School Purposes

1. Summary
 Ethics is generally thought of as the study of right action and morals is the system
through which that action is applied.
 Ethics is not just values education, not catechism, not moral theology, and not just
applied ethics.
 There are three categories or sub-branches of Ethics, and they are Descriptive Ethics,
Metaethics, and Normative Ethics.
 The commission on Higher Education states that “ethics deals with the principles of
ethical behaviour in the modern society at the level of the person, society, and in
interaction with the environment and other shared resources.” (CMO 20 series 2013)
 The importance of studying Ethics is for the students to explore, understand, and
critically reflect on their personal value system. The attainment of this realization
would help and empower students to make sound moral decisions sensitive to the
common good.
 Scholars from various disciplines have entered into the field, creating new approaches
to the study of ethics such as behavioural ethics and applied ethics. Ethics gives a sense
of justification in one’s judgment and helps ensure that decisions in work are not made
from purely subjective factors.
 Moral experiences are normally felt at the very least, when there is an effort on the part
of man to guide one’s conduct by reason-that is, to do what there are the best reasons
for doing while giving equal weight to the interests of each individual affected by one’s
decision.
 Moral Issue is a situation that calls for moral valuation. For instance, the all-out war
against drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte is an example of a moral issue.
 Moral judgment is the moral agent’s or person’s assessment on the ethical actions or
behaviour of someone.
 Moral Decision, on the other hand, is the moral agent’s or person’s act of choosing and
acting a particular moral choice as he or she is confronted by the choices of what to
perform.
 Moral Dilemma is a moral situation in which a difficult choice is to be made between
two or more conflicting alternatives.
 The three elements of dilemma are as follows: (1) there are two or more actions that
you can possibly do; (2) there is moral reason for doing such actions; (3) and you
cannot do all the possible actions presented to you as they are in conflict with each
other.
 Moral standard is a code of what is right or wrong reference to specific behaviors or
beliefs. (O’Connor, 1997)

2.  There are six characteristics of a true moral standard. (1) Moral standards involve
behaviors that seriously affect other people’s well-being. (2) Moral standards take a
more important consideration than other standards including self-interest. (3) Moral
standards do not depend on any external authority but in how the person perceives the
reasonableness of the action. (4) Moral standards are believed to be universal. (5)
Moral standards are based on objectivity. (6) Moral standards are associated with
vocabulary that depicts emotion or feelings.
 Freedom is one of the inborn properties and it is the human capacity to act and or not
act as he or she choose or prefer, without any external compulsion or restraint.
 Human acts, in contrast to acts of man, are actions that proceed from insight into the
nature and purpose of one’s doing and from consent of free will.
 Culture is derived from the Latin word “cultus” which means care or cultivation.
 According to Edward B. Tylor, an anthropologist, “culture is that complex whole which
includes knowledge, beliefs, law, art, moral, custom, and other capabilities and habits as
a member of society.”
 There are five basic elements of culture and these are Symbols, Language, Beliefs,
Values, and Norms.
 Culture is always transmitted, shared, and acquired through learning. It satisfies the
human need and tends towards the participation of the members of the society.
 Its function is to mold and establish a social identity that brings people as well to the
knowledge of common objectives which members would try to achieve. In this effect,
culture plays a vital role in the development of the human person including his or her
moral behaviour.
 These are the points on how culture influences moral development of the people. (1)
Culture is always social and communal by which the relationship of the people towards
one another and their experiences as a people are the culture’s meadow. (2) Culture
defines the normative principles and behaviors of the society. (3) Culture sets
boundaries and limitations as they live and relate with one another. (4) Culture helps in
generating the character and identity of its people including their moral character. (5)
Culture identifies the authorities or the governing individuals or groups.
 Many cultures in the world have their own beliefs, values, and practices that have
developed in their own particular historical, political, social, and environmental
contexts. Thus, it makes sense that they would differ in perspectives specifically to the
context of what is right and wrong.
 Cross-cultural relationship is an idea that people from different cultures can have
relationships that acknowledge respect and begin to understand each other’s
perspectives.
 Cultural Relativism is the ability to understand a culture on its own terms and not to
make judgments using the standards of one’s own culture.

