MODULE 1 - WHAT IS ETHICS?

Ethics
Ethics or moral philosophy can be
provisionally described as the empirical
study of moral decisions.
discipline concerned with what is morally
good and evil, right and wrong.
Greek word “ethos” which may mean
tradition, habit, character, or attitude.
is a systematic analysis of the nature of
human actions.
An act is deemed to be right or wrong,
based on the intent, circumstances, or
character of the act itself.
Ethics is all about decisions
involves critical thinking, as it explores and
Bazerman and Ann Trebrunsel identify the
describes fundamental beliefs, standards,
blind spots as the differences between
ideals, and traditions. This is thus a higher
who you want to be and who you are.
level of human discipline.
Ethicists emphasize the importance of
As a branch of philosophy, ethics is divided establishing good habits of character, of
into normative and meta-ethics. doing the right thing in the right place
➢ seeks to examine how human beings and time in the right way.
respond to a moral question. Moralists following one's interests is not
➢ also aims to clarify and prescribe common wrong. Nevertheless, an ethical individual
expectations on what human beings should must be able to place the needs of others
do to interact with others in society and in a ahead of self-interest, because of our duty
meaningful way. to civil society.
Leano Jr. & Gunta-on (2018), ethics
Normative ethics should consider making it possible for an
concerns human behavior in general, is to individual to fully understand what his
address our questions about the essence of conscience is, how he has gained it, how
human behavior. far He is willing and able to respect his
examine whether or not a particular act outward manifestations with protection, and
should or should not be carried out. how well he can strengthen it and make it
even smarter.
Two fields of normative ethics
Importance of Ethics
Moral Philosophy Applied ethics/
● people can determine the difference
Practical ethics
between right from wrong, good and bad;
★ deals with ★ philosophy that ● people can eliminate actions that do not
moral ideas discusses conform to what is right;
such as what strong and ● people will be very careful to the actions
human beings basic moral and decisions to make;
"must do or how issues linked to
● people will not be disturbed of the internal
human beings abortion.
should be." and external factors of not doing the right
★ also deals with thing;
our moral ● establish good habits of characters of a
obligation, the person;
meaning of the ● come up to rational decisions in facing an
act, or the
● ethical dilemma;
purpose of the
act. ● it makes a person responsible in the family,
school and society;
● a person becomes sensitive to the needs of
Meta-ethics others more than himself or herself;
discipline that relies on meaning. ● reminds a person to fully need conscience
science that is seeking to address in decision making and a person can
non-moral questions about morality. acknowledge the actions made.
Difference of moral and non-moral standards Morals build on this to form concrete,
and characteristics of moral standards context-driven rules that regulate the
actions of an individual.
Moral standards formed from the experience of a person's
❖ guidelines we have on the types of acts that life and are subject to opinion.
we find to be morally permissible and
morally unacceptable. Factors on How moral standards are Influenced
❖ normally promote the common good, that 1. the moral values or principles that we
is, the welfare and well-being of human conform with, in our rearing;
beings, animals, and the environment. 2. the character and manners that imbibed
❖ norms plus values pertain to moral with us by means of birthright;
standards. 3. the religious values that our forefathers
Characteristics of moral standards by taught us;
Velasquez (2012) 4. the values we learned from school;
1. entail serious harm or benefit. 5. The moral conduct, ways and habits of
2. are not determined by authority figures. those people around us;
3. should be adopted over other values, 6. the direct and implied cultural norms;
including self-interest. 7. our life experiences;
4. focused on objective considerations. 8. our critical thinking in these experiences.
5. are perceived to be universal.
6. are correlated with different feelings and
vocabulary.

