OLVAL02

ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 7 (VIRTUE ETHICS)

Directions: Do the activities below.

1. Go online and list down various sources that can help you understand the different issues
on pornography. Identify the topics being discussed by these sources.
Pornography is a concept that is surrounded by many issues and undiscussed ideas because of the
society’s perception towards the topic. Fortunately, the sensitivity of the topic does not hinder
the creation of various credible sources that are informative of the totality of pornography as a
subject matter. There were many sources that I have found online, but I will only list down the
top sources that I personally thought were good sources on the topic. I will classify them below
as either offline/journals/book sources and online/internet websites:
Offline/Journals/Book Sources:
• Why Internet Porn Matters by Margret Grebowicz
• International Exposure: Perspectives on Modern European Pornography,
1800-2000, By Lisa Z. Sigel
• Generation P? Youth, Gender and Pornography by Susanne V. Knudsen; Lotta
Löfgren Mårtenson; Sven-Axel Månsson
• Pornography, Community and the Internet - Freedom of Speech and Obscenity on
the Internet by Kamiel, Yuval; Wismonsky, Haim
Online/Internet Websites:
• https://issues.org/thornburgh/
• https://endsexualexploitation.org/pornography/
• https://www.webmd.com/sex/porn-addiction-possible
ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED BY THE SOURCES ABOVE:
1. Pornography as a Public Health Issue (Addiction)
2. Pornography as a Way of Promotion of Violence
3. Pornography as a Way of Exploitation of Children, Youth, and Adults
4. Pornography as a Disruption to Sexual Expectations in Relationships
 5. Pornography Destroys Family Values and Innocence The issues mentioned above will
be touched on and explained below in the discussions of the possible implications of the
patronage of pornography to the development of one’s character.

2. Discuss the possible implications (positive or negative) of the patronage of pornography

to the development of one’s character.
POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS
• People who watch porn become less repressed about the idea of sex. Since sexual intercourse is
a taboo in our society, there are no safe areas and zones to ask their questions or address their
confusion about the activity. This usually leads to them trying and experimenting it in real-life
with other people. I have read in my research that porn can be an avenue for people to know
more and get educated about the activity of sexual intercourse. This avenue allows them to
release their accumulated sexual tension and curiosity. This can be a good development of one’s
character because they are able to release a certain amount of their feelings in watching porn,
which might lead to lightened pressure on oneself when dealing with sensitive topics such as sex.
It is even mentioned in a study that watching pornography allows people to be more aware about
giving pleasure to their partners and maintaining their relationships to last longer.
• People who watch porn have been said to become more open and liberal to discussing sexual
education, dialogues, and conversations. Since they are exposed to contents that are directly
related to the subject of sex, they are more tolerant of what the society considers as taboo, and
therefore create a better space for talks and discourses about the subject. Since they are familiar
with this perspective, they are more understanding of people who prefer to stray from the
conservative views which are majority in the society. I have also read that people who watch
porn are more tolerant of the existence of different sexualities of other people, which is basically
non-existent in a conservative point of view.
NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS
• People who watch too much pornography become desensitized to the content that they
consume. This means that when they get bored with the extent of porn that they watch, they look
for more aggressive and perverse forms of content. This is dangerous because as it continues, the
level of tolerance of the person towards sexual aggression and pain lessens. This can manifest in
their character which might reflect in their ability to differentiate what is wanted and what is not
especially in situations that require consents or approvals.
• According to what I have read in my research, pornography reinforces the idea that women are
sexual objects. People who continually watch porn are being led to an idea where women are
sources of sexual pleasure instead of people with feelings. This can manifest in real-life through
reinforcing the mentalities of misogynists who are prejudiced against women. These are same
people who think that women have no potential in becoming competitive in their own chosen
works because they are weak.
• Pornography is addictive. This addiction can be so huge and impactful in the person’s
emotional and physical relations with other people. When a person becomes addicted to it, they
will always look forward to it, therefore, disrupting their regular focus and attention on their
work and other activities. This addiction, if left untreated, will worsen, and might even affect a
person’s expectations of sexual activities. The more that they watch it, the more that they want to
experience it.

3. Discuss a different topic within the scope of sexual ethics and explain how this might
affect the development of one’s virtuous character.

4. What is Moral Virtue? What is Intellectual Virtue?

According to Aristotle, the moral virtues include: courage, temperance, self-discipline,
moderation, modesty, humility, generosity, friendliness, truthfulness, honesty, justice. The moral
vices include: cowardice, self-indulgence, recklessness, wastefulness, greed, vanity,
untruthfulness, dishonesty, injustice. Acts of virtue bring honor to an individual, acts of vice
bring dishonor to an individual. On the other hand, intellectual virtues include: scientific
knowledge (epistime), artistic or technical knowledge (techne), intuitive reason (nous), practical
wisdom (phronesis), and philosophic wisdom (sophia). Scientific knowledge is a knowledge of
what is necessary and universal. Artistic or technical knowledge is a knowledge of how to make
things, or of how to develop a craft. Intuitive reason is the process that establishes the first
principles of knowledge. Practical wisdom is the capacity to act in accordance with the good of
humanity. Philosophic wisdom is the combination of intuitive reason and scientific knowledge

5. What is the difference between moral and intellectual virtue? Explain.

Moral virtue is more concerned with the practical life or with the vegetative and appetitive
contrasted to intellectual virtue. Moreover, intellectual virtues are the deep personal qualities or
character strengths required for good thinking and learning. Moral virtue bring honor to an
individual and acts of vice brings dishonor. Intellectual virtue also focuses on intuitive reasoning
and scientific knowledge unlike moral virtue.

6. Identify some Filipino traits and categorize each as virtue (middle) or vices (excess or
deficiency). Place them in a table.
 EXCESS MIDDLE DEFICIENCY
Awfully friendly HOSPITALITY Unfriendly
Optimistic GOOD MINDSET Pessimistic
Inventive RESOURCEFULNESS Incapable
Polite RESPECTFUL Uncivilized
Prideful COLLECTIVE PRIDE Boastful
Hardworking STRONG WORK ETHIC Lazy

7. How is a person’s character formed according to Aristotle?

Aristotle claims that character develops over time as one acquires habits from parents and
community, first through reward and punishment. One acquires a good character much as one
may learn a skill: initially, one may be under some pressure to practice, but eventually, one
enjoys playing with skill and understanding.

8. Who do you think possesses a moral character in your community? Explain your
answer.
Everyone possess a moral character, because every understanding is founded upon a set of
beliefs about right or wrong, which is used to bestow meaning on observations and so discover
their purpose in life. Hence everybody’s behavior is dictated by this set of beliefs, which is their
morality. But for me to decide who I think possess a good moral character in our community that
is going to be my mother simply because I know her and I have observed her for a long time
unlike any other people around in our community. She also possesses a good and kind heart that
is why I choose her 100 percent right away.