3.  Dr. James Rachels laid out five claims of cultural relativist as to why right or wrong is
only a matter of cultural standards. He refuted these five claims saying that cultural
standards. He refuted these five claims saying that cultural relativism is not plausible in
the ethical-moral context. The five refutations are as follows: (1) Different societies
have different moral codes but there are moral values which are shared by all cultures.
(2) The moral code of the society determines what is right or wrong within that society
but people-society can be of error. (3) We can appeal to broader universal principles
when we criticize erroneous cultural moral claims. (4) The moral code of a particular
society has no special status but the society’s moral code could be better or worst
depending on the reasonableness and the nature and quality of the consequences it
effects to the society. (5) It is arrogant to judge other cultural but we cannot tolerate
everything. There are warlike societies and we cannot tolerate their inhuman acts.
Moral progress is not possible in the cultural relativist perspective.
 Furthermore, Dr. Rachels argue with three substantial points on why cultural relativism
poses a threat. The three points are as follows: (1) We cannot call out societal practices
that promote harm. (2) We cannot justifiably criticize our own culture’s harmful
practices. (3) The idea of social progress becomes doubtful.
 Dr. Patricia Licuanan enumerated the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino values
and traits. The strengths are as follows: Pakikipagkapwa-Tao, Family Orientation, Joy
and Humor, Flexibility-Adaptability-Creativity, Hard work and Industry, Faith and
Religiosity, and Ability to Survive. The weaknesses of Filipino values are as follows:
Extreme Personalism, Extreme Family-Centeredness, Lack of Discipline, Passivity and
Lack of Initiative, Colonial Mentality, Kanya-kanya Syndrome, and Lack of Self-Analysis.
 Filipino values are ambivalent. They are potential for good or evil, help or hindrance to
personal and national development, depending on how they are understood, practiced
or lived. They can be used in a good or evil context for every value has a counter value.
 Moral character refers to the existence of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude,
honest, and loyalty. It is also a disposition or the tendency to act or think in a particular
way for which a person can be held morally responsible.
 In the Confucian traditions, moral development was attributed to the “four beginnings”
and these are as follows: the (1) Heart of Compassion which leads to JEN, (2) Heart of
Righteousness which leads to YI, (3) Heart of Propriety which leads to LI, (4) Heart of
Wisdom which leads to ZHI. Jen means goodwill, sympathy towards others, and
generosity. Yi means righteousness and the respect of duty towards humanity and
nature. Li deals with outward behaviour such as etiquette, customs and rituals. Zhi
means wisdoms and this is the result or product of practicing Jen, Yi, and Li. Each of
these beginnings do not capture the concept of self. It is only when they are put
together that the potential self is revealed.

4.  Lawrence Kohlberg developed a moral theology which was developmental in nature.
Moral reasoning has six development stages which he clusters it to three levels. These
are as follows: (Pre-conventional level) (1) Obedience and Punishment; (2) Naively
egoistical; (Conventional level) (3) “Good Boy-Good Girl” Orientation; (4) Law and
Social Order; (Post-Conventional level) (5) Legalistic Social Contract; (6) Universal
Ethical Principles.
Assessment which is align to the Intended Learning Outcomes
As you have read the all text discussions above, tell me what you think about this
matter.
1.) What is ethics in your own understanding?
 An individual's actions and decisions are based on a set of moral principles and
ideas known as ethics. "Moral philosophy" is a different word for ethics. What is
right for many individuals as well as for the individual is always at the core of ethics.
Based on human responsibility and rights as well as how the group or society would
benefit, ethics has always defined what is good and wrong.
2.) What is the object of study of ethics?
 The study of ethics aids in understanding people's beliefs, values, and morals,
learning the good and bad of them, and putting them into practice to maximize their
well-being and happiness. It entails investigating existing situations, making
judgments, and resolving issues.
3.) How do you differentiate normative ethics from descriptive ethics?
 In general, normative ethics is the study of ethical behavior, whereas descriptive
ethics is the study of people's attitudes toward moral beliefs. As the name implies,
descriptive ethics describes people's behavior and the moral standards they adhere
to.
4.) Why do we need to study ethics?
 Basic ethical principles can help us live a more fulfilling life, both personally and
professionally. Ethics is a set of principles that helps us distinguish between what is
right and what is wrong, or what is good and what is bad. Our lives can be guided by
ethics in a real and practical way.
5.) What is a moral standard in your own understanding?
 Moral standards are people's beliefs about what actions are morally right and
wrong, as well as the values they place on the things they consider to be morally
good and bad.

5. 6.) Why is a genuine moral standard objective and considered to be universal?
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7.) Why is that social etiquettes, policies, laws and divine commandment cannot be
considered a moral standard through it may be considered moral gauges to many people?
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8.) Why is it important to own-possess moral standards than just by mere following it?
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9.) What is human freedom in your own understanding?
 All people have the freedom to behave differently and despite their instincts.
Freedom is living a life free from outside interference. Just as freedom to love
signifies happiness, so does freedom. When you have the most freedom to be who
you are, life is at its most enjoyable.
10.) Why is human freedom essential to a human being?
 What is freedom, and why is it crucial? The capacity to make independent decisions
might be summed up as freedom. We have the freedom to think and express what
we want, to follow the path we desire in life, and to associate with whomever we
want. This enables us to live distinctive lives and be unique individuals. Because it
allows us to be who we are, freedom is a fundamental human right. And such a
world would be very desolate.
11.) Explain the statement, “human freedom is complementary to reason”.
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12.) Explain why only human beings can ethical?
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13.) Explain the meaning of culture and five elements if culture.