Non-Moral Standards MODULE 2 - MORAL DILEMMAS

❖ apply to laws which are not related to social
or legal considerations. What is Moral Dilemmas?
● Making an option to one moral value over
the other;
● A situation where moral values are equally
significant;
● A scenario where a person has a strong
moral reason in action, but not equally
strong moral reason in acting in another
way;
● A state where a person should morally do
one, two, or more and have difficulty in
deciding any of those conflicting choices.
Etiquette
➢ Etiquette is a decorum, propriety means Kvalnes (2019)
reverence for the formal criteria moral dilemma is a situation in which a
governing conduct in a civilized society. decision- maker must give preference to
➢ refers to conventional ways and uses the one moral principle over another.
rules of etiquette. Dilemmas occur when confronted with a
➢ Decorum implies modesty and a sense of challenging situation
what is becoming or is fitting for a person of may arise as a result of a prior personal
good breeding: a fine sense of decorum. mistake. It's called a self-inflicted
dilemma.
Legality and morality are distinct, but often
people are confused about these terms. We believe Kurie & Albin (2007),
that what is moral is also legal and that what is
A moral dilemma is a situation in which
immoral is not good. Not all that is lawful is moral.
people assume that they should morally do
one thing and that they should morally do
How moral standards are formed?
another thing, but they're not doing any of
Morals are shaped by the beliefs of an these mutually contradictory choices
individual. together.
Values are the basis of the capacity of an
individual to distinguish between right and Figar & Dordevic, (2016)
wrong. situation whereby a person has to make a
decision.
 MODULE 3 - FREEDOM AS FOUNDATION FOR
Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas MORAL ACTS
Ethcical or Moral Dilemma
1. Organizational Moral Dilemma
● refers to a situation that causes an Kant’s Philosophy On Freedom And Morality,
organization to respond negatively The Principles Of Justice And Fairness
or positively to an ethical issue that 1. Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
affects staff, shareholders, and ● Freedom is the right to control one's
society, as well as corporate ethics actions based on reason, not desire.
and customers. (Lamberto et. al., ● Autonomy derives from the Greek
2013) term, which translates into
Common ethical issues in the organization self-legislator.
1. Unethical leadership/bad leadership ● The principle, then, is not to live by
behavior. the animalistic rules forced on them
2. Toxic workplace culture. from birth, but rather to live by the
3. Discrimination and harassment/ Peril of laws that you enforce on yourself.
employee favoritism. ● libertarian freedom is not absolute,
4. Unrealistic and conflicting goals. but in fact, it is the subjugation of
5. Use of the organization’s technology, social oneself to one's wish.
media use, technology, and privacy ● Freedom is not the only reason for
concerns. the ideals that underlies the state.
6. Business travel ethics.
Immanuel Kant accentuates the following
2. Individual Moral Dilemma philosphy on freedom:
● dilemma pertains to a situation where 1. Individuals have the right to choose one's
individuals confront a number of factors conduct based on reason, not desire.
such as peer pressure, personal financial 2. Individuals have to abide by the rules that
position, an economic and social status they follow.
which may influence all individual ethical 3. Individuals are independent from being
standards. limited by the option of others to the extent
that they may coexist with each other's
3. Structural Moral Dilemma freedom under universal rule.
● selecting a proper system of responsibilities 4. Equality is the most among the various
and relationships, which is a continuing freedoms and freedom is the only inherent
universal challenge. power.The three conceps of freedom are
Five Concepts in structural moral dilemma the freedom of a human being as a member
1. Differentiation vs. Integration of a state, the dignity of each person as a
2. Gap vs Overlap subject, and the freedom of any member of
3. Lack of clarity vs. Lack of creativity the commonwealth as a resident.
4. Excessive Autonomy vs. Excessive 5. Individuals have an autonomous right to be
Interdependence happy in their own way, and the intervention
5. Ewan q sa module wala naman e boang of another's freedom means forcing others
to be happy.
To avoid structural moral dilemma , following
characteristics must be maintained
(1) Must have well-distributed jobs and the laws,
policies, rules, and regulations must be balanced
through lateral approaches.
(2) Must have an implicitly defined job description,
roles, and duties to evade from gaps and overlaps.
(3) Must have a clear-cut expectation of the tasks in
a wide range of goals
(4) Must have a well-balanced interdependence
and coordination.
2. Kant’s Philosophy On Morality
● reason should be used to decide how
people will behave.
● He did not attempt to recommend concrete
action but advised that reason should be
used to decide how to behave.
Main Kant’s Philosophy on Morality
1. God Will and Duty
2. Perfect and Imperfect Duty
3. Categorical Imperative CHARACTERISTICS OF FILIPINO CULTURE
4. Universalizability
5. Humanity as an end in itself 1. The Filipino people are very resilient.

