UNIVERSITY OF SAN AGUSTIN

Gen. Luna St. Iloilo City

College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Education
Philosophy Department

Course: Ethics

Course code: GE 8
Course description: Designed for students of ethics under the new CHED General Education. Thus the course
deals with both the substance as well as the pedagogy of ethics. The former concerns the principles of ethical
behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society, and interaction with the environment and other
shared resources (CMO 20 s2013), while the latter pertains to the various methods of teaching the course, as
well as the skills necessary to accomplish it, in a way that incorporates the most recent principles of and insights
into learning in the college level.

General Objectives:

During and at the end of the course, a student would be able to:

1. Recognize the basic moral theories and their proponents.;

2. Discuss and analyze the arguments that support the moral principles and their application to moral issues;

3. Make a stand on moral issues, strengthen, and deepen the sense of responsibility towards fellow human
beings as a transformative community builder oriented towards God;

4. Demonstrate an appreciation for various moral concepts and find the possible application in their lives as
Filipinos.

Course outline:

1. Morality, Ethics and Moral Philosophy

2. Morality as Compared to Other Normative

3. Traits of Moral Principles

4. Difference Between Moral and Non Moral Standards

5. Moral Dilemmas, Three Levels of Moral Dilemma,

6. Freedom as Foundation for Moral Acts, Culture and Moral Behavior

7. Domains of Ethical Assessment

8. The Purpose of Morality

9. Relativism in Ethics

10. Cultural Relativism and Filipino Moral identity.

11. Universal Values,

12. Stages of Moral Development Reason and Impartiality

13. Feelings and Reason

14. Aquinas’s Natural Law Theory and the Value of Natural Law Theory

15. Utilitarianism

16. Bentham and Mill’s Utilitarianism

17. The Strength and Weakness of Utilitarianism

18. External Criticisms of Utilitarianism

19. Deontology: The Ethics of Duty

20. Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperative

21. Kant and rights

22. W.D. Ross: Duties are Prima Facie

23. John Rawls and Justice as Fairness

24. Virtue-Based Ethical System

25. Aristotle’s Theory

26. The Strengths and Limitations of Virtue Ethics

27. Globalization and its Ethical Challenges

28. Millennials and Filinnials : Ethical Challenges and Responses

Requirements of the Course:

1. Readings
2. Accomplishment of worksheets
3. Passing of Examination
 Module 1/Week 1
Morality, Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Moral standards and Non-moral standards

Prepared by: Prof. John Christian Cabales

Time allotment: 6 hours

Overview:

This module comprises five (4) lessons. It is expected that you will:

1. Provide the definition of Ethics/moral philosophy and distinguish it from religion, law, and etiquette;

2. Enumerate the purposes of morality;

3. Find the relevance of moral philosophy to a current socio-political problem in the country;

4. Differentiate between moral and non-moral problems.

Lesson 1: Deals with the definition of Morality, Ethics, and Moral philosophy.
Lesson 2: Makes a comparison of Morality to other normative subjects.
Lesson 3: Be aware of the traits of moral principles
Lesson 4: Shows the distinction between moral standards and non-moral standards

Lesson 1
Topic 1/1.a.
Online Syllabus in GE 8, Course outline, Morality, Ethics and Moral Philosophy

Objectives:
This lesson will help you –

1. Provide the definition of Ethics/moral philosophy and distinguish it from religion, law, and etiquette;

2. Enumerate the purposes of morality;

Introduction

We are preoccupied by a lot of things in this world. Almost all people are burdened with satisfying
themselves with material things which make them happy. A bigger house. New Smartphone. Plenty of deposits
in the bank account. Can these really be the source of authentic happiness? Why not try looking at life in
another perspective? We dare to view again morality, and discover the true path to real happiness.

Content
Read and Study Topic 1 in www.usa.neolms.com: Open Classes/ Open Resources
Power point presentation: Topic 1: Online Syllabus in GE 8, Course outline, Introduction to Ethics and
Overview of the Topics, definition of Ethics/Moral philosophy

Page 1//Module 1 GE 8
Evaluation

Formulate a framework that shows relationship of Ethics in other fields of Sciences.

Enrichment activities

1. For further reading, read Introductory text to Philosophy.Makati: Best Books, Inc., 1987. Adrales, Venancio
B. Dictionary of Philosophy. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1981 Avey, Alber E. Handbook in
History of Philosophy. New York: Barns and Noble, Inc., 1968 Black, Max. Critical Thinking. 2nd ed. New
York: Prentice-Hall, 1955 Beck, Lewis W. Eighteenth Century Philosophy. New York:The Free Press, 1966.

