MISSION

VISION
MABINI COLLEGES, INC. MABINI COLLEGES aims to provide quality
instruction, research and extension service
“MABINI COLLEGES, Inc. Daet, Camarines Norte programs at all educational levels as its
monumental contribution to national and global
shall cultivate a CULTURE
2nd Sem., S.Y.2023-2024
growth and development.
OF EXCELLENCE in
education” Specifically, it transforms students into:

- God – fearing;
- Nation Loving;
- Earth-Caring;
- Law-Abiding;
- Productive; and
- Locally and Globally
competitive persons.

GEC 8 - ETHICS

PREFINAL ACTIVITY
A. UTILITARIANISM. Hedonistic Calculus (30pts.)
Instructions: Using Hedonistic Calculus, compare the pleasure of helping with the household chore and
hanging out with your friends. Take into consideration the consequences.

Guide questions to measure Helping with the household Hanging out with your friends
pleasure/happiness: chore
Intensity. How strong is the
pleasure?
Duration. How long does the
pleasure last?
Certainty. How likely or unlikely
that the pleasure will occur?
Proximity. How soon does the
pleasure occur?
Fecundity. How many times will
pleasure be repeated?
Purity. What is the probability
that it is not followed by
sensations of the opposite
kind?
Extent. How many people are
affected?
Which act will be morally good?
 B. NATURAL LAW. Case Analysis: Abortion (40pts)

Case Scenario:
A country is debating the legalization of abortion. Proponents argue that women have the right to
control their bodies and make decisions about their reproductive health, including the option to terminate
unwanted pregnancies. Opponents, however, assert that abortion violates the sanctity of human life and the
inherent dignity of the unborn, viewing it as morally unacceptable.

Guide Questions:
1. How does natural law theory, particularly St. Thomas Aquinas's principles, inform ethical
considerations regarding abortion?

Depending on doctrine of Double effect that makes us to reflect on what we actually mean by “actions”,
“intentions” and “consequences”, Aquinas thinks that there are some instances where it is morally acceptable to
kill an innocent person and therefore there may be occasions when it is morally acceptable to kill a fetus. Imagine
a child brought up in a physically, sexually and emotionally abusive family. He is frequently scared for his life
and is locked in the house for days at a time. One day when his father is drunk and ready to abuse him again he
quickly grabs a kitchen knife and slashes his father’s artery. His father bleeds out and dies in a matter of minutes.

Many people would say that he did nothing morally wrong and in fact, some might even go as far as to
say that he should get a pat on the back for his actions. What about Aquinas? What would he say? We might
think that given the Natural Law to “preserve and protect life” he would say that this action is morally wrong.
But, in fact, he would say the son’s action was not morally wrong Aquinas asks us to consider the difference
between the external act — the fact that the father was killed, and the internal act — the motive.

2. Reflect on the principle of the preservation of life within natural law theory. How does abortion
affect the preservation of life, both for the unborn fetus and for the pregnant woman?

3. Discuss the principle of the common good within natural law theory. How might legalizing or
restricting abortion impact the common good, including societal values, justice, and the well-
being of individuals and communities?

4. Reflect on the role of human reason and moral conscience in natural law theory. How can
individuals and societies navigate the complex ethical issues surrounding abortion, balancing
competing interests and values while upholding moral integrity?