Lesson 3

The Foundational
Principles of Morality and
You
“When you carry out acts of kindness
you get a wonderful feeling inside. It
is as though something inside your
body responds and says, yes, this is
how I ought to feel. ”

Unknown
“A teacher affects eternity; he
can never tell where his
influence stops.”

Henry Brooks Adam

What is Morality?
• Morality refers to “the quality of
human acts by which we call
them right or wrong, good or
evil.”

Your human action is right when

it conforms with the norm, rule,
or law of morality. Otherwise it is
said to be wrong.
 Foundational moral principles
A principle is that
Latin word
on which something is
based, founded,
originated, initiated. It “Princeps”
is liked to the a beginning, a source
foundation of a
building upon which
allAother parts stand.
foundation moral principle is,
therefore, the universal norm upon which
all other principles on the rightness or
wrongness of an action are based. It is the
source of morality.
Where is this foundational moral
principle?
It is contained in the natural
law. Many moralist, authors, and
philosophers may have referred
to this foundational moral
principle in different terms. But it
may be acceptable to all
believers and non-believers alike
to refer to it as natural law.
What is the natural law ?
☼ it is the law “written in the hearts of men.”
(Romans 2:15)
☼ For theists, it is “man’s share in the Eternal Law
of God…” (Panizo,1964)
☼ St. Thomas defines it as “the light of natural
reason, whereby we discern what is good and
what is evil…an imprint on us of the divine
light…” (Panizo,1964)
☼ It is the law that says: “Do good and avoid evil.”
“Writings, customs, and
monuments of the past,
present generations point
out to this conclusion: that
all people on earth, no
matter how savage and
illiterate have recognized a
supreme law of divine origin
commanding good and
forbidding evil.”
The natural law that says
“Do good and avoid evil”
comes in different versions.
☼ “Do not do to others what you do not like others to do
to you.”
-Kung Fu Tsu

☼ “Do to others what you like others do to you ”

-Golden Rule of Christianity

☼ “Act in such a way that your maxim can be the maxim

for all.”
-Immanuel Kant
 Christian’s Perspective
“Do to others what you want them to do to you ”

☼“Love God with all your

heart, with all your
mind, with all your
strength”
and
☼ “Love your neighbor as
you love yourself.”
 Buddhists’ Perspective
“Hatred does not cease by hatred; hatred ceases only by love.”

The Strive to know the truth

Buddhists Resolve to resist evil
state this
Say nothing to hurt others
through
the eight- Respect life, morality and
property
fold path.
For them, Engage in a job that does not
injure they do
others
good when
Strive to free their mind of evil
they:
Control their feelings and
thoughts
 Islamic Perspective
Based on the Islamic Quran

☼ The Islamic Quran “forbids lying. Stealing, adultery and

murder.”
☼ It also teaches “honor for parents, kindness to slaves,
protection for the orphaned and the widowed and charity
to the poor.
☼ It teaches the virtues of faith in God, patience, kindness,
honesty, industry, honor, courage and generosity.
☼ It condemns mistrust, impatience and cruelty.
 Muslims’ Perspective

The Five Pillars of Islam

☼ Prayer
☼ Self- Purification by Fasting
☼ Fasting
☼ Almsgiving and
☼ Pilgrimage to Mecca for those who can
afford
Teacher AS A PERSON OF
GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
 Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

CODE OF ETHICS OF PROFESSIONAL

TEACHERS

“teachers are duly licensed professionals who possess dignity

and reputation with high moral values as well as technical and
professional competence….In the practice of their profession,
they strictly adhere to, observe and practice this set of ethical
and moral principles, standards and values.”
 Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

four ways of describing good moral

character
Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

FULLY
Being
HUMAN...
.
Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

Being a
LOVING
PERSON…
Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

3 WAYS TO BE MORE
LOVING
1. B BE MORE HOPEFUL.
2. A ACCEPT YOURSELF.
3. G GROW AS A PERSON.
 Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

Being a
VIRTUO
US
person..
Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

As a teacher, you are a person of

good moral character when you
1. are:
human
2.
loving
3. virtuous,
and 4.
mature
 Teacher AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

The natural law is engraved in

the heart of every man and
woman.
 Teacher
Teacher AS AS A PERSON
A PERSON OF OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

Our
Ouract
actisismoral
moralwhen
whenititisisininaccordance
accordancewithwithour
ourhuman
human
nature.
nature.
Our
Ouract
actisisimmoral
immoralwhen
whenititisiscontrary
contrarytotoour
ourhuman
humannature.
nature.
Our
Ourintellect
intellectand
andfree
freewill
willmake
makeus usdifferent
differentfrom
fromand
andabove
above
the
thebeast.
beast.