Module 2:

Culture in Moral Behavior

 Questions

Can 2 person live in the same area, speak the same

language and still have different cultures?

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Culture: Background
Definition
WHAT IS CULTURE?
Defined broadly, culture therefore includes all the things individuals
learn while growing up among group, attitudes, standards of morality,
rules of etiquette, perceptions of reality, language, notions about the
proper way to live, beliefs about how females and males should interact,
ideas about how the world works and so forth. We call this cultural
knowledge.

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Culture’s role in
Moral Behavior
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Role of Culture in moral behavior:

➜ Culture is learned as children grow up in society and

discover how their parents and others around them
interpret the world. In our society, we learn to distinguish
objects such as cars, windows, houses. Therefore, we can
classify and perform actions and even evaluate them on
what is morally good and bad.
 Moral Standards as
Social Convention and
The Social Conditioning
Theory
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Social convention
➜ The things we regard s moral laws (moral standards or rules),
are nothing but just social conventions. By conventions, it
means those things agreed upon by people, like through their
authorities. Convention also refers to the usual or customary
ways through which things are done within a group.
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Moral Progress
➜ Changes in people’s morality have been deemed as
improvements.
➜ Progress means positive development or development toward
achieving a goal or reaching higher.
➜ Moral Progress, therefore, means not just changing, but
changing for the better.
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Social Conditioning
➜ conforming to the ‘norms’ that have been created by the society around us.
➜ Even if these norms are outdated, false, misleading, or do not align with the
present world – we conform to them nevertheless. This is because we grew
up believing in them and seeing them adapted by everyone around us.
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Moral Consciousness is the feeling

that we are obliged to act morally
 Cultural Relativity
Understanding the culture of other based on their
perspective
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Cultural Relativism
➜ Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood
based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another. Is the
view that ethical and social standards reflect the cultural context from which they are derived.
➜ This theory then submits that there are no objective values; and ethics is merely a matter of
societal convention.

a. Ethnocentrism – A theory in which a person views his/her culture as superior than others.

b. Xenocentrism - On the other hand, views that his/her culture is inferior than others.
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Moral Relativism
➜ is a theory in ethics which hold that ethical judgements have their origins either in
individual or cultural standards.
➜ Moral relativism, fundamentally believes that no act is good or bad objectively, and
that there is no single universal objective standard through which we can evaluate
the trough Moral Judgement.
➜ submits that different moral principles apply to different persons or group of
individuals.
➜ View all moral norms as equally true and moral.
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Moral Subjectivism
➜ Holds that morality is decided by the individual.
➜ They believe that morals are subjective. It can be based on
personal tastes, feelings and opinions

6 Basic Filipino Values
1. Pakikisama 2. Hiya
is having and maintaining
‘good public relations.’ It
characterizes both a value and
a goal that involves keeping
good feelings in all personal
interactions and getting along
with others, oftentimes, at all
costs but sometimes
‘pakikisama,’ may submit to,
overgenerous praise on one
another, smiling even when
things go wrong and avoiding
to say ‘no’.
is described as a feeling of
lowliness, shame
embarrassment, and inhibition
or shyness which
experienced as somewhat
distressing. Integrally, ‘hiya’ is
related to the concept of
‘face’ and a concern with how
one appears in the eyes of
others. This unique Filipino
concept ‘hiya’ or ‘fear of
losing face’ encompasses
being afraid to do bad things
as it may damage one’s
reputation in the sight of
other people.
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3. Amor Propio
‘amor propio’ has been “characterized as
or the high degree of sensitivity that makes a
person intolerant to criticism and causes
is
him to have an easily wounded pride”
(“Amor Propio,” n.d.). Concerning this
Filipino value, some observe that
“Filipinos learn to withstand a ‘loss of
face’ in some situations, particularly when
they perceive themselves to be at fault, but
it is devastating to be publicly criticized,
insulted, belittled, or humiliated, or to lose
one’s self-respect” .

