ETHICS
Topic 1: Distinguish Between Moral and
Non-moral Standard
Morality - "prescriptive"
- tells us what we ought to do
- exhorts us to follow the right way
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.
Norms + Values = Moral Standard
Norms
- general rules about actions or behaviors
Values
- enduring beliefs about what is good and
desirable, or not
Characteristics of Moral Standards
1. Deal with matters we think can seriously
injure or benefit humans, animals, and the
environment:
2. Not established or changed by the decisions
of authoritative individuals or bodies
3. Overriding, that is, they take precedence
over other standards and considerations,
especially of self-interest:
4. Not established or changed by the decisions
of authoritative individuals or bodies
5. Associated with special emotions and
vocabulary
6. Have the trait of universality
Characteristics of Non-Moral Standards
Non-Moral standards
- referred to standards by which people judge
what is good or bad, and right or wrong in a
non-moral way.
- are matters of taste or preference.
Topic 2: Moral Dilemma as a Moral Experience
Dilemma
- is a situation wherein a person is required to
make a difficult choice.
Moral Dilemma
- “moral agents” in ethics, are forced to
choose between two or more conflicting
options, neither of which resolves the
situation in a morally acceptable manner.
- also called as Ethical Delimma
Three conditions that must present situations to
be considered moral dilemmas
1. The person of a moral action is obliged to
make decision about which course of action
is best.
2. There must be different courses of action to
choice from.
3. No matter what course of action is taken,
some moral principles are always
compromised.
Types of Moral Dilemmas
Epistemic moral dilemmas
- the moral agent here does not know which
option is morally right or wrong.
Ontological moral dilemmas
- this not to say that the moral agent does not
know which moral requirement is stronger
than the other.
Self-imposed moral dilemma
- is caused by the moral agent’s wrongdoings.
World-imposed moral dilemma
- means that certain events in the world place
the agent in a situation of moral conflict.
Obligation dilemma
 - are situations in which more than one
feasible action is obligatory.
Prohibition dilemma
- involve cases in which all feasible actions
are forbidden.
Single agent dilemma
- the moral agent is compelled to act on two
or more equally the same moral options, but
she cannot choose both.
Multi-person dilemma
- occurs in situations that involve several
persons like a family, an organization, or a
community who is expected to come up with
consensual decision on a moral issue at
hand.
Topic 3: Distinguish between Moral Dilemma
and a False Dilemma
Moral Dilemma
- Situations in which a difficult choice has to
be made between two courses of action,
either of which entails a transgressing moral
principle.
False Dilemma
- is a fallacy that misrepresents an issue by
presenting only two mutually exclusive
options rather than the full range of options.
Topic 4: 3 Levels of Moral Dilemma
Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas
1. Organizational Ethical or Moral Dilemma
- refers to a situation that causes an
organization to respond negatively or
positively to an ethical issue
2. Individual Moral Dilemma
- pertains to a situation where individuals
confront with a number of factors such as
peer pressure, personal financial position, an
economic and social status which may
influence all individual ethical standards.
3. Structural Moral Dilemma
- is that selecting a proper system of
responsibilities and relationships, which is a
continuing universal challenge.
Kinds of Structural Dilemma
- Differentiation versus Integration
- Gap versus Overlap
- Lack of Clarity versus Lack of Creativity
- Flexibility Versus Strict Adherence to Rules
Resolving Moral Dilemma
1. Find ways to prove dilemma does not exist.
2. Choosing the greater good and lesser evil.
Topic 5: Why only human being can be ethical?
The Nature of Man, Freedom and Morality
Man’s Capacity to Will
- to will something, one must know
beforehand.
- man cannot choose or act unless he knows
what is good or better.
Human Acts
- are conscious and free choices
- they are require knowledge, freedom, and
voluntariness
Acts of Man
- are unconscious, involuntary, or semi-
deliberate actions.
- they are not dependent on intellect and will.
Freedom of Man
- freedom proceeds from intellect and will.
- man in accountable for his action because he
is conscious of what he is doing.
Morality
- the sense of rightness or wrongness of an act
- it depends on whether there is consent by the
will.
Human Acts Vs. Acts of Man
- human acts are consciously chosen and
morally accountable.
