ETHICS  POPULAR CULTURE
MORAL AGENT
Moral agents are those agents exposed to
meet the demands of morality- choosing between
good and evil.
They are capable of acting with reference
to right and wrong.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A MORAL AGENT
A moral agent is endowed with all
possibilities and capabilities to act upon actions
with moral considerations.
He has the ability to discern right from
wrong and to be held accountable for his or her
actions.
CULTURE
Culture is an aggregate of the learned
beliefs, attitudes, values, norms, and customs of a
society or group of people, shared by them and
transmitted from generation to generation within
the society.
TYPE OF CULTURE
 HIGH CULTURE
Linked with the elite, upper-class society,
those families and individuals with an ascribed
status position. It is often associated with the arts
such as opera, ballet, and classical music, and
sports such as polo.
 CULTURAL DIVERSITY
A concept relating to culturally embedded
differences within society, it’s the fact that
different cultures exist alongside each other.
 SUBCULTURE
A culture enjoyed by a small group within
society. In this sense, it is a minority part majority
culture. They have distinct norms and values
which make them sub-sections of society.
It borrows the idea from high culture and
popularizes it, making it available for the masses; a
product of the media-dominated world; it is a
positive force for it brings people of different
backgrounds together groups living alongside each
other
 MULTICULTURALISM
It is depicted to be very similar to cultural
diversity, other definitions align multiculturalism
with different ethnic groups living alongside each
other.
 GLOBAL CULTURE
It as a key feature of globalization, they
emerged due to patterns of migration, trends in
international travel, and the spread of the media,
exposing people to the same images of the same
dominant world.
IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE
 Culture affects perceptions
 Culture influences behavior
 Culture shapes personalities
 Culture shapes our values and belief system
MORAL BEHAVIOR
It is the moral of the person or the society
that makes them adopt particular moral behaviors.
Morals are the prevailing standards of
behavior that people have to follow. It is what one
believes to be the right thing to do
ROLE OF CULTURE IN MORAL
BEHAVIOR
Culture undeniably does play a significant
pseudo-role in shaping moral behavior and extends
even further to social norms.
Culture is “everything” and not just in the
arts and entertainment that we occasionally enjoy;
it is like the oxygen we breathe.
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM
It is the principle of regarding the beliefs,
values and practices of a culture from the
viewpoint of that culture itself.
However, proponents argue that cultural
relativism does not necessarily condone practices,
but rather seeks to understand them within their
cultural context in order to facilitate constructive
dialogue and promote cultural understanding.
ETHICAL RELATIVISM
It is the theory that holds that morality is
relative to the norms of one’s culture. That is,
whether an action is right or wrong depends on the
moral norms of the society in which it is
practiced.
Ethical Relativism denies the existence of
one universal moral law- it follows that there is
not one correct set of precepts that everyone
should adopt.
MORAL RELATIVISM
It is the view moral judgments are true or
false only relative to some particular standpoint
(culture) and that no standpoint (culture) is
uniquely privileged over all others.
This tells us that there is no universal or
absolute set of moral principles.
KINDS OF MORAL RELATIVISM
 Descriptive Moral Relativism
Also known as cultural relativism, says
that moral standards are culturally defined.
 Meta-Ethnical Relativism
There are no objective grounds for
preferring the moral values of one culture
over another.
 Normative Moral Relativism
Idea that all societies accept each other’s
differing moral values, given that there is no
universal moral principles.
KEY POINTS:
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
What one culture believes to be immoral,
may be perceived by another (culture) to be moral.
ETHICAL RELATIVISM
Action is right or wrong depending on the
moral norms of the society in which it is practiced.
MORAL RELATIVISM
There is no universal or absolute set of
moral principles. Rest on the belief that values are
subjective. It holds the belief that there is no
objective morality; that there is no such thing as
right or wrong, good and evil. It is an attempt to
destroy the concept of ethics.
ASIAN MORAL CHARACTER
- Just in any continent, Asia as well
possesses a distinct moral or ethical
behavior that makes us unique in our
culture, dealing with socio-political-
cultural difficulties.
- Most of East- Asian behavior or moral
traits can be attributed to Confucianism.
Three behavioral traits in East- Asians are
prominent
- East- Asian’s lack of personality is traced
in Confucian social institutions.
- East- Asian’s lack of principles of moral
thinking is linked to dyadic, relation-based
character of the Confucian ethnicity, its
lack of hypothetical reasoning and its
hierarchical view of human relationships.
- East- Asian’s lack of assertiveness is
rooted in the Confucian ideal of society as
based on the fulfillment of duties rather
than assertion of rights.
- These characters kept establishing our
Asian identity which makes us more
resilient in facing challenges such as
inflation, climate change, domestic
problems and even political difficulties.
 - Smile are often a genuine way of
expressing happiness and friendliness but
the can also be a way of masking true
emotions.
- As a rule, feelings are not expressed
directly. Showing disappointment in
public is especially frowned upon.
BUDDHISM
WEAKNESSES OF FILIPINO CHARACTER
 Extreme Personalism
 Extreme Family- Centeredness
 Lack of Discipline
 Passivity and Lack of Initiative
 Colonial Mentality
 Kanya- Kanya Syndrome
 Lack of Self- analysis and Self- reflection

