Assignment 1

Tasks:
1. Know and understand the course description
2. Distinguish between moral and non-moral standards.
3. Answer Activity 1.

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).

Moral and Non-Moral Standards

Some actions can be judged as neither right nor wrong. When one yawns, for instance,
such action cannot be considered either good or bad. It is one which happens quite naturally
like sleeping or waking up. Well, at least, when one does it at home and not in public places
where one could have the tendency of disturbing others. Most of these actions are done
unconsciously or without the use of one’s freedom and volition and are therefore called
amoral.
In judging one’s action as either good or bad, there are two existing standards: the
moral and non-moral. In the moral standards, the basis of one’s judgment is derived from
universal and objective principles of morality. These are the standards of right and wrong which
are accepted universally – that is, by majority of the people in the world. So much so that
wherever one goes, such standards are considered valid and observed by the people in a given
community. Moral standards normally promote that which is “good” – which is understood
here as the welfare of humans, animals, and the environment. It is to be noted, however, that
only those actions which are done consciously and intentionally with the use of one’s freedom
and volition can be judged as either moral or immoral. To cite an example, the act of cheating
during an examination is done consciously and freely and can be attributed only to the person
doing it. In this sense, guilt is non-transferrable – that is, the person who is directly involved in
doing it is responsible for such action. Freedom and responsibility always go together.
The non-moral standards, on the other hand, may be defined as those which are valid
only in a given situation, place, or individual setting. As can be noticed in such definition, the
basis of one’s judgment concerning right and wrong does not come from universally accepted
principles. In some places, for instance, abortion and mercy-killing may be considered legal and
valid. But as to whether it is moral or not cannot be judged simply on the basis of the cultural
practices prevalent in such places. In other words, non-moral standards are matters which are
solely dependent on one’s taste or preference. It must be noted that, since such standard is
based on one’s individual preference, a person who religiously observes it cannot be considered
moral. The Filipino’s constant observance of lavish preparations during fiesta celebrations does
not make him a good person and earn for him, so to speak, a right to go to heaven. In the same
token, one cannot be judged as bad if he does not prepare anything to attract visitors during
fiestas.

Activity 1

Activity 1: Identifying a Moral Experience

Instructions: Study the following situations and classify whether each can be considered a moral
standard or not. Justify your choice.
Ex.

Situation Classification Justification

Scattering one’s waste Non-Moral standard The action does not conform
materials on the floor to universally accepted
principles of behavior.

Worksheet for Activity 1

Situation Classification Justification

Wasting one’s hard-earned Non-Moral standard The action is based on one’s
money on useless things preference and doesn’t come
from the universally accepted

Preparing for the major
examination
Responding to an emergency
situation
Playing with one’s cellphone
while attending the mass
Helping an old woman cross
the street
principles which is to
promote what is good to the
welfare of humans, animals,
and the environment.
Moral standard The action is considered
moral since this
standard is accepted
universally or by the majority
of the people in the world to
prepare for an examination
since it means you value your
studies well.
Moral standard The action conforms to the
universally accepted
principles of behavior since it
is concerned on the goodness
of the welfare of another
person since an emergency
situation pertains that the
welfare of a person is in
danger or in need of help.
Non-Moral standard Such action doesn’t conform
to the universally accepted
principles of behavior since it
isn’t seen as right by the
majority of people.
Moral standard The action conforms to
universally accepted
principles of behavior since
the act of helping others
promotes what is good to the
welfare of humans and it is
done by one’s freedom and
volition.