ETHICS GEC 107

GROUP 2
MEMBERS:
Abdala Sulanting, Bregine Belmores, Norhan Macungay, Zaylah Tampugao, Farhana Ibrahim,
Norhana Katua, Carl Singson, Romano Orencio, Jamellah Alonto, Wahida Magaluyan, Lly John Cabayong

SUMMARY
Culture encompasses the collective knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of a society. It
includes language, customs, morals, laws, institutions, tools, art, rituals, and other aspects that
individuals acquire as members of that society. There are two aspects to culture: non-material
culture, which comprises shared language, values, rules, knowledge, and meanings, and material
culture, which refers to physical objects produced by a society. Being born into a culture is an
inherent part of one's existence, as individuals do not have a choice in the matter. The
Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition is a dominant cultural influence, particularly rooted in Greco-
Roman heritage, shaping the moral lives of those exposed to it. Cultures can change and evolve
through processes such as enculturation, inculturation, and acculturation. Enculturation involves
learning the components of one's culture throughout life, encompassing both material and non-
material aspects. Inculturation refers to the incorporation of Christianity into a specific culture,
transforming it in the process. Acculturation, on the other hand, involves the cultural adaptation
or borrowing of traits from another culture, often resulting from prolonged contact. Immigrants,
refugees, and indigenous peoples all undergo acculturation when assimilating into a dominant
culture like that of the United States of America.
Cultural Relativism, a principle that entails understanding a culture on its terms rather
than imposing judgments from one's own culture, highlights the significance of diversity and
acknowledges the variability of values, beliefs, and behaviors across societies. This perspective
rejects the notion of one culture being superior to another in terms of morality, law, politics, and
other systems. Two distinct forms of cultural relativism exist absolute cultural relativism and
critical cultural relativism. Absolute cultural relativism asserts that all practices within a culture,
regardless of how strange or dangerous they may seem, should not be questioned but rather
respected and accepted without judgment (Caroline, 2023). According to (Cherry, 2023), On the
other hand, critical cultural relativism suggests evaluating practices based on their historical
context, social influences, and reasons for adoption. Strengths of cultural relativism include
promoting equality, fostering stronger societal bonds, preserving culture, encouraging respect,
nurturing genuine interest, eliminating cultural conditioning, and creating a non-judgmental
society. However, cultural relativism also has limitations, such as the potential to create chaos
since there is no concept of "right or wrong," and the potential to restrict human rights, freedom,
and justice. In contrast, ethnocentrism involves using one's own culture as a standard for judging
other societies, often leading to discrimination and in-group biases. Cultural perspective
encompasses the entirety of culture, including knowledge, beliefs, art, law, morals, customs, and
other acquired capabilities and habits. Values and beliefs within a culture shape cultural
perspectives, influencing aspects such as morality, the meaning of life, the concept of time, and
interpersonal relationships. Additionally, norms and customs are agreed-upon expectations and
rules within a society (socialsci.libretexts.org, 2023).
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Examining moral evaluation in culture involves exploring how societal norms shape our
understanding of right and wrong. These norms are instilled in us through various institutions
and traditions and may vary across different cultures. As society evolves, our moral values and
beliefs also change, influenced by factors such as technology and social movements.
Understanding the connection between culture and moral evaluation promotes acceptance of
diversity and encourages mutual learning. According to (Jeske, 2018), The influence of cultural
norms on moral evaluation can sometimes hinder our ability to make sound moral decisions.
While disagreement on moral norms and a commitment to tolerance may not justify cultural
relativism, some argue that our upbringing in a particular culture can impact how we are judged
morally. Despite this, real-world examples often do not align with these theoretical concepts. It is
important to recognize when ignorance is not blameworthy and to approach moral disagreements
with humility.
The Filipino people are renowned for their warm hospitality, strong familial bonds,
resilience in the face of adversity, adaptability, and optimistic outlook on life. In 1998, Senator
Leticia Shahani presented a report to the Senate entitled "A Moral Recovery Program: Building
People, Building a Nation," which explored the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino
character. Some of the strengths highlighted were pakikipagkapwa (humanity), a fundamental
sense of justice and fairness, family orientation as a source of personal identity and emotional
support, and a strong work ethic demonstrated by their willingness to take on multiple jobs, even
abroad. Additionally, Filipinos possess deep faith and religiosity, which helps them endure
challenging economic and social circumstances. However, many of these strengths can also be
seen as weaknesses. For instance, the strong focus on family can prevent Filipinos from
extending their care and concern beyond their immediate circle, limiting their engagement with
the wider community and nation. This warmth and caring nature can lead to a lack of objectivity
and fairness towards those they are unfamiliar with. Precision and discipline may be
compromised in favor of maintaining harmonious relationships. While joy and humor are valued,
there are times when serious problems require a more analytical approach. Faith and religiosity,
although strengths, can also foster dependence on external forces, resulting in passivity and a
tendency to resign oneself to fate. The ability to empathize easily, known as pakikipagkapwa tao,
can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of envy toward others. Furthermore, despite being
known for their hard work, Filipinos can also exhibit laziness and passivity in their professional
endeavors. Their worldview often revolves around personal relationships, blurring the lines
between tasks and emotional involvement. In this report, Senator Leticia Shahani sheds light on
the weaknesses of the Filipino character, which include an excessive emphasis on personal
relationships as a prerequisite for successful business or work interactions. This personalistic
worldview can make Filipinos uncomfortable with impersonal systems, rules, and regulations.
Their strong focus on family can lead to the misuse of power for personal gain. The Filipino
people also display a lack of discipline, as evidenced by their casual attitude towards time and
lack of precision. They tend to rely heavily on others and exhibit passivity, with a general
complacency towards urgent issues (Aguilar, 2023).
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References
Aguilar, B. (2023). slideshare. Retrieved from slideshare.net:
https://www.slideshare.net/BelindoAguilar/strengths-and-weaknesses-of-the-filipino-character

Caroline, N. (2023, November 21). study. Retrieved from study.com:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-relativity-definition-examples.

Cherry, K. (2023, July 07). verywellmind. Retrieved from verywellmind.com:

https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-cultural-relativism-7549709

Hillegas, C. (2023). cliffsnotes. Retrieved from cliffsnotes.com: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-

guides/sociology/culture-and-societies/cultural-norms

Jeske, D. (2018, August). academic.oup.com. Retrieved from academic.oup:

https://academic.oup.com/book/2694/chapter-abstract/143131340?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Kierulf, J. B. (2022, March 24). sites.google.ctu.edu.ph. Retrieved from sites.google.com/ctu.edu.ph/:

https://sites.google.com/ctu.edu.ph/gec-ethics/chapter-i-understanding-morality-moral-
standards/lesson-6-culture-how-it-defines-moral-behavior

socialsci.libretexts.org. (2023). socialsci.libretexts. Retrieved from socialsci.libretexts.org:

https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Early_Childhood_Education/
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03%3A_What_is_Culture_and_Why_is_it_Important/3.03%3A_Values_and_Beliefs