ETHICS Moral emotions

MORAL CODE AND MORAL REASONING Emotions – that is to say feelings and intuitions – play a major role in most of the ethical decisions
people make. Most people do not realize how much their emotions direct their moral choices. But
MORAL CODE
experts think it is impossible to make any important moral judgments without emotions.
MORAL – refers to something that is concerned with determining what thoughts, behavior, actions,
• Inner-directed negative emotions
traits and characteristics are right or wrong and what are good or bad.
• Inner-directed negative emotions like guilt, embarrassment, and shame often
CODE – A code is basically a set of rules
motivate people to act ethically.
A moral code is a set of rules or guidelines that a person or group of people follow in order to live a
• Outer-directed negative emotions,
life that is good. Moral codes are heavily dependent upon culture. The moral code that we live by
influences many parts of our lives and often dictates how we act, how we dress, and even how we • on the other hand, aim to discipline or punish. For example, people often direct anger,
treat other people. disgust, or contempt at those who have acted unethically. This discourages others
from behaving the same way.
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• Positive emotions
PERSONAL MORAL CODE
• Positive emotions like gratitude and admiration, which people may feel when they see
A personal moral code is a set of rules that we create for ourselves to live by. Most of us do
another acting with compassion or kindness, can prompt people to help others.
not put the words down on paper, but we all still have them. However, since everyone in humanity is
unique, so are the moral codes. Just think, the moral code of a military professional versus that of an • Emotions
artist; or the code of a teenager versus an elderly man's. They may have several rules that are similar,
• Emotions evoked by suffering, such as sympathy and empathy, often lead people to
but what they place importance on will influence their moral code.
act ethically toward others. Indeed, empathy is the central moral emotion that most
commonly motivates prosocial activity such as altruism, cooperation, and generosity.

So where does one begin to create their own guidelines to live by? And what are good examples of So, while we may believe that our moral decisions are influenced most by our philosophy or
standard moral codes today? religious values, in truth our emotions play a significant role in our ethical decision-making.

-People come from varied backgrounds, educations, and countries, which all influence their personal
life choices.
FEELINGS
-Where some people may have, 'be faithful to your partner,' there are many that do not hold to this
Emotions are created when the brain interprets what’s going on around us through our memories,
because they think it's unnecessary.
thoughts, and beliefs. This triggers how we feel, and behave. All our decisions are influenced by this
-Another good example is the moral code of seeking help when you're sick. However, there is a religion, process in some way.
Christian Scientists, that do not believe in going to the doctor. This just emphasizes that moral codes
Different emotions effect decisions in different ways. If you’re feeling sad, you might be more willing
can vary depending on the belief systems of the people creating them.
to settle for things that aren’t in your favor, such as not putting yourself forward for promotion, or
remaining in an unhealthy relationship. But sadness can also make you more generous — research
shows that unhappy people are more likely to be in favor of increasing benefits to welfare recipients HAPPINESS
than angry people, who are lacking in empathy.
• Pro: When we’re happy, we’re contagiously happy and its as if the whole world smiles with
us. We inspire others and know true euphoria and connection
• Con: When we’re sad, we can become a black hole sucking everyone’s energy with our
• Emotions can effect not just the nature of the decision, but the speed at which you
negativity, spiraling into major downers (and depression) when we don’t prioritise
make it. Anger can lead to impatience, and rash decision-making. If you’re excited,
ourselves (which can often since we tend to put other people first)
you might make quick decisions without considering the implications, as you surf the
wave of confidence, and optimism about the future. While if you feel afraid, your
decisions may be clouded by uncertainty, and caution, and it might take you longer to
choose. "Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that
we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession
• Decisions led by emotion can also be more compassionate, particularly if they effect of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective
other people. We see this at play in stories of people putting their own lives at risk to unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain
save someone else, or when we choose how to break difficult news to a friend. confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life
on it."
• Being in emotional balance, and knowing yourself at this deeper level means you can
trust your instincts.

Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive
to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives.
PROS & CONS OF BEING A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL PERSON

Moral reasoning

- offers and evaluates reasons that are meant to support moral conclusions.