6.  The five elements are Symbols, Language, Beliefs, Values, and Norms. Symbols can be
anything that a group of people find meaningful. Language is a system of communication
used by a particular country or community. Beliefs are assumptions of convictions held to
be true by an individual or a group of people. Examples of these are the different
religious beliefs, folk stories, and superstitions beliefs. Values are culturally acceptable
standards of behavior. Norms or shall we say cultural norm are the social rules and
customs embedded in everyday life of the people. These simple refers to the culture's
folkways and mores.
14.) How does culture shape the moral behaviour of a person?
 The principles of morality and ethics that guide how people should act and
communicate with one another are reflected in culture. They serve as guidelines for
right and moral behavior, give life purpose and clarity, and offer ways to feel
authentic, safe, and like you belong.
15.) Different cultures have different beliefs, practices, social norms and others. In your
own knowledge, describe and enumerate the differences and similarities between Southern
Leyteños and Waraynons in terms of the following: Language and Beliefs “folk beliefs” &
Values and Social Norms.
16.) What is cultural relativism in your own understanding?
 Cultural relativism is the idea of understanding the culture with no judgement, it’s
also about the practices, values and beliefs of a society with its own perspectives.
17.) Explain the dangers of cultural relativism.

7.  Our typical confidence in the objectivity and universality of moral truth is put into
question by cultural relativism. In essence, it asserts that there is no such thing as an
ethical universal truth and that there are only the many cultural rules.
Cultural relativism correctly cautions us against the peril of presuming that all of
our activities are founded on some unquestionably reasonable criterion. The answer
is no. It is simple to lose sight of the fact that some of our traditions are essentially
conventional—merely specific to our society.
18.) Explain and enumerate the Filipino values and character traits.
These are the following Values and Character traits that we Filipino is known for:
Hiya (Shame)  Hiya or shame is one of the
common values and traits of a
Filipino. This simply tells that
it’s a kind of conscious self-
control or restraint.
(Procrastination)
Ningas-cogon and Mana habit  We have this kind
Procrastination, that Some
Filipino has the capability to do
or act with full excitement and
enthusiasm but they are unable
to finish it from the start and
there comes this Mana habit or
“Mamay ana habit.
Patigasan (Test of strength)  This trait is one of the negative,
as a filipino we are known for being
“matigas”. It also makes us childish
and irresponsible.
Pakikisama (group loyalty)  We must say this trait is more
way positive. We filipinos are
good at it specially when we
we’re in different country.
Bahala na (resignation)  Bahala na trait is like mana
habit. We tend to say that we can do it
later or tomorrow without thinking the
consequences. It makes us lazier.
Kasi (scape goat)  Scape goat is a word that we
usually say if we failed on something or
when we blame someone to be done by
that mistake.
Saving face  We filipinos sees this a negative
trait. After we failed on
something or if we get caught by

8. someone, we easily save our self
out in trouble.
Sakop (inclusion)  One of the filipino traits that
mostly we saw in one family. They tend
to live in same roof with the whole
family including the newly member or
the newly couples.
Utang na loob (indebtness)  Utang na loob is a filipino sense
on how are we thankful, gratitude and
reciprocity. We keep to heart the good
deeds we receive from someone,
especially when we need help. It is as if
we say we are indebted to that person
for life.
Kanya kanya (self-centeredness)  Filipinos have a selfish, self-
serving attitude that generates a feeling
of envy and competitiveness towards
others, particularly one’s peers who
seem to have gained some status or
prestige.
19.) Why is it that the Filipino values and character traits are ambivalent in nature?
 Filipino values are contradictory in that, depending on how they are perceived,
applied, or lived, they have the potential to be beneficial or harmful, aiding or
impeding both individual and societal advancement. They can be applied for either
good or bad.
Output of Module 1: This is aligned to the Intended Learning Outcomes
You are required to make a poster making or digital storytelling using the power
point presentation as your output in this module. You are going to reflect and
express your reflections through poster making or digital storytelling about the
Filipino values and specifically your family values in general. Reflect about on how
your values help you become a morally sound person who is a discern individual
sensitive to the common good.