations.

Life is not simply “black and white”.

 The Challenge of Pluralism
Pluralism is a recognition process where diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or
social groups participate in and develop their culture within a common
civilization. It is a theory in philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy, asserting
multiple independent sources of value and no single truth in moral matters.

In political philosophy, some points about pluralism claimed by pluralists in the

Pluralism Project at Harvard University are:

1. Pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with

diversity.
2. Pluralism is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding
across lines of difference.
3. Pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments.
4. Pluralism is based on dialogue.
 Ethical Pluralism
Ethical pluralism, also known as moral
pluralism or value pluralism, suggests that
there is no single moral system that can
objectively judge an action as right or wrong.
It suggests that there is no definitive way to
decide which is the better course of moral
action, making it difficult to choose between
competing values.
 The Challenge of Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is an approach to religion (and by extension moral philosophy)
that literally and strictly adheres to their religious doctrines. A collection of essays
called “The Fundamentalist Mindset” laid out the psychological structure or
features of fundamentalism. These are:

1. Dualistic Thinking: Fundamentalists view the world in binary categories, focusing on

goodness, badness, rightness, and opposition without considering context or
probabilities.
2. They are obsessed with the “ultimate end” for society and humanity. This mindset
usually has two components: first, the current system must “end”; and second, to
witness a new beginning.
3. Cult Leadership. Fundamentalist groups are usually founded by a charismatic leader
who is able o wield total devotion from followers.
4. Total Conversion and commitment. Members are fully immersed and committed to
their religious doctrine. Loyalty and commitment is not only expected, it is demanded.
Moral Absolutism versus Fundamentalism

Fundamentalism is a kind of Moral Absolutism but in a radical

way. Moral absolutism is an assertion that human beings
should base their behavior on universal values or as Kant
prescribed “goodwill without conditions”. Fundamentals, on
the other hand, believe their doctrines ARE the universal
values that everyone SHOULD follow.
 Lesson 2:
MILLENIALS AND “FILLENIALS”:
ETHICAL CHALLENGES AND
RESPONSES
 The Filipino Millenials (”Fillenials”)
In 2010, 25 million Filipino millennials (aged 15-29) made up 53% of the working population in 2015. They are the
highest percentage of Filipino workers abroad. Most Filipino youth own mobile phones and use the internet, with 20-
29-year-olds being the most common Facebook users.

Currently, there are four generations working in the same workplace:

TRADITIONALISTS Those born from 1900 - 1945. The generation that lived through two World Wars.
Their formative years were that of survival

BABY BOOMERS Those born from 1946- 1964. They are called “Baby Boomers” because of the
significant increase of population in their generation.

GENERATION X Those born from 1965 - 1980. The generation born in the era of video games and
computers.

MILLENNIALS Those born from 1981 - 2000. They are also called the “digital natives”. They grew up
in the digital age, rather than acquiring familiarity of it as an adult. The generation
born in the internet era.
 Generation Z, born in 2001 to present, is the iGeneration, born in an era of individualized mobile technologies. By 2025,
they are expected to make up 75% of the global workforce, shaping industries and influencing attitudes and traits.

Qualities of Filennials

A 2016 study by McCann Truth Central found that Filipino millennials prioritize close family relationships, rely heavily on
their parents for advice, and believe the age limit for living with parents is 30. They are also more active on social media,
influenced by peers, and feel pressured to make positive contributions to the community.

However, despite the fast - moving world of social media and communication there are three enduring human truths
about being young that as true today as they ever were in the previous generations.

The notion of needing to “find yourself”

Friends are everything
Finding your place in the world
 Lesson 3:
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ETHICS
AND RELIGION
RELIGION
Religion is a system of beliefs and practices, while ethics is a
universal decision-making tool. Religion promotes proper
social behavior based on teachings of a deity, while ethics is
a universal decision-making tool applicable to any religion,
including atheists.
 The Role of Religion in a
Globalized World
Globalization has led to the creation of international organizations like
the United Nations and ASEAN, which discuss issues affecting nations
like peace, security, health, poverty, and the environment. These
organizations share religious commitments like peace, human dignity,
equality, and conflict resolution. Globalization has also enabled religions
to interact directly, as seen at the Millennium Peace Summit in 2000.
Communication allows shared religious values to be shared quickly,
managing religious diversity and avoiding violence.