ASIAN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES

TAOIST ETHICS
 Through an understanding of
natural laws, an individual
Taoism arose The word Tao (or Dao) can be one with the Tao by

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before
translates into "path,"
”method,” “principle,”
living in accordance with
nature and all its
Confucianism or "way" transformations and changes,
and hence can gain eternal
life.

It is considered correct If a person exerts his will wu wei means not

not to interfere with against or upon the world acting at all, thus
he would disrupt the
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the spontaneity or
alter it by any means,
harmony that already
exists, he would go
preserving the
balance of nature
expressed by wu wei ‘against the flow of life’.
PU – “UNCUT WOOD”
TE – “VIRTUE”
 Taoist ethics are Taoists believe that
concerned less with doing
the ability to intervene
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good acts than becoming
a good person who lives
in harmony with all things
Taoists tend not to
initiate action
in life’s events
translates into a moral
and people duty to do so

In the Tao Te Ching,

The Taoist ideal is Taoists believe that
the Taoist life is one in
good behaviour is
for a person to take
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action by changing
only important
because it promotes
which one achieves
self-fulfilment as one
themselves is selflessly benefiting
self-improvement
the lives of others
 Cultivate the Tao within oneself; and one's virtue will be perfected.
Cultivate it within the household, and one's virtue will be abundant.
Cultivate it within the neighborhood, and one's virtue will be enduring.
Cultivate it within the nation, and one's virtue will be overflowing.
Cultivate it within the entire world, and one's virtue will be universal.

TAO TE CHING, 54
 Just like the Christian
bible, the Tao Te Ching
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uses male images such as
father of all things when
describing the Tao.
In Taoism, women are Taoist texts suggest that
of lesser importance the ideal way for a
and are often
acknowledged only
leader to run the country
is by example and with
after they’re married minimal intervention

Taoism requires human beings

to be humble and recognize

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that they are ignorant of
what is really happening that
they are likely to make things
worse if they do take action
 I take no action and the people are of themselves transformed.
I love tranquillity and the people are of themselves rectified.
I do not engage in affairs and the people of themselves become rich.
I have no desires and the people of themselves become simple.

TAO TE CHING, 57
 不敢為天下先
慈 儉 "not dare to be
first/ahead in the
Compassion Moderation world“
Kindness Simplicity Humility
Love Frugality Modesty

THE THREE JEWELS

FILIPINO ETHICS
 One who understands There are 6 types of
Filipinos are known pakikisama will yield to
value system:
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to be hospitable to
their guests.
group opinion and
sacrifice individual
welfare for group
theoretical,
theoretical,aesthetic,
actual,
economic, social,
welfare. political, and religious

Many Filipino cultural Utang na loob is the

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values reflect the
desire to be
desire to together
be in
Filipino obligation to
repay a debt or
Filipinos find it hard to
say no.
assolitude
a group favour upon request.
 Theoretical – places high importance on discovery of truth through a
critical and rational approach
 Economic – emphasizes the useful and practical form of values
 Aesthetic – places highest value on form and harmony
 Social – highest value is given to love of people
 Political – emphasizes on acquisition of power and influence
 Religious – concerned with unity of experience and understanding
cosmos as a whole

TYPES OF VALUE SYSTEM

Irrationalism
Rationalism –– refers
refers to
to aa “Mano po” We are doing things
Refers to physical gesture
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certain superstitious
beliefs of Filipinos that
still practiced to now
of taking the hand of an
elder and bringing it
for the common good
or for benefits of the
towards your forehead. community.

Emphasis on authority. Personal improvement.

Social Belongingness.
The status of the We believed that we
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person depends on his
wealth and acquisition
will obtain success
only when we earn
Filipinos are doing
thingstojust
things to please
please other
themselves
people
of land. money.
 “Ningas-kugon”
Trait of very
The older an The eyes play play
eyebrows a very
a
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individual is, the more
they call for respect.
important
very role
important in in
role
expressing emotions
enthusiastically
starting things, but
quickly losing
enthusiasm soon after.
A. Core Value of kapwa: (kapwa, means “togetherness”) – is the core
construct of Filipino psychology.
 TWO CATEGORIES OF KAPWA:
1. Ibang tao (“outsider”): there are five domains
 Pakikitungo (civility)
 Pakikisalamuha (act of mixing)
 Pakikilahok (act of joining)
 Pakikisama (being united with the group)
 Pakikibagay (conformity)

CATEGORIES OF FILIPINO VALUES

A. Core Value of kapwa: (kapwa, means “togetherness”) – is the core
construct of Filipino psychology.
 TWO CATEGORIES OF KAPWA:
2. Hindi Ibang Tao (“one-of-us”) – there are three domains
• Pakikipagpalagayang-loob (act of mutual trust)
• Pakikisangkot ( act of joining others)
• Pakikipagkaisa (being one with others)

CATEGORIES OF FILIPINO VALUES

B. PIVOTAL INTERPERSONAL VALUE
• Pakiramdam (Shared inner perception) – Filipinos use damdam, or the
inner perception of other’s emotions, as a basic tool to guide his
dealings with other people

CATEGORIES OF FILIPINO VALUES

C. LINKING SOCIO-PERSONAL VALUE
• Kagandahang-loob (Shared humanity) – This refers to being able to
help other people in dire need due to a perception of being together
as a part of one Filipino humanity.

CATEGORIES OF FILIPINO VALUES

C. ACCOMMODATIVE SURFACE VALUES
• Hiya (Loosely translated as “Shame”) – “sense of propriety”
• Utang na Loob (norm of reciprocity)
• Pakikisama at Pakikipagkapwa (SIR – Smooth Interpersonal
Relationship)

CATEGORIES OF FILIPINO VALUES