Lesson 2/Topic 2
Morality as Compared to other Normative Subjects

Objectives:
This lesson will help you –

1. Provide the definition of Ethics/moral philosophy and distinguish it from religion, law, and etiquette;

2. Enumerate the purposes of morality;

Introduction

In our previous lesson, we learn about the origin and meaning of Ethics, the essential elements of human
acts, and reason becomes right when it squares with the norms of morality. In this lesson we will attempt to find
the relationship of Ethics to other normative subjects.

Content

Read and Study Topic 2 in www.usa.neolms.com: Open Classes/Open Resources

Power point presentation: Topic 2: Morality as Compared to other Normative Subjects

Evaluation

Discussion. Answer the following questions comprehensively.

1. Many months have passed and we have been quarantined due to the pandemic COVID-19. Were there
circumstances that your state of morality was challenged? Why or why not?

2. We were prohibited to go in public places like in churches, etc. during enhanced community quarantine.
How do you manage to stay sane and still do the things with the right reason and conscience?

3. Do you believe that morally good actions lead to authentic happiness? State those actions you have done that
made you and others happy at home while we’re all in enhanced community quarantine.

Page 2//Module 1 GE 8
3. Enrichment activities

1. For further reading, read Introductory text to Philosophy.Makati: Best Books, Inc., 1987. Adrales, Venancio
B. Dictionary of Philosophy. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1981 Avey, Alber E. Handbook in
History of Philosophy. New York: Barns and Noble, Inc., 1968 Black, Max. Critical Thinking. 2nd ed. New
York: Prentice-Hall, 1955 Beck, Lewis W. Eighteenth Century Philosophy. New York:The Free Press, 1966.

Lesson 3/Topic 3
Traits of Moral Principles

Objectives:
This lesson will help you –

1. Provide the definition of Ethics/moral philosophy and distinguish it from religion, law, and etiquette;

2. Enumerate the traits and purposes of morality;

Introduction

In Lesson 2, we established the relation of Ethics to a number of normative subjects. In our new lesson we
will discover the traits of moral principles. It is relevant to know that moral principles are not just ideals that are
too high to grasp, but, they’re something practical that can help us achieve our ultimate goal in life: Happiness,
and perhaps a glimpse of the eternal.

Content

Read and Study Topic 3 in www.usa.neolms.com: Open Classes/Open Resources

Microsoft word document: Topic 3: Characteristics/Traits of Moral principles

Evaluation

1. Choose a moral principle and write down the five (5) traits of this principle.

Example:
1. Honesty is the best policy (moral principle)
a. Do shall not steal (Prescriptivity)
b. Be honest at all times (Universalizability)
c. To tell the truth is better than to please friends with lies (Overridingness)
d. Returning lost and found items e.g. wallet to the right person (Publicity)
e. Tell the truth and be free from guilt(Practicability). Tell lies(Impractical) and be haunted by guilt,etc.

Enrichment activities

1. For further reading, read Introductory text to Philosophy.Makati: Best Books, Inc., 1987. Adrales, Venancio
B. Dictionary of Philosophy. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1981 Avey, Alber E. Handbook in
History of Philosophy. New York: Barns and Noble, Inc., 1968 Black, Max. Critical Thinking. 2nd ed. New
York: Prentice-Hall, 1955 Beck, Lewis W. Eighteenth Century Philosophy. New York:The Free Press, 1966.

Page 3//Module 1 GE 8
 Lesson 4/Topic 4
Moral Standards and Non-Moral Standards

Objectives:
This lesson will help you –

1. Provide the definition of Ethics/moral philosophy and distinguish it from religion, law, and etiquette;

2. Enumerate the traits and purposes of morality;

3. Differentiate between moral and non-moral problems.

Introduction
Life teaches us a lot of things. People used standards to judge others. These standards people use will dictate
whether an action can be approve or disapprove. In Lesson 4, we will give emphasis to moral standards and
non-moral standards.

Content

Read and Study Topic 4 in www.usa.neolms.com: Open Classes/Open Resources

Microsoft word document: Topic 4: Moral and Non-Moral Standards

Evaluation

1. Research for ten (10) moral standards. Write them down, explain what they meant, and show examples for
each moral standard.

3. Enrichment activities

1. For further reading, read Introductory text to Philosophy.Makati: Best Books, Inc., 1987. Adrales, Venancio
B. Dictionary of Philosophy. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1981 Avey, Alber E. Handbook in
History of Philosophy. New York: Barns and Noble, Inc., 1968 Black, Max. Critical Thinking. 2nd ed. New
York: Prentice-Hall, 1955 Beck, Lewis W. Eighteenth Century Philosophy. New York:The Free Press, 1966.
Page 4// Module 1 GE 8