1. set of reasons

2. conclusions

EMPHATY
MORAL ARGUMENT
• Pro: We have a huge amount of empathy. We relate to anyone and everyone and have the
capacity to truly care and help people Any chain of thought in which premises are enlisted in support
• Con: We become emotionally invested in many issues, opening ourselves up to being taken of a particular conclusion
advantage of. World issues weigh heavy on us (war, sex trafficking, child abuse, violence,
corruption, inequality, to name a few) and we struggle to separate global problems from our A standard moral argument has at least one premise that asserts a general moral principle, at least
personal reality one premise that is a nonmoral claim, and a conclusion that is a moral statement.
Two tests for good moral reasoning: "I like a sweet cake."

1.We must avoid false beliefs PERSONAL PREFERENCE

2.The logic of our moral thinking should be rigorous and error free VS.

MORAL JUDGEMENT

1.Manuel L. Quezon is either the third or fourth president of the Philippines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.Manuel L. Quezon is not the fourth president of the Philippines. TRUTH IN ETHICS ENTAILS BEING JUSTIFIED BY GOOD REASONS.

3.Therefore, Manuel L. Quezon is the third president of the Philippines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.Heroin is a drug. Impartiality

2.Selling heroin is illegal. • Involves the idea that each individual's interest and point of view are equally important.
• Also called evenhandedness or fair-mindedness
Therefore, heroin use is immoral

Impartiality is a principle of justice holding that decisions ought to be based on objective criteria,
What is needed is…
rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for
Sound argument: an argument that is (1) logically valid, and (2) contains only true premises. This improper reasons.
guarantees the truth of its conclusions.

Reason defined

Humans have not only feelings but also reason, and reason plays a vital role in Ethics.

Moral truths of reason; that is, moral judgement is true if it is espoused by better reasons than
alternatives.

Reason is necessary requirement for Morality.

- determining what do you already know or the facts at hand and what you are going to do. Ace, 20 year old Filipino, was brought to a hospital emergency room, having suffered
abdominal injuries due to gunshot wounds obtained in gang violence. He had no medical insurance,
and his stay in the hospital was somewhat shorter than expected due to his good recovery. Dr. Tan felt
2. DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES that he could complete his recovery at home just as easily as in the hospital and he was released after
only a few days in the hospital
- these are the ethical or moral issues needed to be tackled or faced in a certain situation that may
cause harm to an individual. During his stay in the hospital, Ace admitted to Dr. Tan that he was HIV positive, having
contracted the virus that causes AIDS. This was confirmed by a blood test administered while he was
hospitalized.
3. IDENTIFY THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE A BEARING ON THE CASE When he was discharged, the physician recommended that a professional nurse visit him
-it could refer to Biblical Principles, Constitutional Principles, Personal Principles or principles drawn regularly at home to change bandages on his still substantial wounds and to ensure that an infection
from natural law, which guides a person in making decisions. usually, biblical principles weighs more did not develop.
heavily than the others. Since he had no health insurance, the family cannot afford to pay for home nursing care.

His sister Jam is willing to take care of him until he fully recovered. Their mother died a
4. LIST THE ALTERNATIVES years ago and the sister was accustomed to providing care for her younger siblings. Ace had no
objection to JAm, but he insisted that she not be told that he had tested HIV positive. Though he had
- coming up with various alternative courses of action as part of creative thinking included in resolving a good relationship with his sister, Jam did not know that he was an active homosexual. His even
a moral dilemma greater fear that his father would hear of his homosexual orientation and lifestyle Homosexuality is
generally looked upon with extreme disfavor

5. COMPARE THE ALTERNATIVES WITH THE PRINCIPLES Now, here lies the MORAL DILEMMA.

- involves eliminating alternatives contradicting to the principles we believe in. Dr. Tan is bound by his code of Ethics that puts a very high priority on keeping confidentiality.
This code mandates that information about one's medical condition that he or she does not want
known cannot be revealed by the physician. Some would even argue that the obligation of
confidentiality is even greater with HIV/AIDS.
6. WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES
On the other hand, Jam without knowing the truth is putting herself to risk. Some would
- in case the principle do not produce a clear decision, then consider possible consequences (positive
categorically argue that she has a right to know the risk to which she is subjecting herself, especially
& negative) in your chosen alternatives.
she willingly volunteered to take care of Ace.

So, If you are DR. TAN, what would you do in the case of Ace? Would you breach the rule of
7. MAKE A DECISION confidentiality to safeguard Jam, or would you keep confidentiality to protect Ace from harm that
would come to his from his family members, especially his father?
- the decision made is one that possesses the least number of negative consequence.