Basic

Concepts
This unit gives you an idea about the differences
between moral and non-moral standards, moral
dilemmas, the four branches of ethics, the moral
agent together with the universal values.
It will also help you to analyze the six stages of
moral development by Lawrence Kohlberg.

Overview
At the end of the unit, I am able to:
1. Determine what the difference between Moral and
Non-moral standards;
2. Analyze what is moral dilemma and it’s three levels;
3. Evaluate the six stages of Moral Development
4. Differentiate the four branches of Ethics; and
5. List down the strength and weaknesses of Filipino
Moral Character.

Learning Objectives
 Ethics
deals with the from the
questions and Greek word
standards of “ethos”
what is right which
and what is means
wrong. character or
moral nature
 morality
speaks of a code system
of behavior in regards to
standards of right or
wrong behavior
 Ethics
Branch of philosophy which
stands for reason to do, dealing
with human actions and reason
for action. It also concerned
with character.
Moral Philosophy
• Evaluates moral concepts, values,
principles, and standards.
• Also concerned with norm of human
conduct
• Considered a normative study of
human actions
• Carry the concept of moral
standards or rules with regard to
behavior
 Importance of RULES to Social
Being

• This regulates and governs conduct

1 •
of specific activity or sphere
Tells us what is or is not allowed in a
particular context or situation
• Foundation of healthy society
Importance of RULES to Social
Being

Rules protect social

beings by regulating
behavior.
 Importance of RULES to Social
Being

Rules helps to guarantee

each person certain rights
and freedom.
Importance of RULES to Social
Being

Rules produce a sense of

justice among social
beings.
 Importance of RULES to Social
Being

Rules are essential for a

healthy economic system.
 Non-moral and Moral standards

Non-Moral Standards Moral Standards

refer to the rules or

2
refer to the rules that
affect the choice of a set of guidelines that
person but are not affect the choices of
linked to moral or a person and his or
ethical considerations, her belief system
similar with ethics and decision-making
people use value process in problems
judgment in dealing and situations that
with these aspects. beg the question of
what is morally right
and wrong.
Characteristics of Moral standards

(1) welfare of beings,

(2) reliance on reasoning and not on
authority,
(3) overriding or hegemonic,
(4) impartial, fair and just and lastly
(5) special emotions and vocabulary.
Characteristics of Moral standards

(1) welfare of beings, in moral standards it

deals with matters that can seriously
injure or benefit the welfare of beings
such as in war, child abuse, rape, fraud,
murder, and theft

while in Non-moral standards it talks about

what is wrong but their concerns do not
necessarily affect one’s life or well-being
Characteristics of Moral standards

(2) reliance on reasoning and not on

authority in Moral standards it is rely on
reasoning and not on authoritative
individuals to support and justify their
cause

while in Non-Moral perspective it is in the

context of law and religion they do not need
to be based on a valid and sound
reasoning
Characteristics of Moral standards

(3) Overriding or Hegemonic the take

precedence over other standards and
considerations

like non-moral standards and self-

interest
Characteristics of Moral standards

(4) impartial(ity), fair and just it simply

means that there is no exemption to
the moral standards, if A is morally
right for a certain person P, then it is
morally right for anybody relevantly
similar to P
Characteristics of Moral standards

(5) special emotions and vocabulary

moral standards are associated with
special emotions such as guilt,
remorse, and shame and vocabulary
such as right, good, wrong, evil,
moral, amoral and immoral.
 Dilemma

a situation in which a toughchoice has

3 to be made between two or more

options, especially more or less equally
undesirable ones.
 Moral Dilemma

(ethical dilemma) a situation that begs an

agent to choose between two alternatives
with equal weight wherein both
alternatives are either good or both are
evil, but the agent cannot do both or all
actions. In this situation, no matter what the
agent chooses you will be left with a moral
failure but not choosing anything impose
greater harm or loss for the agent.
 Levels of Moral Dilemma

4 INDIVIDUAL
ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURAL
 INDIVIDUAL Dilemma

• personal and individual interaction of

people with situations in their daily lives.
• In this level, conflict arrives when a
person is asked to choose between two
important values for him or her for
example, choosing between one’s duties
to his or her family one’s love for another
person.
 ORGANIZATIONAL Dilemma

• unlike individual dilemma this dilemma is

encountered by institutions, business, or
organizations in their decision-making
process,
• at this level the dilemmas that the
organizations’ experiences usually affect
more than one person and they can be
part of the internal group or part of an
external stakeholder
 STRUCTURAL Dilemma

• structural dilemmas that affect a network

of institutions and operative theoretical
paradigms like universal care, juvenile
laws, and immigration.
• Unlike organizational dilemmas, this
type of dilemma can affect a community
and even a society at large.
 STRUCTURAL Dilemma

• structural dilemmas that affect a network

of institutions and operative theoretical
paradigms like universal care, juvenile
laws, and immigration.
• Unlike organizational dilemmas, this
type of dilemma can affect a community
and even a society at large.
 only human beings can be ETHICAL

Only human beings are

5 RATIONAL,
AUTONOMOUS, and
SELF-CONSCIOUS
only human beings can be ETHICAL

Only human beings can act

MORALLY or IMORALLY
only human beings can be ETHICAL

Only human beings are

part of the MORAL
COMMUNITY
 FREEDOM as a foundation of Morality

One of the reasons animals

6 cannot be truly ethical is
that they are not really
autonomous or free.
(e.g. robot)
FREEDOM as a foundation of Morality

• Morality, practically, is choosing ethical

condes, values, or standards to guide us
in our daily lives.
• Philosophically, choosing is impossible
without freedom.
• Morality requires and allows choice
• Everyone can function morally and
rationally make choices
 Minimum Requirement for Morality:
REASON and IMPARTIALITY

Moral judgement must be backed

7 by sound reasoning and that

morality requires the impartial
considerations of all parties
involved.
Minimum Requirement for Morality:
REASON and IMPARTIALITY

Reason as a requirement for morality

entails that human feelings may be
important in ethical decisions, but they
ought to be guided by reason. Sound
reasoning helps us to evaluate
whether our feelings and intuitions
about moral cases are correct and
defensible
Minimum Requirement for Morality:
REASON and IMPARTIALITY
• Impartiality, each individua’s interest and
point of view are equally important.
• Also called evenhandedness or fair-
mindedness.
• Principle which ought to be based on
objective criteria, rather than bias,
prejudices, or preferring the benefit to
one person over another improper
reasons
Basic
Concepts