POLANGUI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Polangui, Albay

MODULE 3: THE
FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
OF MORALITY & YOU

I. LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student must have:

1. understood the foundational principles of morality;

2. summarized the foundational principles of morality;
3. quoted or searched some biblical passages on morality;
4. internalized the foundational principles of morality as future educator.

II. CONTENT DISCUSSION OR ABSTRACTION

A. INTRODUCTION:

Someone once wrote of teachers: “Even in your worst day on the job, you are still some children’s best
hope.” Indeed society expects much from you, the teacher. Henry Brooks Adams said it succinctly: “A teacher affects
eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops.”

For you to be able to cope with these expectations, you should be anchored on a bedrock foundation of
moral and ethical principles.

WHAT IS MORALITY?

As defined by one textbook author, morality refers to “the quality of human acts by which we call them right
or wrong, good or evil,” (Panizo, 1964) Your human action is right when it conforms with the norm, rule or law of
morality. Otherwise, it is said to be wrong. For instance, when Juan gets the pencil of Pedro without the latter’s
permission, Juan’s action is wrong because it is adherent to the norm, “stealing is wrong. A man’s action, habit or
character is good when it is not lacking of what is natural to man, i.e. when it is in accordance with man’s nature. For
instance, it is not natural for man to behave like a beast because he is not a beast. He is a man and, unlike the beast
he has intellect and free will. That intellect makes him capable of thinking, judging and reasoning. His free will gives
him the ability to choose. Unlike the beasts, he is not bound by instincts. It is a natural occurrence for beasts when a
male dog meets a female dog on the street and mate right there and then, as they are not free but bound by their

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instinct, like sexual instinct. But it is contrary to a man’s nature when a man and a woman do as the dogs do. To do
so is to go down to the level of the best.

MEANING OF FOUNDATIONAL MORAL PRINCIPLE

What is meant by foundational moral principle? The word principle comes from the Latin word princeps
which means a beginning, a source. A principle is that on which something is based, founded, originated, initiate. It is
likened to the foundation of a building upon which all other parts stand. If we speak of light, the principle is the sun
because the sun is the body from which the light f this world originate. A foundational moral principle is, therefore, the
universal norm upon which all other principles on the rightness or wrongness of an action are based. It is the source
of morality.

Where is this foundational moral principle? It is contained in the natural law. Many moralists, authors and
philosophers may have referred to this foundational moral principle in different terms. But it may be acceptable to all
believers and non-believers alike to refer to it as natural law.

What is the natural law? It is the law “written in the hearts of men .” (Romans 2:15) For theists, it is “man’s
share in the Eternal Law of God…” (Panizo, 1964) St. Thomas defines it as “the light of natural reason, whereby we
discern what is good and what is evil… an imprint on us of the divine light… ” (Panizo, 1964). It is the law that says:
“Do good and avoid evil.” THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL OR FOUNDATIONAL MORAL PRINCIPLE.

All men and women, regardless of race and belief, have a sense of this foundational moral principle. “ It is
ingrained in man’s nature. It is built into the design of human nature and woven into the fabric of the normal human
mind”. We are inclined to do what we recognize as good and avoid that which we recognize as evil.

Panizo says: “Writings, customs and movements of past and present generations point out to this
conclusion: that all people on earth, no matter how savage and illiterate, have recognized a supreme law of divine
origin commanding good and forbidding evil” (Panizo, 1964). The same thing was said by the philosopher, Mencius
long ago:

All men have a mind which cannot bear (to see the suffering of ) others… If now suddenly see a child about
to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a feeling of alarm and distress… from this case we may
perceive that he who lacks the feeling of modesty and yielding is not a man; and that he who lacks a sense of right
and wrong is not a man… Man has these four beginnings… (Fung Yulan, 1948, 69-70)