- acts of man become human acts when
intellect and will are involve.
Morality of Human Acts
- depends on the object, intention, and
circumstances.
- acts can be good or bad based on these
factors
Moral Determinants of Human Acts
- object of the act, intention, and
circumstances affect morality.
Morally Good or Bad Acts
- some actions are evil by their nature
- they are never morally allowable, regardless
of intention or circumstances.
Topic 6: Articulate what culture, enculturation,
inculturation, and acculturation mean.
Culture
- is the customary beliefs, social forms, and
material traits of a racial, religious, or social
group.
Various ways by which culture change
Enculturation
- is the process of being socialized into a
certain culture.
Inculturation
- it talks about the process by which a new
culture norms and traditions were used as
new or different expressions of existing
Christian beliefs and practices.
Acculturation
- a process through which a person or a group
from one culture comes to adopt the
practices and values of another culture.
Topic 7: Attribute facets of personal behavior to
culture
Examples of Enculturation in Personal Behavior
- Bowing instead of shaking hands.
- Respect of Hierarchy.
- Avoiding Physical Contact.
Examples of Inculturation in Personal Behavior
- Language
- Religious tolerance
- Clothing
Examples of Acculturation in Personal Behavior
- Change in Communication Style
- Dress and Fashion
- Values and Beliefs
Topic 8: How Culture shapes the moral agent
 Culture definitely affects the way we
evaluate and judge things.
 Culture has a very long lasting hold on an
individual.
Moral Behavior
- Action or actions that produce good
outcomes for the individuals as members of
a community, or society.
Topic 9: Cultural Relativism
Cultural Relativism
- the idea that norms, belief, and values are
dependent on their cultural context and
should be treated as such.
- cultures differ, so that a cultural trait, act, or
idea has no meaning or function by itself but
has a meaning only within it's cultural
setting.
Ethnocentrism
- the belief that one's own culture is superior
to all others and is the standard by which all
other cultures should be measured.
Differences between Ethnocentrism and Cultural
Relativism
Ethnocentrism
1. Intolerance of cultural features
2. Extreme form of supremacy
3. Insensitive to other cultures
Cultural Relativism
1. Tolerance of cultural features
2. Allows propagation of certain practices that
basic human rights.
3. Shows high cultural sensitivity
Topic 9.5: Cultural Relativism (Vid Presentation
Cannibalism)
Two WAYS TO REALLY APPRECIATE AND
INDULGE OURSELVES WITH Different
culture:
1. Reading about the practices and rituals of
diff cultures
2. Traveling
Topic 10: Distinguish between cultural
relativism and cultural perspective
Cultural relativism
- is the belief that all cultural practices should
be understood in the context of their own
culture.
Cultural perspective
- involves how individuals within a culture
view and interpret their own culture and
others.
Topic 11: Analyze crucial qualities of the
Filipino moral identity
Topic 12: Evaluate Elements of the Filipino
characters that need to be changed
Filipino time
- this describe the culture norm of arriving
late to appointment of events, which can be
frustrating for those who value punctuality.
Crab mentality
- this describe the tendency of some Filipinos
to bring others down, rather than supporting
them or celebrating their success.
Mañana habit
- this refers to the tendency to procastinate or
delay tasks until the last time.
Macho culture
- some Filipinos believe in traditional gender
role, where men are expected to be dominant
and women are expected to be submissive.
Colonial mentality
- some Filipinos have a tendency to idolize
Western culture, often at the expense of their
own heritage and traditions.
Topic 13: Universal Values
Universal Values
- are a set of core principles or beliefs that are
shared by people across different cultures,
societies, and historical periods.
Importance of Universal Values
- it helps us grow and develop
- it tells us how to behave if we want to be
accepted, respected, and recognized by a
social group.
Topic 14: Why Universal Values is necessary for
human survival
 Universal values are the ultimate bases for
living together and learning how to live
together. Without respect for human life by
all then people will just kill each other. If
honesty or truth telling is not valued by all,
there will be endless lack of trust among
people.
 The universal values are clearly evident that
we need for us human beings to survive,
 because it informs us our thoughts, actions
and words.
 Universal values are essential for human
survival because they provide a common
framework for people to understand and
interact with each other.
