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ETHICS Preliminaries

Course Title : Ethics

No. of Units : 3 units

Course
Description:

Ethics deals with principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society, and in interaction with the
environment and other shared resources. (CMO 20 s 2013)

Morality pertains to the standards of right and wrong that an individual originally picks up from the community. The course discusses
the context and principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of individual, society, and in interaction with the
environment and other shared resources. The course also teaches students to make moral decisions by using dominant moral
frameworks and by applying a seven-step moral reasoning model to analyze and solve moral dilemmas.

The course is organized according to the three (3) main elements of the moral experience: (a) agent, including context- cultural,
communal, and environmental; (b) the act; and (c) reason or framework (for the act).

This course includes the mandatory topic on taxation.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, the students must be able to:

1. Differentiate between moral and non-moral problems
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 2. Describe what a moral experience is as it happens in different levels of human existence
3. Explain the influence of Filipino culture on the way students look at moral experiences and solve moral dilemmas
4. Describe the elements of moral development and moral experience
5. Use ethical frameworks or principles to analyze moral experiences
6. Make sound ethical judgments based on principles, facts, and the stakeholders affected
7. Develop sensitivity to the common good
8. Understand and internalize the principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society, and in
interaction with the environment and other shared resources

Number of Hours: 3 hours every week for 18 weeks or 48 hours in a semester

Course Outline:
The course is organized according to the three (3) main elements of the moral experience: agent (to include context - cultural,
communal, and environmental;) the act; and reason or framework (for the act).

Introduction: Key Concepts (6 hours)

This section addresses the following questions:
What are moral standards, and how do they differ from other rules of lives?
What is a moral dilemma?
Why is freedom crucial in our ability to make moral decisions?
• What is the advantage of owning moral standards (morality and ethics) over merely abiding by moral standards?

Basic Concepts
Moral vs. non-moral standards
b. What are dilemmas?
c. Three levels of moral dilemmas (individual, organizationa,l systemic)
d. Foundation of morality: Freedom-responsibility for one's act and to others
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 e. Minimum requirement for morality: Reason and impartiality

Part I: The Moral Agent (12 hours)

This section addresses the following questions:

• How does culture shape moral behavior?

• Why should culture not be the ultimate determinant of values?
• Is there a Filipino understanding of right and wrong? Why this interpretation? What are its influences?

A. Culture in moral behavior

1. Culture and its role in moral behavior
2. What is cultural relativism? Why is it not tenable in ethics?
3. Are there an Asian and a Filipino understanding of moral behavior Strengths and weaknesses?

B. The moral agent: Developing virtue as habit

1. How is a moral character developed? The circular relation of acts that build character and acts that emanate from
character
2. Moral development
a. The stages of moral development
b. How do we get to the highest level, conscience-based moral decisions?

Part II: The Act (12 hours)

This section addresses the following questions:
• What is the role of feelings in moral decisions? What are the disadvantages of over-reliance on feelings?
• How can we make reasoned and impartial decisions?
• Why is reason not enough in carrying out moral decisions?

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-··--····-·-·-- ····- - -- ------ - -- -- ------ ----- ·-- - - --- -- - -
 A. Feelings and moral decision-making
1. Feelings as instinctive and trained response to moral dilemmas
- Why they can be obstacles to making the right decisions
- How they can help in making the right decisions

B. Reason and Impartiality as Minimum requirements for Morality

1. Reason and impartiality defined
2. The 7-step moral reasoning model

C. Moral courage
1. Why the will is as important as reason
2. Developing the will

Part Ill: Frameworks and Principles Behind our Moral Disposition Frameworks (12 hours)
This section addresses the following questions:
• What are the overarching frameworks that dictate the way we make our individual moral decisions?
• What is my framework in making my decisions?

A. Virtue ethics
1. Aristotle
a) Te/os
b) Virtue as habit
c) Happiness as virtue
2. St. Tomas: Natural /aw
a) The natural and its tenets
b) Happiness as constitutive of moral and cardinal virtues

B. Kant and rights theorists

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 1. Kant
a) Good will
b) Categorical imperative
2. Different kinds of rights
a) Legal
b) Moral

C. Utilitarianism
1. Origins and nature of theory
2. Business's fascination with utilitarianism

D. Justice and fairness: Promoting the common good

1. The nature of the theory
2. Distributive justice
a) Egalitarian
b) Capitalist
c) Socialist
i. The state and citizens: responsibilities to each other: The principles of taxation and inclusive growth

Conclusion: Ethics through Thick and Thin, and Ethics and Religion (6 hours)
This section addresses the following questions:
• What are the challenges to ethical behavior in today's world?
• Is it still meaningful to search for universal values?
• How do we respond to an increasingly pluralist and individualist globalized world?