3. Kant’s Philosophy On Justice And Fairness 2. Filipinos take pride in their families.
❖ Justice involves external acts through which
an individual may directly or indirectly 3. Filipinos are very religious
influence others.
❖ Justice does not affect the desires, wishes, 4. Filipinos are very respectful.
or needs of others.
❖ Justice is concerned primarily with the 5. Filipinos help one another.
nature of interpersonal relationships and not
with their substance. 6. Filipinos values traditions and culture.

7. Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebration.

8. Filipinos love art and architecture.

MODULE 4
9. The Filipinos are hospitable people.
WHAT IS CULTURE? WEAKNESSES OF FILIPINO CHARACTER
culture is at the root of human alienation from the
environment. It's not just a compilation of artifacts 1. Extreme Personalism
or reflection of people's preferences and
appreciation of 2. Extreme Family Centeredness
beauty.
Cole (2019) 3. Lack of Discipline
-defined culture as a concept that refers to a broad
and diverse collection of often intangible areas of 4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative
social life.
5. Colonial Mentality
Lederach, (1995)
- introduced culture as the collective knowledge 6. Kanya-kanya Syndrome
and schemes generated by a group of people to
perceive, view, convey, and react to the social 7. Lack of Self Analysis and Reflection
realities around them.
MODULE 5
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
1. Culture is always social and communal by which
the relationship of the people towards Cultural relativism (CR) is a moral theory that
one another and their experience as people are the contends that there are no objective universal
culture’s meadow. moral rules, and the moral rules that do exist are
culturally bound.
2. The culture defines the normative principles and
behaviors of society. PROS OR ADVANTAGES OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
3. A culture, as best exemplified in the experience
of the people, develops restrictions and sets 1. It creates learning opportunities that could make
boundaries and limitations as they live and relate humanity stronger.
with one another.
2. It eliminates the concept of separate, but equal.
4. As culture helps in generating the character and
identity of its people, it also includes their 3. It creates a system of niche expertise.
moral character.
4. It encourages respect.
5. The culture identifies the authorities or the
governing individuals or groups.
THE CONS OR DISADVANTAGES OF
CULTURAL RELATIVISM (1) Happiness
(2) Peace
1. There will be actions taken that would be defined (3) Freedom
by some as “violent,” “unsafe,” or (4) Safety
“Wrong.” (5) Intelligence
(6) Respect
2. It is based on a concept that people are perfect. (7) Equality
(8) Justice
3. It creates a personal bias. (9) Nature
(10) Health
4. It eliminates the idea that reform or change can
be a good thing. Dignity
-is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or
respect. "A man of dignity and
MODULE 6: UNIVERSAL VALUES unbending principle" is an example. It refers to
bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-
Universal values respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of
The word "value" means something that a person an occasion or situation.
or a group believes has a value that merits being
sought, promoted, or privileged. MODULE 7 - THE FILIPINO WAY

