TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Ayala Blvd., Ermita Manila, 1000, Philippines

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Name: Go, Richmon S. Subject: GEC8

Year & Section: BTVTEd ComPro 3 LESSON 7

KANT'S UNIVERSALIZABILITY TEST

1. Social Distancing during the COVID19 pandemic

(a) State the maxim of your action – It is right to social distance from people during

this pandemic, which is also a way for protecting yourself from the virus's risk.

(b) Universalize it into a moral law for everyone to follow – It is right to follow

because it is implemented as the measures and safety protocols by IATF (Inter-

Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases).

Knowing that by applying and practicing this healthy measure, we protect

ourselves from the disease and protect our loved ones from getting infected.

(c) Ask yourself if the law is univeralizable. What do you think will happen? – if this

law will be universalized and all people would practice, then the result will be

significant because this will lessen the death rate caused by the virus. If this would

follow, we can go back to our normal day, where we are not required to wear

facemask/face shields and social distance. If all of us will cooperate just simply by

following this law, we can start over again.

2. Divorce in the Philippines

(a) State the maxim of your action – It is always right to divorce from your partner

if you are not happy and do not feel the love and excitement anymore because

what is the point of marriage if you are not always on good terms with your other

half.

(b) Universalize it into a moral law for everyone to follow – It is always right to cut

your relations with someone who gives you anxiety and makes you anxious. We

should not allow ourselves from the people who make and feel us little, and we

should always prioritize our mental health. Permitting ourselves from divorce is a

morally right action, provided that our reason is ethically right. Hence, if this would

follow people, this can bring them happiness, and they can learn from their

experience and start finding themselves.

(c) Ask yourself if the law is univeralizable. What do you think will happen? – if this

law is universalized, people would be happy again, not because they can find a

new lover, but because they have released themselves from heartaches and

pains. If this would be practice in our country, considering the ethical reason,

people will live happily.

3. Dagdag bawas (election fraud)

(a) State the maxim of your action – This is an unethical practice, knowing that

every citizen or voter chooses their proposed candidate to lead the country.
However, some politicians are greedy for power, and they always find a way to

cheat and manipulate the counting of votes.

(b) Universalize it into a moral law for everyone to follow – I am against this, and it

should not be practice by people. Every citizen can only vote for at least once or

twice in 4-6 years, and this it is the only right or power of the people whom they

will select the best leader they want, and if this action is practice, then our right

as a human and as a citizen will be disregarded. Choosing a leader is also a

reflection of putting ourselves in danger. Therefore, to prevent that danger, we

should always choose the right one and do not receive briberies.

(c) Ask yourself if the law is univeralizable. What do you think will happen? – If this

will be universalized, then our life as a citizen will be meaningless because there is

no democracy at all. Our votes will be counted for the candidate who is only after

our own money if we accept it. So, it would be considered literal cheating and

unethical. However, if this will not be put into practice, we can have brilliant and

morally good politicians or leaders who can lead our nation to progress.

4. Cohabitation and Pre-marital Sex

(a) State the maxim of your action - This is not right, and it should not be practiced,

especially if the people involved are not at the right age.

(b) Universalize it into a moral law for everyone to follow – this doesn't seem right

to practice by everyone or everybody because we are not sure what will happen

next. Those who are in a young age are the ones who have commonly
experienced these situations and should be allowed and permitted. People at a

young age only feeling infatuation, and it is far from “Love” is just an emotion; it

will last eventually.

(c) Ask yourself if the law is univeralizable. What do you think will happen? – If this

will be universalized, especially pre-marital sex, this will lead to unplanned

pregnancy and will totally affect the world's population or, the worst, from

abortion. Cohabitation is not the only solution to be happy as a couple, and every

partner/couple should always practice marriage before living together. They

should always first get the blessing of the Lord before having a family.

5. Asking your classmate's help during an exam

(a) State the maxim of your action - It is not right to ask for help, especially during

the examination.

(b) Universalize it into a moral law for everyone to follow – Yes, helping other is our

sole duty as a human, but helping someone during the exam is an exemption.

Because we should always ready whenever we take an exam. We do not know

want will happen if we allow them; we might be caught or disturb other exam

takers.

(c) Ask yourself if the law is universalizable. What do you think will happen? – If

this law will be universalized, then someone will always depend on us during

examinations. Helping them will put us in a dilemma because we can commit to

academic integrity. It is also somehow kind of cheating; sometimes not helping is

also a way to help; by not assisting, they can stand alone, study hard, and answer

and finish their exam with self-satisfaction.