A. The challenges of pluralism and fundamentalism: The search for universal values
1. Globalization and pluralism: New challenges to ethics
2. Challenges of filinnials
3.
4. The religious response: The role of religion in ethics Page 5 of6
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 Course Requirements
1. Written up moral dilemmas experienced by the students
2. Regular quizzes to test if students recall the principles and concepts they learn
3. Group and individual case analyses
4. Final oral exam

Assessment
40% Quizzes (4)
20% Individual case analysis/reflection paper (3)
20% Group case analysis (2)
20% Final oral exam (could be replaced with written exam) (1)

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ETHICS Learning Plan

Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment

Outcomes
Recall rules they Orientation to the Student Activity: Class Student handbook Homework that requires students to pay
have to follow course discussion: What rules do close attention to school and
you find constricting? Why community rules experienced in daily
rules? life. Evaluate
these rules.
Explain why they
have to follow
rules Mini-Lecture: Why rules are Class recitation after mini-lecture on
important to social beings importance of rules, for teacher to find
out if students recall and understand the
nature of rules and why they are
important.
Differentiate Difference Study Activity: Class List of rules in Quiz #1 to test first and second topics.
between moral between moral discussion: When do you basketball Question/s: Cite two to three differences
and non-moral and non-moral say it is a moral between moral and non-moral
standards standards experience? standards, one of which should be the
most important.

Lecture: Difference
between moral and non-
moral standards
Recognize and What are moral Student Activity: Rachels, James. Group discussion: Students identify
recall a moral dilemmas? "What is Morality?" dilemmas in cases submitted by
For individual dilemmas:
experience Chap. 1 in The classmates.
Case discussion on
Elements of Moral
students' moral dilemmas
Philosophy, 1-15.
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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes
4th ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill
Detect a moral The three levels For organizational dilemma: Alternatively. teacher could give two of
College, 2004.
dilemma of moral Medical and business these dilemmas (all personal and age-
dilemmas: ethics case, e.g., appropriate} in a written exercise where
indiv idual; pharmaceutical industry students identify and write the
Palma-Angeles ,
Identify the three organizational case- Dr. X goes to the dilemmas. And then discuss results with
Antonette, and
levels of moral (i.e., business, United States three times a writers of the dilemma.
Rowena Azada-
dilemmas medical. and year for free
Palacios. Medicine
public sector) ;
For structural dilemmas: Prices, Price
and structural
Expensive medicines in the Controls, and the
(i.e., network of
Philippines Philippine
institutions and
Pharmaceutic al
operative
Indust ry. Ma kati:
theoretical Lecture: Ateneo Graduate
paradigms , e.g.,
(a} What are moral School of Business,
universal health
dilemmas? Examples of 2011.
care}
dilemmas
(b} The three levels of News clips.
moral dilemmas (Teacher will have
to choose from
current news
events}

Cases written by
students.

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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes

Explain why only Freedom as Viewing of video clii2 A Clockwork Class discussion to bring out reactions
human beings foundation for demonstrating unlimited Orange. Directed by and insights on the video clip, zeroing in
can be ethical moral acts freedom or the absence of Stanley Kubrick. on why freedom is crucial to the ethical
freedom Burbank, CA: exp erience.
Warner Bros., 1971.

Lecture: Freedom as Alternatively, teacher can assign a

foundation of ethics reflection paper on reactions and
insights on the movie.
Articulate what What is culture? Student Activit y:: Class Cultural artifacts Class discussion to elicit students'
culture means How does it discussion: How do you brought by students understanding of the cultural
define our moral think your community to class embeddedness of their behavior.
behavior? influences your behavior?
Attribute facets of
personal
behavior to Lecture: What is culture?
culture How does it define moral
behavior?
Recognize Cultural Two Cases: Differences in Two cases/stories Quiz #2: Question/s: Explain the
differences in relativism: practices about cultural position in ethics called cultural
moral behavior of definition, differences (Will relativism. Discuss its strengths and
different cultures advantages of provide.)* weaknesses.
recognizing the Lecture: Why can't all
differences, and cultural practices be always
Appreciate the the dangers of correct? Rachels, James.
differences the position "The Challenge of

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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes
Cultural Relativism."
Chap. 2 in The
Evaluate the
Elements of Moral
strengths and
Philosophy, 16-31.
weaknesses of
4th ed. New York:
cultural relativism
McGraw-Hill
College, 2004.
Analyze crucial The Filipino way Viewing of video cli1;1 on the Elemia, Camille. At the end of this section, students
qualities of the Filipino way "Political Dynasties submit an essay wherein they narrate a
Filipino moral in PH." 9News personal experience, analyze how
identity in their Philippines, October problems were rooted in Filipino
own moral Student Activit'.'f Class 1, 2012. qualities, and, from hindsight,
experiences discussion: Description of httQs://youtu.be/FXY recommend how they would have done
highlights of Filipino culture K4fKlklM. things differently.

