GE-ET REVIEWER (MIDTERMS)

KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE (ACT THE WAY YOU WANT OTHERS TO ACT)
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE – proposed by Immanuel Kant in his 1785 book “groundwork of the
metaphysic of morals”.
- He argues that Categorical Imperative is a MORAL PRINCIPLE which means that it should be
followed by all rational beings and that following should be seen as a goal in itself.
- “Act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it
become a universal law” means you should act certain way if you’re willing to have everyone
else act the same way too.
- EXAMPLES OF CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
 Relationships – don’t be rude to people unless you want everyone to be rude to each other
 Business – salesperson should not deceive customers unless they believe that all
salespeople should do the same
 Environment – person should not litter unless they were willing to have everyone else litter
HOW TO USE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
- Ask yourself “would I be willing to have everyone else act the same way?”
- And then base your actions based on the answer to that. This helps yourself to do this properly
- There are several things you can do such as:
 Ask guiding questions – you might also benefit from creating PHSYCHOLOGICAL SELF-
DISTANCE which will help you assess the situation in more honest manner.
 Instead of asking yourself “how would I feel if I saw someone else act the same
way?”
 It might be better to ask yourself “how would you feel if you saw someone else act
the same way?”
 Visualize everyone else acting the same way – if you’re about to act a certain way toward
someone, try to visualize what it would look like if everyone acted the same way toward
each other.
 Consider the outcomes of everyone acting the same way – try to consider all the potential
outcomes of everyone else acting the same way.
- It might help you to think about how the Categorical Imperative ties in to other moral principles
such as GOLDEN RULE and the PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY.
ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO USE THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
- Explain what is Categorical Imperatives
- Explain the rationale behind the Categorical Imperatives
- Giving relevant examples of Categorical Imperatives
- Encourage the use of the Categorical Imperative directly
- Asking questions that prompt the use of Categorical Imperative
- Encourage the use of techniques that facilitate the use of Categorical Imperative
FORMULATIONS OF THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
- FORMULA OF UNIVERSAL LAW – “act only in accordance with that maxim through which you
can at the same time will that it become a universal law”. The best known
- FORMULA OF THE LAW OF NATURE – “so act as if the maxim of your action were to become
through your will a universal law of nature”
- FORMULA OF HUMANITY – “act so that you use humanity as much in your own person as in the
person of every other, always at the same time as end and never merely as means.”
 - THE FORMULA OF AUTONOMY – “the idea of the will of every rational being as a will giving
universal law” or “not to choose otherwise than so that the maxims of one’s choice are at the
same time comprehended with it in the same volition as universal law.”
- FORMULA OF THE REALM OF ENDS (also as the formula of the kingdom of ends) – “act in
accordance with maxims of universally legislative member for a merely possible realm of ends”
REASON AND IMPARTIALITY
Aristotle regarded that human beings have a rational soul that makes us different with that of animals
and plants.
- Rationality - is the capability for logical thought with the ability to reason towards sound
conclusions based on facts and evidence. Allows us to think
- Vegitative - we grow
- Sensitive - allows animals to sense and feel
A person is called "rational or reasonable" when his beliefs and actions conform to the dictates of those
principles of morality or when he is subjectively guided by them.
OUR ACTIONS SHOULD BE GUIDED WITH OUR REASONS
- Reason - also identified with the capacity that enables us to identify "reasons", the particular
considerations that count in favor of belief or action.
Since human beings are rational, they have "freewill to strive for perfection".
- Happiness - it follows that in order to be ethical, an individual should decide on actions that
properly express his rationality.
Moral judgements must be backed by the best arguments or reasons out there, not only good reasons
or better judgements.
OUR DECISIONS MUST BE GUIDED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY REASON.
Morality requires "impartiality" with regard to those moral agents affected by a violation of a moral rule.
Morality requires the impartial consideration of each individual's interests.
- Impartiality (fair-mindedness) - is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on
"objective criteria" rather than on the basis of bias, self-interest or prejudice.
- According to Rachels (2018) - the minimum conception of morality is: Morality is the effort to
guide one's conduct by reason that is, to do what there are the best reasons for doing while
giving equal weight to the interest of each individual affected by one's decision.
SEVEN STEP-WISE MODEL OF SCOTT RAE (2009)
- Gather the facts
- Determine the Ethical issues
- Determine the principles which have bearing in the situation
- List the alternatives
- Compare the alternatives with the principles

- Weigh the consequences

- Make a decision
SACRAMENTAL SEAL OF CONFESSION IS INVIOLABLE
Quoting Canon 983.1 of the Code of Canon Law, the Catechism states, "it is a crime for a confessor in
any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason". And that breaking the
seal of confession may be a reason for him to be "excommunicated".
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING (LIFE AND DIGNITY OF A HUMAN PERSON)
Human Dignity - core principle of Catholic social thought
- Affirmation
- Quality of Life linked a consequences of a human behavior
- Moral measure to evaluate our actions
 - Range of Christian beliefs and attitudes
 Ethical
 Legal
 Political
Different races, gender, sexuality, age, disability, religion, etc? You’re all matters. You’re still an innocent
human being that has the likeness of God. All of us has still the opportunity to having a rights to live.
RECENT ISSUES ON ETHICS BOTH LOCAN AND INTERNATIONAL/GLOBAL
The Catholic Church proclaims the human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the
foundation of a moral vision for society.
- The value of human life – this belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.
- As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has
sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development (Pope Francis, Brothers and Sisters
to us)
- Our defense of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at
stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person,
regardless of his or her stage of development (Pope Francis, Rejoice and Be Glad)
- Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness and
endowed with unique dignity (Pope Francis, On Care for our common home)
HOW TO ACHIEVED ETERNAL LIFE?
- Do GOOD
- All human beings, therefore are ends to be served by the institutions that make up the
economy, not means to be exploited for more narrowly defined goals. Human personhood must
be respected with a reverence that is religious.
- Engage in the mission of proclaiming the gospel of life in all the world and to every creature (St.
John Paul II, The Gospel of Life)
 Human Life as sacred (Gift from God)
 Human Dignity must be respected
 Call to give Life
Ethical Person is being Jesus to Others

VALUES INTEGRATION
“The more we integrate values, the more valuable person we are”
“Values are always there”
- Take note the image
- Values because we learn another values
Personal Blindness - or should we say “jealousy” which that the person wants something that an another
person have.
IDENTIFY PERSONAL VALUES IN ORDER TO LEARN MORE OUR UNDERSTANDING VALUES
- Season of Lent
 Lent in Catholic - observance of Christ
 Lent also means “spring time”
 Experience of other countries
 Blooming – namumulaklak
 Time for us to grow from good to better to best
 First Challenge - growing in terms of the values
 Lend - past tense of word “lent”
 The ultimate lender that lends us values is God
 - Experience of Summer
 Summertime - season of falls
 An ethical person should lived in values
 Preparation to live with new values in our life
- First, rediscover your values
- Second, refocus about ourselves
- Always remember: everything in this world are temporary, there are no such things in this world
are permanent
 Discover your values
 Develop
 Manifest - “how are you going to manifest the values?”
Always be grateful
Purgatory - just because you’re in a purgatory doesn’t mean you’re going to hell, the reason why you are
in the purgatory is to purge all your sins you committed.