MODULE NO.

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Valencia Colleges (Buk) Inc.
Hagkol, Valencia City
Valencia_colleges@yahoo.com

GE 8: Ethics
Second Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021

Introduction

Dr. Emma Butchel in her work, “Challenging the concept of Morality”, explained a comparison of

morality between Chinese and Western cultures. Both cultures have them respective sense of morality

that even conflicts the other

Rationale

In this module, we will discuss and understand the culture in Moral Behavior.

Intended Learning Outcomes

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1. To understand the role of culture in human behavior

2. To give examples of cultural diversity between oriental and occidental

LESSON 4:

Culture in Moral Behavior

Discussion
Her study also focused on the moral and social concepts these two societies abide. One factor that
polarized these civilizations is their behavior that helped mold their people to what they are now,

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as they say tradition outlasts a lifetime so they can no longer alter moralities that they are already
used to. Both civilizations once immersed with their own, classify “odd” behavior reprehensible
that they branded them as either major offense, minor offense or at least tolerable however there
are behavior that may be integrated to their civilization. One example was during the time of
Maoist China, western culture was considered a taboo that fashion for them is a non-entity but
with the transition of Communist

China to a capitalism – the very reason why the Chinese society adhered to Marxist ideology,
western culture made China into one of the richest countries in the world. Cultural bias made
people fail to see the moral principle of their counterpart. Many societies even in the past adhere
to ethnocentrism, an idea that their culture alone is the only thing that matters and at the same
time dismissed others as either “uncouth” or “barbaric”. So why waste time with societies below
their station? In this case, western morality is “blind” to Asian values and as mentioned cultural
bias clouded their judgment that they can’t seem to understand the morality of another person’s
culture that is the foundation of their morality.

The Hindus and some Asian countries used arrange marriages to ensure a good future for their
children that western countries find overlapping with their principles of their freedom of choice.
Another example was raised and it was the educational system that divided the occidental from
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the oriental thought. Oriental schools believed in the “infallibility” of teachers that they are the
only source of knowledge and should not be questioned whereas the occidentals rely on the idea
that students have every right to debate with their teachers that even the philosopher Socrates
subscribed to. Flexibility and broadmindedness are the two things that can help bridge the gap
between the two opposing cultures. By opening our minds and removing whatever bias we have
we can have room to put ourselves in the shoes of others and will help usher global unity.

Man, by nature tends to do good so the culture of other people especially those we held with
contempt or mirth also have goodness in them. There is nothing wrong to understand another
person’s morality devoid of cultural bias.

What is Culture?

According to David Brinkerhoff and Lynn White culture is the whole idea that provides a
blueprint for living. It is a powerful force that lived in all peoples that tells us what is right from
wrong. Eating dogs for example is tolerated in the Philippines but is totally banned in the United

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States and other Western countries. That is because not everything we do is acceptable to others.

According to Alan Johnson culture is the sum of symbols, ideas, forms, expressions and material
products associated with a social system. Edward Taylor defined culture as the complex whole
which includes beliefs, arts, laws, morals, customs and habits acquired by people as members of
society.

Symbols are manifestations of culture and are anything that represents more than itself an
example is a cross that to some it is just an object or figure formed by two short intersecting lines
or pieces but has several meanings. There are four kinds of symbols namely

1) Symbolic objectives – they may mean a flag to represent a nation a currency to mean a
nation’s medium of exchange.

2) Symbolic characteristics of object – purple for royalty, yellow for cowardice and red for war.

3) Gestures – actions that can give cultural control.

4) Spoken and written words – the most important set of symbols in every culture for it is the
building block used to construct ideas.
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Exercise

Instruction: Fill in the blanks.

_ David Brinkerhoff ____________1. According to them (answers 1&2)
__ Lynn White __________________2 culture is the whole idea that provides a blueprint for
living.

______ Symbols _____________3 are manifestations of culture and are anything that represents
more than itself

____________________4 People conform to what is right in a society.

___ Man, by nature ____________5. by nature, tends to do good so the culture of other people
especially those we held with contempt or mirth also have goodness in them.

____________________6. the most important set of symbols in every culture for it is the
building block used to construct ideas
__ Symbolic objectives _________________7 they may mean a flag to represent a nation a
currency to mean a nation’s medium of exchange
_ Symbolic characteristics of object ____________8. purple for royalty, yellow for cowardice

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and red for war.

_ Gestures _________________9. actions that can give cultural control.

_____ China to a capitalism _________________10 the very reason why the Chinese society
adhered to Marxist ideology, western culture made China into one of the richest countries in the
world.

Reflection

Essay
1. Explain in your own term the concept of culture in moral behavior.

Resources and Additional Resources

 Considering the Influence of Culture on Morality”;

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