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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

Two important questions are raised one is “What is Morality” and “What is the meaning of life?”.
The first question pertains to the rightness or wrongfulness of an act and what is the basis of the judge
concerned. These are ethical questions that up to this time, baffled sages and peons alike and remain
unanswered. The second is about the summum bonum (ultimate good) of human existence, what is
the very reason why man exists on this world?

Rationale

In this module, we will discuss and elaborate morality.

Intended Learning Outcomes

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1. To know the Two Fundamental Questions

2. To understand the Norms of Morality

3. To learn what are Defective Moralities

LESSON 3:

What is Morality

Discussion

In a nutshell, those two questions are related – Ethics is about morality which is the basis of good,

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every time we decide on dilemmas using morality men experienced happiness and that is “good”.
The more we attain happiness by being good – the closer we are to the Ultimate Good. To sum it up,
both questions boil down to two words “goodness” and “purpose”, a thing that is of use is good for
it has served its purpose. For example, a politician is good if he has fulfilled his promise to the
people after serving his term of office in doing so by being useful to his constituent, he felt that he
lived a worthy life. This will then be a step to reaching his ultimate goal – the ultimate good. A good
life will ultimately lead to ultimate happiness.

The Norms of Morality

Rationally speaking man acts in accordance to his nature, that human nature quantifies as
justification as to why an act be it good or bad is performed. In doing so it conflicts with the higher
intelligence endowed to men. Is man basically good? We can say yes but of what context of
goodness is man supposed to follow? The morality of man follows a proximate norm and an
ultimate norm so where does human nature come in? As mentioned earlier man has baser tendencies
that is human nature equivalent to brutes that may come in the form of stimuli. The proximate norm
there is to follow human nature which is the low end of a human being. On the other hand, the
ultimate norm is to follow divine nature which are decisions that are based on morality. For
example, the stimulus of hunger based on proximate norm simply means to eat the food regardless
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as to whether it is for somebody else, spoilt or poisonous. Human nature dictates that man has to
satiate his hunger no matter what and may be considered moral if we are to consider human nature.
If man decides to study the situation by not initially grabbing the “opportunity”, then he acted in
relation to the ultimate norm. However, we are not discarding human nature as a basis of human
existence, man is a social animal which is the nature of man’s need for association. In truth we can
never reach divine status but we must keep in mind that there is no conflict with the Natural law and
the Eternal law (the Law of God). The Natural is patterned after the Eternal Law, man must adhere
to his nature of man which is using his intellect unlike human nature that is only to follow his
passions.

Defective Norms of Morality

Human Nature is a simple foundation of man but there are philosophies and they are:

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1. Hedonism – this is also known as the Philosophy of Pleasure that pleasure alone is the primary
purpose of man’s existence. It is true man desires for happiness but a happy life need not be
composed of pleasure alone. True happiness is seeking good but wallowing in pleasure made man’s
life baser than brutes.

2. Utilitarianism – is simply the ends of an action must be good, if it is not then the action is
unjustified. From the word “utility” it means that anything that is of use to the agent is moral. There
are two types of utilitarianism and they are individual utilitarianism and social utilitarianism – the
first is known as egoism which is the definition given – the agent is the one who will gain. Altruism
is the other term for social utilitarianism but the receiving factor is the society where the agent
belongs.

3. Moral Rationalism – simply states that human reason is the only foundation of morality as
postulated by German Philosopher Immanuel Kant which he dubbed as “Categorical Imperative”.
However, as Kant further explained we have to do good because we ought to be good in doing so, he
is implying blind obedience. In his philosophy “autonomy of reason”, inasmuch as reason creates
the law, it is “reasonable” for men to obey it without question nor ambiguity. The general rule is that
everyone thinks the same for men are reasonable so conflict is a remote possibility.
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4. Moral Positivism – states that morality is adherence to State Laws as philosophizes by the English
sage Thomas Hobbes. The State is the foundation of morality since laws are geared for the common
good apparently, an act is moral if he obeys the law and evil if he disobeys it. Comparing to Moral
Rationalism where reason is the law, Moral Positivism only has the State Law as its source of
morality.

5. Moral Evolutionism – In relation to Sociologist Herbert Spencer, morality just like

evolution is ever-changing until it reached its perfect form. Friedrich Nietsche added

that man was born with hardly any basis for right and wrong and their collective lives

is a never-ending struggle for change until they reach perfection.

6. Moral Sensism – Contrary to Moral Evolutionism men are born with a special moral

sense (not reason) that is comparable to the five senses. For example, man can easily differentiate
noise from music, salty from sweet as well as pleasant and unpleasant that may also serve as means

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to moral judgment.

7. Communism - Although this is more of an economic theory its social implication cannot be
denied and is geared for a classless society. They believed in the philosophy of material dialectics
that means two material things are the only ingredients necessary for change. They deny the
existence of God, the free will and immortality for they do not matter being immaterial. Ergo,
anything that will lead to a classless society is good and moral and anything otherwise is evil and
immoral.

Exercise

Instruction: Fill in the blanks.

_UTILITARIANISM___1. are simply the ends of an action must be good, if it is not then the
action is unjustified?
_utility___________2 it means that anything that is of use to the agent is moral. _moral
evolutionism____3. morality just like evolution is ever-changing until it reached its perfect form.
_moral sensism___________________4 If man decides to study the situation by not initially
grabbing the _________then he acted in relation to the ultimate norm.
_____communism_______________5. He added that man was born with hardly any basis for right
and wrong and their collective lives is a never-ending struggle for change until they reach
perfection.
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____moral positivism________________6. man can easily differentiate noise from music, salty
from sweet as well as pleasant and unpleasant that may also serve as means to moral judgment.
__ Moral Evolutionism ___________7. this is also known as the Philosophy of Pleasure that
pleasure alone is the primary purpose of man’s existence.
____ Moral Rationalism ________8. it is_____________for men to obey it without question nor
ambiguity. The general rule is that everyone thinks the same for men are reasonable so conflict is a
remote possibility.
___ Hedonism ________________9. Although this is more of an economic theory its social
implication cannot be denied and is geared for a classless society.
___ Categorical Imperative _______________10. simply states that human reason is the only
foundation of morality as postulated by German Philosopher Immanuel Kant which he dubbed as
“Categorical Imperative”.
__ The Norms of Morality 11. is known as egoism which is the definition given – the agent is the
one who will gain.

UTILITY________12. the other term for social utilitarianism

_____THE LAW OF GOD______________ 13 is patterned after the Eternal Law

Defective Norms of Morality__ 14. In relation to Sociologist Herbert Spencer, morality just like

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evolution is ever-changing until it reached its perfect form.

_____ULTIMATE GOOD______________ 15. is a simple foundation of man

Reflection

Essay
1. In your own terms define morality.
For me morality in your behave your.

Resources and Additional Resources

 Agapay, Ramon B.; Ethics and the Filipinos; Mandaluyong Metro Manila,
 Babor, Eddie R.; Ethics – The Philosophical Discipline of Action;
 Montemayor, Felix; Ethics the Philippines
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