Evaluate
elements that Lecture: Strengths and Licuanan, Patricia et
need to be weaknesses of the Filipino al. "A Moral
changed moral character Recovery Program:
Building a People-
Building Nation." In
Values in Philippine
Culture and
Education:
Philippine
Philosophical
Studies I, edited by
Manuel B. Dy Jr.,
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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes
31-48. Washington,
DC: The Council for
Research in Values
and Philosophy ,
1994.

Palma-Angeles,
Antonette. "Cultural
Drivers of
Corruption in
Business and
Governance." In
Business Ethics in
Asia: Issues and
Cases, edited by
Oscar G. Bulaong
Jr., Ike Janita Dewi,
and J. Sedfrey
Santiago, 20-36.
Quezon City:
Ateneo de Manila
University Press ,
2014.

Identify universal Universal values Lecture: Why there are Rachels, James. Written exercise on two scenarios
values universal values "The Challenge of highlighting (a) respect for human life,

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Ethics

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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes
Cultural Relativism." and (b) truth-telling. Students discuss
Chap. 2 in The the possible results of upholding or not
Explain why
Elements of Moral upholding the two values.
universal values
Philosophy, 16-31.
are necessary for
4th ed. New York :
human survival
McGraw-Hill
College, 2004.

Recall defining How is moral Study Activity: At the start Animation or At the end of the class, hold 9!.Q..!,!Q
moments in their character of the class discussion, presentation on discussion and 12resentations, analyzing
moral formation developed? bring out students' circularity of acts the lives of Nelson Mandela and Adolf
understanding of and character. Hitler.
contributory elements to
Explain the their moral character
relationship Character studies of
Use of Gra1;2hi cs: Circularity
between Nelson Mandela and
of relationship of individual Adolf Hitler. (Will
individual acts
acts and moral character
and character provide.)*
Lecture: Moral character as
disposition; how it is
developed
Identify and Stages of moral Lecture: The six stages of Three cases/stories Quiz #3: Question/s: What are the six
articulate each development moral development on moral stages of moral development? Briefly
stage of moral development. (Will explain each stage.
Student Activity:
development provide.)*
Draw a chart of their life's
iournev usina Manila oaoer Grouo oresentation: Three cases/stories

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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes
moral experiences

Moral agents in these three

situations respond
emotionally and/or
rationa lly.
Lecture: What is reason?
What is impartiality?

Capture and Feelings and Class Discussion: Personal Cases. {Will provide Role-play three cases, highlighting in
analyze their reason: Upsurge experiences and feelings after discussion with one case an emotional response, and in
feelings in of feelings is attached to these committee.)* the other a rational response.
personal moral natural and what
experiences we do with them
is what makes us Lecture: The class critiques the behavior and
ethical or responses of agents in the three cases.
(a) Feelings- importance,
Compare unethical origin, and disadvantages
reasonable and
emotional (b) Reason and Impartiality
responses The ethical
requirement of
reason and Student Activit f Group
impartiality discussion : Stories from
news clips highlighting
emotional and rational
responses

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 Learning Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
Outcomes
and fairness should benefit from taxes? Readings in
Philosophy, edited
by Steven M. Cahn
Make use of and George Sher,
justice and 262-76. Fort Worth,
fairness TX: Harcourt Brace
College Publishers,
1996.

Identify the Globalization and Viewing of video cliQ on Knicker, Nicole. Identify the important moral challenges
important moral its ethical facets of globalization: "McDonald's: of globalization.
challenges of challenges Ethical challenges for Winning at Global
globalization business that works in a Marketing
globalized world; and what Strategies." Global
standards do workers E Brands,
follow? September 15,
Class Discussion : the Moral 2013.
Challenges of Globalization htt ://globalebrands.
com/mcdonalds-
winning-at-global-
marketing-
strategies.

Friedman, Thomas .
The Lexus and the
Olive Tree:

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 GE Learnina Outcomes Ethics
10. Advocate respect for human rights L
11. Contribute oersonallv and meaninofullv to the countrv's develooment L
Skills (Practical Skills)
1. Work effectively in a group p
2. Apply computing tools to process information effectively 0
3. Use current technology to assist and facilitate learning and research 0
4. Negotiate the world of technology responsibly 0
5. Create solutions to problems in various fields p
6. Manage one's knowledge, skills, and values for responsible and productive living L
7. Organize one's self for lifelona learnina L

L = Learned

P = Practiced

O= Opportunity to learn

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