It shapes character in Southeast Asia as POSITIVE FILIPINO VALUES

Christianity does in Europe. Theravada  Hospitability
Buddhism encourages its practitioners to keep  Helpful to others/Bayanihan
their emotions and passions in check and stresses
karma over determination which often means  Respectful (mano, po & opo, halik sa
people are more willing to accept their lot in life. kamay)
 Bravery
CONFUCIANISM  Jolliness and sense of humor
 Discretion and dignity
Include love and respect for the family ,
integrity, loyalty, honesty, humility,  Gratefulness
industriousness, respect for elders, patience,  Honesty and commitment (palabra de
persistence, hard work, friendship, commitment to honor)
education, belief in order and stability, emphasis  Helpfulness
on obligations to the community rather just
individual rights and preference for consultation  Family-oriented
rather than open confrontation.  Adaptability and resilience
 Resourcefulness and creativity
FILIPINO MORAL CHARACTER  Faithfulness
Friendly, outgoing, sensitive, easily  Thriftiness
offended, nosy, garrulous, direct, hospitable,
feisty, irreverent, good-natured, clever, witty, NEGATIVE FILIPINO VALUES
gregarious, happy, generous, easy to laugh,  Fatalism
gracious, easy to befriend, casual, fun loving,  Crab Mentality
sensitive and hospitable.
 Ningas- Kugon
We value education; we have some sense  Filipino Time
of shame (hiya); considered as “the easiest people  Colonial Mentality
in Asia to get along with.”  General Disregard of Values
 Procrastination or Mañana Habit
STRENGTHS OF FILIPINO CHARACTER
 Corruption
 Pakikipagkapwa-tao  Gossiping
 Strong family ties  Passivity (lack of leadership)
 Joy and Humor
 Flexibility, Adaptability, and Creativity
 Hardworking and Industrious
 Faith and Religiosity
DEVELOPING VIRTUE AS HABIT TYPES OF MORAL VALUES

VALUES OR GOOD MORAL VALUES (Kathy Slatterngren, 2018)

ONCE THEY ARE PRACTICED, THEY
TURN INTO VIRTUES. ACCEPTANCE

VALUE FROM THE LATIN WORD Having an objective attitude toward others’
VALERE, MEANS TO BE OF WORTH. ideas and practices that differ from your own.

JOHN DEWEY COMPASSION

“VALUE MEANS PRIMARILY, TO Understanding the suffering of others or

PRICE, TO ESTEEM, TO APPRAISE, TO self and wanting to do something about it.
ESTIMATE. IT MEANS THE ACT OF
CHERISHING SOMETHING HOLDING IT COURAGE
CLEAR AND ALSO, THE ACT OF PASSING
JUDGEMENT UPON THE NATURE AND Willingness to do difficult things.
AMOUNT OF ITS VALUE AS COMPARED
EQUALITY
WITH SOMETHING ELSE”
Believing everyone deserves equal rights
HUMAN VALUES
and to be treated with respect.
Human values are virtues that guide us to
FAIRNESS
take into account human element when one
interacts with another human being.
Acting in just way, sharing appropriately.
These human values give the effect of
BONDING, COMFORTING &
REASSURING.

WHAT WE EXPECT OTHERS TO DO TO

US & WHAT WE AIM TO GIVE TO
OTHERS.

MORAL VALUES

Moral values helps us distinguish between \]\

what’s right and wrong, good or bad for you, as
well as the society. Moral values are principles
that govern our lives and beliefs that makes us
realize the importance of life, the goals that we
want to attain or accomplish.

