COURSE SYLLABUS

GE 8 Ethics
CLASS INTRODUCTION
By: Rinovic C. Repollo
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 Course code: GE 8
 Course Title: Ethics
 Lecture Units: 3
 Course Prerequisite: None
 Course Schedule:
Course
Information
 Time: MTWTHF 7:00-4:00
  Ethics branch of Philosophy
that deals with principles of
ethical behavior in modern
Course society at the level of the
person, society, and in
Description
interaction with the
environment and other shared
resources. (CMO 20 s 2013)
 Morality pertains to the standards of
right and wrong that individual
originally picks up from the
community.
 The course discusses the context
and principles.theories of ethical
behavior in modern society at the
level of individual, society, and the
interaction with the environment
and other shared resources.
 The course also teaches students to
make moral decisions by using
dominant moral frameworks and by
applying a seven-step moral
reasoning model to analyze and
solve moral dilemmas.
 The course is organized according to the
three (3) main elements of the moral
experience:
 (a) Agent, including context – cultural,
communal, and environmental;
 (b) the Act; and
 (c) Reason or Framework (for the act).
 Outline of Topics (1)

General Course Orientation

Introduction: Key Concepts
 Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
 What are Dilemmas?
 ThreeLevels of moral Dilemmas (Individual,
Organizational, Structural)
 Foundations
of Morality: FREEDOM-
RESPONSIBILITY for one’s act and to others
 Minimum Requirement for Morality: REASON
and Impartiality
Part I: The Moral Agent (1)
 Culture and moral behavior
 Culture and its role in moral behavior
 What is cultural relativism? Why is it not
tenable in ethics?
 Why are there universal values?
 The Filipino Way; Are there an Asian and a
Filipino understanding of moral behavior:
Strengths and weaknesses?
Part I: The Moral Agent (2)
 The Moral Agent: Developing Virtue as Habit
 How is a moral character developed? The circular
relation of acts that build character and acts that
emanate from character
 Stages of Moral development
 Conscience: how do we get to the highest level,
conscience-based moral decisions?
Part II: The Act
 Feelings and Moral decision-making
 Why they can be obstacles to making the right decisions
 How they can help in making the right decisions
 Reason and impartiality vs. Minimum requirements for
Morality
 Reason and impartiality defined
 The 7-step moral reasoning model

MIDTERM EXAMINATION
 Moral Courage
 Why the will is as important as reason
 Developing the will
Part III: Frameworks and Principles behind
our Moral Disposition Frameworks (1)
Virtue Ethics
Aristotle
 - Telos
 - Virtue as habit
 - Happiness as virtue

St. Thomas:
 Natural Law
 - The natural and its tenets
 - Happiness as constitutive of moral and cardinal
virtues
 Kant and Rights Theory
Immanuel Kant
- Good will
- Categorical imperative
- Different kinds of rights
- Legal
- Moral
Part III: Frameworks and Principles
behind our Moral Disposition
Frameworks (2)
Utilitarianism
(Jeremy Bentham/John Stuart Mill)
 Origins and nature of theory
 Business’s fascination with utilitarianism
Justice and Fairness: Promoting the
common good (John Rawls)
 The nature of the theory
 Distributive justice
- Egalitarian
- Capitalist
- Socialist (the state and citizens;
responsibilities to each other; the
principles of taxation and inclusive
growth
Conclusion: Ethics through Thick and
Thin, and Ethics and Religion
 The challenges of pluralism and
fundamentalism: The search for universal
values
 Globalization and pluralism: New challenges
to Ethics
 Challenges of Filinnials
 The religious response: The role of religion
in Ethics
 FINAL EXAMINATION
 SUMMARY

The course is organized according to

the three (3) main elements of the
moral experience: (a) agent,
including context – cultural,
communal, and environmental; (b)
the act; and (c) reason or framework
(for the act).
 References
Main Reference:
 De Guzman, J. M., et.al. Ethics: Principles of Ethical Behavior in Modern Society. Malabon
City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc. 2017
 Gallinero, W. et al. Ethics. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc. 2018.
Other supplemental readings:
 Aquinas, Thomas. On law, eternal law and natural law. Summa Theologiae, vol
28, edited by Thomas Gilby, 5-97. Cambridge: Blackfriars, in conjunction
with McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1966.
 Aristotle. Books I-II in the Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by Martin Oswald.
Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing, 1983.
 Friedman, Thomas. The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization.
1st ed. New York: Anchor Books, 2000.
 Gula, R.M. Reason Informed by Faith. New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
 Kant, Immanuel. “Categorical Imperative.” In Groundwork of the Metaphysic of
Morals, translated by H.J. Paton, 162-176. New York: Harper and Row
Publishers, Inc., 1964.
 Kohlberg, Lawrence. Essays on Moral Development. Vol. 1 of the Philosophy of
Moral Development: Moral Stages and the Idea of Justice. San Francisco,
CA: Harper & Row, 1981.
 References
 Kohlberg, Lawrence. Essays on Moral Development. Vol. 1 of the Philosophy of

Moral Development: Moral Stages and the Idea of Justice. San Francisco,

CA: Harper & Row, 1981.

