MODULES
IN
ETHICS
Overview
A. Introduction/Rationale: This course deals with principles of ethical behavior in
modern society at the level of the person, society and interaction with the
environment and other shared resources (CMO 20 s. 2013). The course also
teaches students to make moral decisions by using dominant ethical frameworks and
by applying a seven-step moral reasoning model to analyze and solve moral
dilemmas.
B. Objectives: At the end of the course, the students are able to: (1) distinguish
between moral and non-moral problems; (2) describe what a moral experience is; (3)
explain the influence of culture on moral development; (4) discuss the elements of
moral development and moral experience; (5) use ethical frameworks to determine
what is moral; (6) make sound ethical judgements based on ethical frameworks; (7)
develop sensitivity to the common good; and (8) internalize the principles of ethical
behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society and interaction with the
environment.
C. Learners:
D. Time Frame: 18 weeks
E. Pre – requisite skills:
Name: __________________________________________ Date: __________________
Course/Year: _____________________________________ Score: _________________
LESSON 1
The Importance of rules
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. To explain the importance of rules
TIME FRAME: 3 hours
MATERIALS NEEDED: Module and Pen
Rules are important to social beings. Just imagine the chaos that results from the
absence of rules. What happens when students and professors alike come to school in any
attire they want? Imagine what happens when in the classroom everyone wants to talk at the
same time. Let’s go out of the classroom for more examples. What if there were no traffic rules?
Rules can be expanded to include the Philippine Constitution and other laws. What if there were
no Constitution and other laws of the land?
Rules are meant to set order. Rules (the Philippine Constitution and other laws included)
are meant for man. The greatest Teacher, Jesus Christ, preached emphatically, “The Sabbath is
made for man and not man for the Sabbath”. The law of the Sabbath, i.e. to keep it holy and
observe rest, is meant to make man whole by resting and by giving him time to thank and spend
time in prayer and worship for his own good.
For the sake of order in society, everyone is subject to rules. In a democratic country like
the Philippines, we often hear the statement “No one is above the law,” including the highest
official of the country. We are all subject to rules or else court chaos.
Rules are not meant to restrict your freedom. They are meant to help you grow in
freedom, to grow in your ability to choose and do what is good for you and for others. If there
are rules or laws that restrict your ability or strength to do good, they are suffocating laws and
they are not good laws. They ought to be abolished. Any rule or law that prevents human
persons from doing and being good ought to be repealed. They have no reasons to exist.
In fact, if you are a rule or a law abiding citizen, you don’t even feel the restricting
presence of a rule or law because you do what the law or what the rule states everybody should
do. Looking from a higher point of view, this is the state when one acts not because rules
demand it but because one sees he has to act the way. It is like saying one no longer needs the
rules or law because one has become mature and wise enough to discern what ought to be
done. This is an ideal state which the ancient Chinese sages (Confucius, Lao Tzu) referred to
as state of no-more rules, no-more rules, because people discern what is right or good and do
what is right or good without thinking a rule or law; people are no longer in need of a
government because they can govern themselves. It is a state where one owns the moral
standard not just abide by the moral standard.
ACTIVITY 1
I. Recall and share 5 rules that you have to follow and the reason behind each rule. List your
experiences below.