To say simply, values are anything that

motivates people which they really care about.
GENEROSITY FORMATION OF MORAL VALUES

Willingness to give resources, help, or Moral values are the standards of good and
time to others. evil, which govern an individual’s behavior and
choices. Individual’s morals may derive from
HONESTY society and government, religion or self - all of
which may change as the laws and morals of
Being truthful and sincere. society.

INTEGRITY VIRTUES AND ITS FORMATION

Sharing to your moral and ethical Human beings are aware of various moral
principles and values. values of which they have the option to practice.
Once these values are applied in order to lead a
KINDNESS good life, one is living in virtue, a habitual good
character.
Being considerate and treating others
well. The following are some of the principal
virtues that one can acquire to truly live a good
PERSEVERANCE life.
Persisting in a course of action, belief or FORMATION OF MORAL CHARACTER
purpose.
- At the heart of one major approach to
POLITENESS ethics is the conviction that ethics is
fundamentally related the what kind
Using good manners, acting in socially persons we are. Many of Plato's dialogues,
acceptable ways. for example, focus on what kind of persons
we ought to be.
RESPECT
- Moral character is formed by one's actions.
Showing consideration for the worth of Because human beings are body and soul
someone or something. unities, actions of the body are actions of
the self, that is, human beings are self-
RESPONSIBILITY possessing self-governing and self-
determining.
Being reliable in your obligations.
- Character and action are intertwined so
SELF-CONTROL intimately that one's professional duties, or
even what is perceived by others as one's
duties, cannot override one's conscience
without negatively affecting one's
character.

MORAL DEVELOPMENT

- Moral development occurs as we grow and

helps us choose between right and wrong.
The theory of Lawrence Kohlberg States
that the moral development of most people
begins with a desire to avoid personnel
punishment and may evolve overtime to I
desire to make the world a better and more
just place for all people.
 - Moral decisions are relative to actual
experiences that we are confronted with
particularly on moral issues that we
encounter in our our lives.
SIX STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
The theory was inspired by the work of
Jean Piaget and a fascination with children's
reactions to moral dilemmas. This theory
holds that moral reasoning as basis for ethical
behavior, has six identifiable developmental
stages and is broken into three levels: pre-
conventional, conventional and post-
conventional.
NO ONE FUNCTIONS AT THEIR HIGHEST
STAGE AT ALL TIMES.
CONSCIENCE – BASED MORAL
DECISIONS
- Conscience from its Latin origin known as
cum alia scientia, which means the
application of knowledge. Since it is an act
of knowledge, it is also an act of reason
which is applicable to the act itself and its
quality as either good or evil (Gualdo,
2000).
- Human decisions or acts are executions of
conscience; moral decision as well is an
act of conscience.
- It is observed and experienced that often
we act through the dictates of our
conscience, which are possibly be contrary
to moral norms because conscience may
not always be right as we all assumed.
To make sure that our decision is moral, it is
our duty to educate our conscience by
overcoming ignorance and error.
RECAP OF KEY POINTS:
How do values turn into virtues?
Once values are practiced, they turn into
virtues. (Values practiced = Virtues)
What does value mean?
Value from the Latin word valere, means
to be of worth.
 CHAPTER VI: THE ACT
THE ACT
Categorically defined only to human, an
activity that is attributed to human beings.
CONSTITUENTS OF HUMAN ACTS
Essentially, human act proceeds from the
deliberate free will of man (Glen, 1965). In a
broader sense, human act refers to any activity,
either external or mental that is performed by a
person. More so, these acts are moral as long as
they are actions in accordance to what is expected
from human beings.
For Babor (2006) however, mere acts of
human do not make them responsible for their
actions unless done with knowledge, freedom and
voluntariness. These are requisites to subject
human action to moral obligation. Thus, these are
also considered constituents (Agapay, 1991) of
human acts.
THREE CONSTITUENTS OF HUMAN ACT
 KNOWLEDGE
 FREEDOM
 VOLUNTARINESS
FEELINGS & MORAL DECISION MAKING
We all have feelings and these help us to
live every minute of our life. Anger, sadness,
happiness, fear, surprise and love are some of the
most common feelings experienced by every
human being.
FEELINGS: Instinctive Response to Moral
Dilemmas
 KANT
Kant’s philosophy of ‘categorical
imperative’ conceives humans as having the
ability to act on purely conscious moral
reasoning and act according to universal moral
imperatives, a universal principle that compels
all individuals to act under the light pure
reason; a practical moral judgment that tells us
what the are morally obliged to do.
 HUME
Hume, on the other hand, believed that
morals are not derived from cognition but
instead are determined by moral sentiments:
passions that we feel immediately, which are
akin to other bodily feelings such as hunger.
Moral decisions are often driven by automatic
affective responses rather than explicit
reasoning. However, subsequence reasoning
can lead people to change their initial decision.
 Emotions as well can affect our moral
decision-making. If your family and friends are
cheerful and can boost you up when you are
feeling negative, it helps you in coming up
with positive decisions or at least try to think
about the positive sides of a particular situation
 On the other hand, moral decision-making is a
choice made based on the person's ethics,
manners, character and what they believe is
proper behavior. This decisions tend to not
only affect their well-being, but also the well-
being of others.
 APPROACHES TO MORAL DECISION
1. VIRTUE APPROACH
“Which course of action develop moral virtues”
The virtue approach to moral decision-
making focuses on the development of virtuous
character traits in individuals. It emphasizes the
importance of cultivating virtues such as honesty,
compassion, courage, and integrity. Decisions are
made by choosing actions that reflect and promote
virtuous character.
2. FAIRNESS/JUSTICE APPROACH
“Which course of action treats everyone the
same, except where there is a morally justifiable
reason not to and does not show favoritism or
discrimination?”
The fairness or justice approach is
concerned with ensuring equitable treatment and
distribution of benefits and burdens. It seeks to
uphold principles of fairness, equality, and justice
in decision-making. Moral judgments are based on
whether actions treat individuals fairly and
distribute resources or opportunities justly.
3. UTILITARIAN APPROACH
”What benefits and what harms will each course
of action produce and which alternative lead to
the best overall consequences?”
The utilitarian approach to moral
decision-making focuses on maximizing overall
happiness or utility. It evaluates actions based on
the principle of producing the greatest net benefit
and minimizing harm. Decisions are made by
considering the consequences and choosing the
option that results in the greatest overall well-
being.
4. RIGHTS APPROACH
“What moral rights do the affected parties have,
and which course of action best represents those
rights?”
The rights approach centers on the inherent
rights and liberties of individuals. It emphasizes
that certain rights, such as the right to life, liberty,
and property, are fundamental and should not be
violated. Moral decisions are made by respecting
and protecting these rights, even if it means
sacrificing some overall utility.
5. COMMON GOOD APPROACH
“Which course of action advances the common
good?”
The common good approach prioritizes the
well-being of the community or society as a whole.
It suggests that moral decisions should contribute
to the common good and benefit everyone
collectively. Decisions are made by considering
how they impact the broader community and
promote social well-being.
APPROACHES TO MORAL DECISION
Evaluate situations in life wherein you are
to make a moral decision.
REASON & MORALITY
ACTING MORALLY IS THE SAME AS
ACTING RATIONALLY
When we are choosing how to act, we
know that our self-interest or happiness influences
our choices. However, happiness can’t be the basis
of morality.
First, what makes people happy differs.
Second, sometimes (one’s) happiness is morally
bad.
 IMPARTIALITY & MORALITY MORAL COURAGE