6 Basic Filipino Values
4. Utang na loob
is likewise a fundamental
aspect of upholding group
harmony and relationships
that demand the balancing of
obligations and debts. This
involves the concept
‘reciprocity’ or returning the
received favor. The inability to
repay the “utang na loob”
(debt of gratitude) usually
makes a person “walang utang
na loob” or “walang-hiya.”
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5.Filipino 6. Respect to elders
we, Filipinos, are not only respectful to
Hospitality elders, but also have unique ways of
expressing this respect to elders. These
refers to the innate ability and
include the use of ‘po’ and ‘opo’ when
trait of Filipinos to be talking to elders and ‘pagmamano’ or the
courteous and entertaining to putting of the elder’s hand to one’s
their guests. Indeed, generally forehead. When excessive, nonetheless,
respect to elders makes one dependent or
speaking, Filipinos are
hospitable as they are irrationally obedient to parents or elders.
This trait, however, makes Filipinos prone
internationally known to be to being abused or maltreated.
warm, welcoming, and
accommodating.
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Other filipino traits:

➜ Maniana Habit – Mamaya na attitude.
➜ Ningas Cogon – Sisimulan pero di tatapusin.
➜ Crab Mentality – Nanghihila pababa.
➜ Filipino Time – Laging late.
➜ Kanya-Kanya – Madamot.
➜ Colonial Mentality – Mas gusto ang cultura ng iba kesa sarili.
Module 3:
The Moral
Agent
 1.
Character Vs
Personality
Difference and Similarities

Character vs. Personality
Personality
shows what you are
outside or what you are to
the world. Personality can
be defined as a
combination of mental
behavior and traits or
qualities like thinking
pattern, feeling and acting.
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Character
reveals what you are inside.
An enduring and
distinguishing mental and
moral characteristic in an
individual. It is the only
factor which determines our
reaction or response to the
given event or situation.
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Character vs. Personality

Character
Personality ▪ Based on Principles
▪ Based on Techniques
▪ “Actually be”
▪ “Appear to be”
▪ Revolves around: ▪ Revolves around:

Image Creation, Public Integrity, Fidelity,

Relation, Communication Compassion, Contribution,
Responsibility, Justice and
and Management
Courage
 2.
Moral Character and
Virtue
Use of character in Ethics
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Character:
➜ Origin: Greek word = “charakter” = used as mark impressed on
a coin.
➜ The use of the word character in ethics has a different
linguistic history. So when we speak of a virtue or an
excellence of moral character, the highlights is not on mere
distinctiveness or individuality, but on the blend of qualities
that makes a person ethically admirable.
➜ According to Aristotle there are two distinct human
excellences:
a. Excellences of Thought (Knowledge and Wisdom)
b. Excellences of Character (Virtue)
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Moral Character:
➜ Refers to having or lacking moral virtue
➜ According to most Greek moralist, if we are sensible, our goal
is to achieve happiness and to live well. We use happiness to
manage our other goals.
➜ Aristotle claimed that happiness is “perfect” or “complete” and
something distinctively human. If a person is living well,
he/she is worthy of praise and a role model.
 3.
Kohlberg’s Stages of
Moral Development
3 levels of Moral Development
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Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality

➜ (Most nine-years-old and younger, some over nine), we don’t
have a personal code of morality. Instead, our moral code is
shaped by the standards of adults and the consequences of
following or breaking their rules.
➜ Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation
➜ The child is good in order to avoid being
punished. If a person is punished, they must
have done something wrong
➜ Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange
➜ The child recognize that there is not just one
right view that is handed down by the
authorities. Different individual have different
viewpoints.
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Level 2: Conventional Morality

➜ At the conventional level (most adolescents and adults), we
begin to internalize the moral standards of valued adult role
models. Authority is internalized but not questioned, and
reasoning is based on the norms of the group to which the
person belongs.
➜ Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationship
➜ The child is good in order to be seen as being a
good person by others.
➜ Stage 4. Maintaining the social order
➜ The child/individual becomes aware of the wider
rules of society, so judgement concern obeying the
rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt.
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Level 3: Post-Conventional Morality

➜ Individual judgment is based on self-chosen principles, and

moral reasoning is based on individual rights and justice.
According to Kohlberg this level of moral reasoning is as far as
most people get.
➜ 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.
Thank you for
Listening!
 Activity: Essay (2O Points)

Write a reflective essay discussing the impact of one or

more traditional Filipino values on your personal life,
relationships, and decision-making. Share specific
experiences or situations that highlight the relevance
and importance of these values. Consider how these
values contribute to your identity and influence your
interactions with others.
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