 Universal values as moral principles help
people grow everyday with honesty, dignity,
respect, integrity and responsibility. Living
moral principles create a better world and
future of right decisions and actions.
Topic 16: Fundamental Option and
Fundamental Stance
Fundamental Option
- is the basic or foundation which is basis or
the reference of all other choices of a
person.
- is an on-going process and it is not final.
- according to Karl Rahner, a fundamental
option is an act of human self-realization
which is also a transcendental human
response to God’s offer of grace.
Fundamental Stance
- state that refers to one’s disposition, total
direction, or orientation in life, made of all
of one’s concrete thoughts, decision, and
action in line with his or her fundamental
choice.
Topic 17: State Defining Moments in your Moral
Formation
Defining Moments
- refer to significant events or experiences that
have had a profound impact on one's moral
formation and development.
Moral Formation
- refers to the process of developing one's
moral character and values through
experiences and personal reflection.
State Defining Moments in your Moral
Formation
- childhood experiences
- personal failures and success
- losing a love one
Topic 18: Moral Acts and Character
Moral Acts
- are human acts because it is freely chosen
and comes into existence through our
exercise of reason and will.
Character
- the mental and moral qualities distinctive to
an individual.
Relation between moral actions and good
character
 Relation between moral actions and
character is the EFFECT of action on
character.
 The action of the body are the actions of the
self.
CATEGORIES OF ACTION
- Habit
- Skill
- Habitus
Character cannot be separated from a person
- The more one does an immoral action or
recommends an immoral action for others,
the more it becomes part of one’s character
to be the type of person who condones that
immoral action.
Topic 19: Describe each stage of Moral
Development
Moral Development
- is the gradual development of an individual's
concept of right or wrong – conscious,
religious values, social attitudes, and certain
behaviors.
Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality
- when people follow rules because they don’t
want to get in trouble or they want to get a
reward.
Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation.
- The child/individual is good 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 handed down by the
authorities. Different individuals have
different viewpoints
Level 2: Conventional Morality
- the adolescent phase of moral development
focused on societal norms and external
expectations to discern right from wrong.
Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships.
- The child/individual is good to be seen as
being a good person by others. Therefore,
answers relate to the approval of others.
Stage 4. Law and Order Morality.
- The child/individual becomes aware of the
wider rules of society, so judgments concern
obeying the rules to uphold the law and
avoid guilt.
Level 3: Post-Conventional Morality
- when people decide based on what they
think is right rather than just following the
rules of society.
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.
Topic 20: ONE'S PERSONAL GROWTH
AGAINST THE STAGE OF PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Personal growth
- the process of an individual becoming aware
of the 'self' in its entirety, followed by taking
steps to address the behaviour, attitudes,
values, actions and habits that they wish to
change.
Personal development
- consists of activities that develop a person's
capabilities and potential, build human
capital, facilitate employability, enhance
quality of life, and facilitate the realization
of dreams and aspirations.
Erik Erikson’s Stages Of Psychosocial
Development
- Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy from
birth to 18 months)
- Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
(Toddler years from 18 months to three
years)
- Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool years
from three to five)
- Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority (Middle
school years from six to 11)
- Stage 5: Identity vs. Confusion (Teen years
from 12 to 18)
- Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young adult
years from 18 to 40)
- Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle
age from 40 to 65)
- Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair (Older
adulthood from 65 to death)
Topic 21: Explain the meaning of Human Act, the
morality and accountability of Human Act
Human Acts
- actions that are deliberately and consciously
chosen by individuals.
Types of Human Act
a. Elicited Acts
- can be viewed as a particular category of
human acts that originates in the will or
conscious element of a person and is carried
out entirely inside the will.
b. Commanded Acts
- are a form of human act that begins in the
will and finds expression and completion
in other mental or bodily activities of the
same individual, all of which are under the
control of the will.
The morality of human acts
- refers to the ethical dimension of human
behavior, focusing on whether an action is
considered right or wrong, good or bad,
based on a set of moral principles or
standards.
Factors of morality of Human Acts
- Object
- Intention
- Circumstances
Accountability of human acts
- refers to the idea that individuals are
responsible for their actions and may be held
responsible for the consequences of those
actions.
- Moral Accountability
- Legal Accountability
- Social Accountability