The natural law that says “do good and avoid evil” comes in different versions. Kung-fu-tsu said the same
when he taught: “Do not do to others what you do not like others to do to you.” This is also the Golden Rule of
Christianity only that it is written in the positive form: “ Do to others what you like others do to you .” Immauel Kant’s
version is “Act in such a way that your maxim can be the maxim for all.” For Christians, this Golden Rule is made
more explicit through the Ten Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes. This are summed up in the two great
commandments: “love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength” and “love your neighbor as
you love yourself”. The Buddhists state this through the 8- Fold Path. For the Buddhists, the do when the (1) strive to
know the truth; (2) resolve to resist evil; (3) say nothing to hurt others; (4) respect life, morality and property; (5)

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engage in a job that does not injure others; (6) strive to free their mind of evil; (7) control their feelings and thoughts;
(8) practice proper forms of concentration. Buddha taught that “hatred does not cease by hatred; hatred ceases only
by love.” The Islamic Koran “forbids lying, stealing, adultery and murder.” It is also teaches “honor for parents,
kindness to slaves, protection for the orphaned and the widowed and charity to the poor. It teaches the virtues of
faith in God, patience, kindness, honesty, industry, honor, courage and generosity . It condemns mistrust, impatience
and cruelty. Furthermore, the Muslims abide by the 5-Pillars of Islam: (1) prayer, (2) self-purification by fasting, (3)
fasting, (4) almsgiving and (5) pilgrimage to Mecca for those who can afford.

TEACHER AS APERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

As laid down in the preamble of our CODE OF ETHICS of PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS, “ teachers are
duly licensed professionals who possess dignity and reputation with high moral values as well as technical and
professional competence. In the practice of their profession, they strictly adhere to, observe and practice this set of
ethical and moral principles, standards and values.”

For the above preamble, the words moral values are mentioned twice, to accentuate on the good moral
character expected of you, the teacher. When are you of good moral character? One Christian author describes four
ways of describing good moral character: (1) being fully human – you have realized substantially your potential as a
human person, (2) being a loving person – you are caring in an unselfish and mature manner with yourself, other
people and God, (3) being a virtuous person – you have acquired good habits and attitudes and you practice them
consistently in your daily life, and (4) being a morally mature person – you have reached a level of development
emotionally, socially, mentally, spiritually appropriate to your development stage. In short, you are on the right track
when you strive to develop your potential, your love and care for yourself and make this love flow to others; you lead
a virtuous life, and as you advance in age you also advance in your emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual life.

The foundational moral principle is “Do good and avoid evil”. This is contained in the natural law. The natural
law is engraved in the heart of every man and woman. We have in us the sense to do the good that we ought to do
and to avoid the evil that we ought to avoid. This fundamental moral principle of doing good and avoiding evil is
expressed in many ways by different people.

Our act is moral when it is in accordance with our human nature. Our intellect and free will make us different
from and above the beast.

As teachers, you are expected to be a person of good moral character. You are a person of good moral
character when you are (1) human, (2) loving, (3) virtuous and (4) mature.

III. LEARNER’S EXPERIENCES OR ACTIVITIES/EXERCISES

A. Answer the following in a sentence or two. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answer.

1. To be moral is to be human. What does this mean?

2. Why is morality is only for person?

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B.

1. “Do good; avoid evil” is the foundational moral principle. Give at least five (5) good things that you
have to do as a teacher and five (5) evil things you have to avoid doing.
2. The Golden Rule of Christians is: “Do to others what you would like others to do to you.” Give a
concrete application of the Golden Rule as you relate to:
- a learner
- to a fellow teacher
- to a parent
- any member of the community
- to your superiors

IV. ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION TOOLS

1. Rubrics
2. Reflection Paper

V. MATERIALS/REFERENCE LINKS

Books:

The Teaching Profession by:

 Purita P. Bilbao, Ed.D.
 Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
 Avelina T. llagas, Ed.D.
 Gloria G. Salandanan, Ph.D.

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