How Does Culture Define

Moral Behavior?
 Three critical elements that jointly
influence the human person’s moral
development by Plato:

Native traits or genetic

characteristics

Early childhood
experience

One’s cultural
surroundings
 If the child’s personal cultural
surroundings reward conformity to
agreeable norms it would lead the
person to behave much better and quell
undesirable conduct.
 The power of culture over an
individual is more potent in children
because they don’t have
pre-existing values. “Plato”
 The child’s cultural surroundings
should express the image of a noble
character because it serves as the
child’s moral foundation. “Plato”
 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.
Cultural Relativism also means that
any opinion on ethics is subject to
the perspective of each person
within their particular culture.
The goal of cultural relativism is to
promote understanding of cultural
practices that are not typically part
of one’s own culture.
 Thus, all moral and ethical
standards or the judgement of what
is right and wrong) is valid and there
is not “one” standard that is
“better” among all others.
 Examples:
1. Children in India are allowed to get
married at a very young age.
(we don’t practice this one in the
Philippines)

2. Some countries have divorce while we

don’t have divorce in the Philippines, in
general.
 The Elements of Moral Philosophy, laid out 5
claims of cultural relativists as to why right or
wrong is only a matter of cultural standards:
Dr. Rachels (1941-2003)
1. Different societies have
different moral codes.
2. The moral code of a society determines
what is right or wrong. There is no objective
standard considered better than others.
3. There are no universal moral truths.
4. The moral code of a particular society has
no special status. It is but one among the many.
5. It arrogant for one culture to judge
another culture. There should be
tolerance among cultures.
Advantages of Cultural Relativism
 1. It warns us from assuming that our
preferences are the absolute rational standard.
2. It teaches us to keep an open mind and to
be more amenable in discovering the truth.
Dangers of Cultural Relativism:
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 societal progress
becomes doubtful.
Why there are Universal Values?
Dr. James Rachels reject cultural
relativism because it is
implausible?
 The empirical basis of cultural
relativism is that cultures are
dramatically different in its views
of what is right and wrong.
 However, when it comes to
important moral issues, there are
3 values that are universal,
(Rachels, 2004).
 3 Universal Values shared by
all cultures are:

1. Caring for the young

2. Murder is wrong
3. Tell the truth

These rules are necessary for society to survive.

 The strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino character are
rooted in factors such as: (by Dr. Licuanan)

Home Social Economic

Religion
environment environment environment

Culture and Political Mass

History
language environment Media

Educational Leadership &

system Role models
 Extreme Extreme Family-
personalism centeredness

Lack of
discipline

Kanya-kanya
Passivity &
Syndrome
Lack of initiative
Lack of
self-analysis & Colonial
reflection Mentality
Weaknesses of t
he Filipino Char
acter
Pakikipagkapwa- Family
tao orientation

Joy and
humor

Faith & Flexibility,

Religiousity Adaptability,
Creativity
Ability to
Hard word &
Survive
industry

Strengths of Fili
pino Character
 Any Question?

Thank you for listening and for

your participation.