● Apply the precepts of the natural law to contemporary moral

concerns.
Activity:
Post-Truth
We find the lines blurred between fact and fiction, between news reports and
advertisements. We are accustomed to hearing and reading fake news. We are
inundated by figures and statistics that can barely comprehend, much less confirm. We
are told to consider alternative facts and not to take seriously everything we might hear
our political leaders say. We read and revel in and then repost the most hyperbolic and
hysterical statements without asking ourselves whether we or anyone else should
reasonably maintain this. We are now in the “post-truth” era.
This label of “post-truth” means that we are more and more becoming
habituated to disregard or least to devalue the truth. It is a tendency to think of truth as
insignificant in view of other concerns. This is a significant question in the field of
media ethics as practitioners in that field-(news reporters, writers, investigative
journalist and advertisers-ought to ask the question as to what extent the integrity of
their work might be compromised in view of other interests, such as popularity, profit,
higher viewership or stronger sales. Yet, this issue is not limited to people working in
media. It should be re recognized as relevant by anyone who makes use of social media,
caught up in statements and exchanges of dubious worth. It should be considered by
anyone who wants to take seriously Aquinas’ claim that reason and concern for the
truth are what make us human.
1. Go online and look for an instance of what might be “fake news.” See
whether you are able to determine the veracity of the news report. Detail your
findings and opinion below.
 As the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we face many
challenges of an excessive quantity of information related to viruses.
Some may be false and potentially harmful.
 Inaccurate information spread widely making it more difficult to
identify for the public, especially getting verified facts and advices
from the trusted sources, such as the WHO or the local health
authorities.
 However, each individual can help stop the spreading of infodemic.
For instance, seeing contents online which is believe to be false or
misleading, this can be reported to the hosting social media platform.
2. In view of Aquinas’s assertion that reason is what makes us uniquely human
and that being reasonable opens up both an epistemic concern for truth also a
social concern of being in relation with others, provide an assessment on the
value or disvalue of post-truth phenomena such as fake news or alternative
facts.
 It is true that fake news is not a mere accusation because it is a
prejudice to all who published it, and disseminates it. We become less
civilized especially when we want to have anything that leads to
something that is less than the full truth, while the alternative facts is a
combination of two or more of these modes which highlights different
aspects of the world with its purpose of legitimacy, promoting the
same decline which until we persist on news sources that administers
the truth. We will be fed continuously to the intellectual sustenance
which we see and hear so much of. When it’s not the truth then it is a
lie. There is no virtue ethics in a lie, but in fact it makes us question
anything existent what should a politician says. Because only the truth
is the best path and believe what can be proved.
3. Consider other topics within the realm of media ethics. Select one and give an
initial presentation of the significance of discussing this topic.
  Digital news media represents a rising news of how it consumed by
the society. Including the blogging, online journalism, digital
photojournalism, as well as the social media. We live in a digital media
environment which is covered with much information. By using of
computer and cellphone it is count as consuming digital media. We see
published contents and images which are provided by other people.

Reflection:

Write in the box below what you have learned from this unit/lesson.

After reading from this unit/lesson I have perceived how the natural law theory
of Aquinas is very instrumental to morals that are established in the Christian
faith. In explaining this, I’ve learned on how Aquinas formed ideas of the
ancient Greeks to facilitate conceptual grounding that can overcome the
disability of a divine simplicity command theory. We are given to choose
assumptions to morals, which our normal tendencies. It gives us the way to our
perfection, since they are given by God. Our regular inclination as what
Aquinas have identified, it incorporates the longing to protect our being and
our utilization of reason. Natural law ethics is a popular name assign to the
model of ethics developed by St. Thomas Aquinas during its medieval period.
And because this was developed by Aquinas, this natural law ethics was also
called Thomistic ethics which holds both circumstances to determine an
action’s moral values. We all know that the basic idea of natural law is the
reason; it is the source which the moral law is directed towards the good.
According to Aquinas that good is the ultimate goal of a person’s action and
that the good was able to be discovered within the person’s nature. This is why
the basic goal of natural law ethics explains to do well and avoid evil. An act of
morally right is done in accordance with moral law. But how do we know what
is moral law? Well, as what already mentioned that it was the reason, hence,
the moral law is the dictate of reason. But in Aquinas perspective, the moral
law comes from God’s Eternal Law. Indeed, the moral law is the Divine Law
which expressed in human nature, which is do good and avoid evil.