 Licuanan, Patricia et.al. “A Moral Recovery Program: Building People – Building Nation.” in Values in
Philippine Culture and Education: Philippine Philosophical Studies I, edited by Manuel B. Dy, Jr., 31-48.
Washington, DC: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 1994.

 Que, Nemesio S., S.J. “Notes on Moral Deliberation.” Introduction to course

notes for PH104: Foundations of Moral Value. Ateneo de Manila

University.

 Rachels, James. “What is Morality?” Chap. 1 in The Elements of Moral

Philosophy, 1-15, Chap. 2 in The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 16-31. 4th

ed. New York: McGRaw-Hill College, 2004.

 Rae, Scottt B. and Kenman L. Wong. “A Model for Moral Decision Making.”

Chap.16 in Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business

Ethics. Grand Rapids, Ml: Zondervan, 1996.

 Rawls, John. “A Theory of Justice.” In Reason at Work: Introductory Readings in

Philosophy, edited by Steven M. Cahn and George Sher, 262-76. Forth

Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1996.

 Werhane, Patricia H. Moral Imagination and Management Decision Making. New

York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

 Grading System

Midterm Grade: T-Final Grade:

Midterm Exam % Final Exam %

Attendance, Attendance
Recitation, Recitation
Quizzes %,, Quizzes
Home Activity Assignment % Home Activity/Assignment
% %
Final Grade = (Midterm Grade + T-Final Grade)/2
 Course Requirements:
1. There will be formative and summative tests to evaluate your performance
in the course. Formative tests in our course include quizzes, seatworks,
papers (reflection/ reaction/ analysis, etc.) and class participation (in-class
discussions, recitation, boardwork, sharing, etc.). Summative tests, on the
other hand, include midterm exam and final exam.

1. Formative Tests:
2. The quizzes will test what you have learned during the entire chapter
(maximum of 2 chapters). There will be six quizzes (3 for midterm and 3 for
final grading) in our entire Ethics course. Each quiz is a combination of
objective (either identification, true or false or multiple choice) and essay
(short answer) types.
3. The seatworks are used to supplement what you have learned in a particular
topic during face-to-face lecture or discussion. Guide questions will be
provided for seatworks and will require you short answers.
1. The required papers (case analysis, short film/video clip analysis, situation
analysis and reflection essays) are all home-based. These papers are outputs to
the assigned readings and are basically provided with cases or situations guided
by questions or statements to reflect on.
2. Class participation is based on attendance in discussion as well as the extent of
your active participation, which includes recitation, involvement in boardworks
or plays, raising questions, giving ideas, sharing experiences and making
comments pertinent to the topic at hand.
3. Summative Tests:
4. The midterm and final exams are major exams that will test what you have
learned collectively and comprehensively in the course. The midterm exam will
cover Introduction up to Chapter 2’s “Reason and Impartiality”, while the final
exam will cover Chapter 2’s Moral Courage up to the last chapter of our course.
5. For submission of homework during remote teaching mode, unless otherwise
indicated, please send them on or before the deadline to the official MS Teams
virtual classroom or my email address (jnarvas@psu.edu.ph). When you contact
me through email, please indicate in the subject of the email your course, name
and the activity title (e.g. BSEd Filipino-JufriNarvas-Activity1). Names of
attachments (documents or photos) should also be renamed following the same
format.
 Class Policies
1. Wear your ID and PSU uniform or any plain white t-shirt.
2. Observe punctuality and courtesy.
3. Actively participate in recitations, sharing, etc. during classes.
4. Respect shall be observed for the teacher and students.
5. Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated.
6. Attendance in the class signifies readiness to participate in class discussions
and activities. A student is responsible for his/her absence.
7. A student will be automatically marked DRP (Dropped) after eight (8)
consecutive absences.
8. Requirements must be submitted within the designated date of submission.
9. Late work: deductions will be given.
10. Others (agreed upon by the class)
 Classroom Expectations
1. Be Prepared. You and only you are responsible for your grade. Earn the good
grade you deserve by coming to class prepared. Complete reading
assignments and other homework before class so that you can understand the
lecture and participate in discussion. Have your homework ready to submit.
2. Be Participative. Be ready and willing to participate in classroom discussions.
Contribute proactively to class discussions, offer ideas or ask questions.
3. Be on Time. Seat plan will be used for the checking of attendance. Any
student who is not seated on his/her designated area once the class started
will be considered tardy.
4. Be Respectful. Any action that bothers another student or the teacher or any
disruptive behavior in class is considered disrespectful. Demonstrate proper
respect for teachers, other students, and school property. Listen to others
and evaluate ideas on their own merit.

Teacher’s Information

 Name: Rinovic C. Repollo

 Email: rrepollo.lingayen@psu.edu.ph
 Consultation Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00 am
 Department: General Education Dept
 Faculty Room: 2 F/r Convention Hall Bldg.
 Assigned Classroom:
 Other Info:
Thank you!
Open Forum

 You may now ask your queries (related to our topic)

 You may now clarify (as to what we discussed)
 You may now raise your comments (about the matters
that we discussed) or suggestions (for our class)