Filipino Moral Characters: Strengths and

S. H. Schwartz, Weaknesses
-along with several colleagues in the field of Filipino Values
psychology, carried out empirical research
analyzing whether there are universal values and Values are those aspects in life that include
what those values are. Schwartz described 'values' customs, traditions, etc.
as 'conceptions of what is important that affect the
way people choose action and evaluate events.' ● ‘pakikisama’ or sense of togetherness -
(Sen, 1999) to do somebody a good deed without asking
for compensation or having and maintaining
Below are each of the value types, with the ‘good public relations
specific related values alongside: ● ‘Utang na loob’ dept or gratitude -
recognizing and returning the favor to that
1. Power: authority; leadership; dominance, social person in the same measure who help them
power, wealth in times of need
2. Achievement: success; capability; ambition; ● ‘Hiya’ or ‘kahihiyan’ or sense of shame -
influence; intelligence; self-respect. ● ‘amor propio’ - high degree of sensitivity
3. Hedonism: pleasure; enjoying life that makes a person intolerant to criticism
4. Stimulation: daring activities; varied life; exciting and causes him to have an easily wounded
life pride
5. Self-direction: creativity; freedom; independence;
curiosity; choosing your own goals Filipino Traits
6. Universalism: broadmindedness; wisdom; social
justice; equality; a world at peace; a Trait is a distinguishing feature or character of a
world of beauty; unity with nature; protecting the person or a group of people
environment; inner harmony
7. Benevolence: helpfulness; honesty; forgiveness; ● close family ties - to live in a house
loyalty; responsibility; friendship together with their grandparents, parents,
8. Tradition: accepting one's portion in life; humility; children and grandchildren.
devoutness; respect for tradition; ● Respect for the elders - obey elderly and
moderation consider their suggestions in major life
9. Conformity: self-discipline; obedience decisions
10. Security: cleanliness; family security; national ● ‘Pakikipagkapwa-tao,’ - central core of
security; stability of social order; essential cultural traits that form and define
reciprocation of favours; health; sense of belonging an almost stereotypic Filipino character and
moral behavior
BASIC UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUES
MODULE 8 - HOW IS MORAL CHARACTER MODULE 9 - STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPED? DEVELOPMENT

Moral Character and its Development The Six Stages of Moral Development

● Moral character refers to the existence or ● Lawrence Kohlberg - American

lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, psychologist and educator known for his
fortitude, honesty, and loyalty. theory of moral development.
● Development of moral character can be ● Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral
explained by the following approaches: development, a comprehensive stage
virtues, disposition, and circular relations of theory of moral development based on Jean
acts and character, and theoretical Piaget’s theory of moral judgment for
perspectives children (1932) and developed by Lawrence
Kohlberg in 1958.
Moral Character and Virtues
Level 1: Preconventional level
● Etymologically,“character” comes from ● At the preconventional level, morality is
the ancient Greek term charaktêr, which externally controlled.
initially referred to the mark impressed upon
a coin. ➔ Stage 1: Punishment/obedience
● In philosophy,the term character is orientation
typically used to refer to the particularly Behaviour is determined by consequences.
moral dimension of a person. The individual will obey in order to avoid
● One way to explain character punishment.
development is through the virtue ethics
approach. ➔ Stage 2: Instrumental purpose
● Virtue is a central concept in his orientation
Nicomachean Ethics wherein there are two Behaviour is determined again by
distinct of human excellences, consequences. The individual focuses on
(1) excellences of thoughts and receiving rewards or satisfying personal
(2) excellences of character needs.
● “doctrine of the mean” is a principle that
suggests that a moral behavior is one that is Level 2: Conventional level
in the middle of two extremes. ● At the conventional level, conformity to
social rules remains important to the
Moral Character as Dispositions individual.

● Dispositions are particular kinds of ➔ Stage 3: Good Boy/Nice Girl orientation

properties or characteristics that objects can Behaviour is determined by social approval.
possess. The individual wants to maintain or win the
● Moral character traits are those affection and approval of others by being a
dispositions of character for which it is “good person.”
appropriate to hold agents morally
responsible. ➔ Stage 4: Law and order orientation
Social rules and laws determine behaviour.
The Circular Relation of Acts and Character The individual believes that rules and laws
maintain social order that is worth
A. Repetition of Action and its Effect on the Person preserving.
B. The Type of Action
● Actus humanus - more of action Level 3: Postconventional or principled level
involuntarily( yung parang nagawa mo out ● At the postconventional level, the
of reaction, like napatalon ka dahil nagulat individual moves beyond the perspective of
ka) his or her own society.
● Actus humanis- rational acts (like u think
about it) ➔ Stage 5: Social contract orientation
C. Intention and Responsibility Individual rights determine behaviour. The
● Two important aspects of the revelatory individual views laws and rules as flexible
nature of action are responsibility and tools for improving human purposes.
intention.
➔ Stage 6: Universal ethical principle
orientation
According to Kohlberg, this is the highest
stage of functioning. However, he claimed
that some individuals will never reach this
level. At this stage, the appropriate action is
determined by one’s self-chosen ethical
principles of conscience.