The Principle of Impartiality from the Moral courage is the courage to take action for
moral point of view asserts that all persons are moral reasons despite the risk of adverse
considered equal and should be treated consequences. Courage is required to take action
accordingly. when one has doubts or fears about consequences.

It should be UNIVERSAL because all Moral courage, therefore, involves deliberation

people, in virtue of being rational, would act in
precisely the same way and IMPARTIAL because
their actions are not guided by their own biases,
but because they respect the dignity and autonomy
of every human being and does not put their own
personal ambitions above the respect that others
deserve.
THE 7 STEP MORAL REASONING MODEL
(Davis, 1999)
or careful thought. Moral courage is the
commitment to standing up for and acting upon
one's ethical beliefs amidst sarcasm, humiliation,
and ridicule.
WILL & REASON
One of most perennial debates in the world
of moral philosophy is to determine the ultimate
ground of morality. Two of these fundamental
questions are will and reason.

1. State the problem AQUINAS

2. Check Facts For Aquinas, will is the rational appetite,

which basically means that will as appetite is the
3. Identify relevant factors form of desire, but as rational, will is guided by
intellect. Will as an appetite could direct human
4. Develop list of options actions morally in the light of good reason.

5. Test options KANT

 Harm test For Kant, the ultimate ground of morality

is reason. If reason is practical, the will - guided by
 Publicity test reason - can effect, or cause action. He argues that
the “true function of reason must be to produce a
 Defensibility test will which is good”.

 Reversibility test

 Colleague test

 Organization test

6. Make a choice based on steps 1-5

7. Review steps 1-6