GEC 7: General Ethics

1. Title of the Module

Chapter 3: The Act

2. Introduction
This module explores the role of feelings in moral decisions and the
disadvantages of over-reliance on feelings. A lot of people may not be aware when
their behavior diverts from ethical standards because their emotions and moods get
the better part them. This module also provides models in which students can make
reasoned and impartial ethical decisions and understand why reason is not enough in
carrying out their ethical decisions as well. It proposes that the will is as important as
reason and developing moral courage helps towards moral excellence.

3. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter, the student is expected to:
a. explain feelings as obstacles/useful to making right decisions;
b. explain reason and impartiality as minimum requirements of morality;
c. evaluate a moral dilemma using the 7 step moral reasoning model; and
d. explain the significance of moral courage in ethical decision-making.

4. Learning Content
Topics for Chapter 3
Topic 1: Feelings and Moral Decision-Making
Topic 2: Reason and Impartiality as Minimum
Requirements for Morality
Topic 3: Moral Courage

5. Teaching and Learning Activities

a. Activity Sheets
b. Textual Reading
c. Discussion

6. Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading

books

De Guzman, Jens Micah, et al. (2018). Ethics: Principles of ethical behavior in

modern society. Philippines: MUTYA Publishing House, Inc.
Rachel, James and Stuart Rachels. (2018). Elements of moral philosophy, 9th
Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Rae, Scott B. 2009. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Zondervan ebook.
Rae, Scott B., and Kenman L. Wong. (1996). “A Model for Moral Decision
Making.” Chap. 16 in Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to
Business Ethics. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

7. Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) adopted

Modular Distance Learning (MDL) – Module
Online Distance Learning (ODL) – VideoCon/Google Classroom,
Email, Messenger, Zoom
8. Assessment Task

46
a. Module Exercises/Quiz
b. Situation Analysis
c. Case Analysis
d. Reflection Paper

47
 MODULE CONTENT

Topic 1: Feelings and Ethical Decision-Making

Nominal Duration: 1.5 hours

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this topic, the student must be able to:
1. explain the relationship between feelings and ethical judgments; and
2. evaluate feelings as both obstacles and useful to making right decisions.

Introduction

Can feelings of happiness, surprise, interest and joy affect our actions to do
what is good? While anger, disgust, contempt, fear, shame, sadness, or self-hostility
greatly influence our actions to do what is bad? Should these positive subjective
feelings matter when we decide to do the right thing? Should we suppress negative
ones instead as they might lead us to wrong decisions?

Feelings and intuitions or what we call as “moral emotions” (n.d.) play a major
role in most of the ethical decisions people make. Most people do not realize how
much their emotions direct their moral choices. Experts think it is impossible to make
any important moral judgments without emotions. They are regarded as instinctive and
trained response to moral dilemmas.

There are two related models in ethics that are exclusively based on feelings.
The first one is ethical subjectivism which holds that truth or falsity of ethical
propositions is dependent on the feelings, attitudes, or standards of a person or group
of persons. Since it is based only on feelings, it is biased and contradicts the common
understanding that morality is about objective facts. For example, a gay from the parlor
passes in front of a group of freshmen nearby and one of them smirked:
“homosexuality is wrong!” If the student could not even justify his moral judgment and
made that remark out of feelings, then he is both ignorant and biased. The second is
emotivism which is a naïve version of ethical subjectivism. This version says that a
moral belief is true if it is held with sincerity and conviction. To say that an act is right,
or a person is good, is merely to emote, just to express emotions. This makes
nonsense of beliefs. Is it not that a belief is something that is either true or false, but
not both? No one’s feelings are more justified than another’s, assuming they are
compatible with any relevant factual information (Martin, 2007: 5-6).

Feelings cannot be solely relied upon but reason and feelings may complement
each other. Feelings can fuel the accomplishment of goals. They motivate us to act
morally. Traditionally, ethical decision-making process has been understood as an
exclusively mental process; that our feelings have nothing to do with matters of right
or wrong and good or bad, precisely because our emotions are very unstable.
Although most existing researches emphasize the mental elements of decision-
making, there are evidences to support the idea that emotion is also a necessary
component leading to ethical decisions and ethical behavior. The arousal of emotion
influences moral reflection and ultimately moral behavior. Of course, there are other

48
factors also aside from feelings. Peer influence among college students, for example,
is a stronger determinant of ethical behavior than individual affective reactions. There
is a peer-pressure that an individual seems to be more likely to engage in ethical
behavior when his/her peers also behave ethically (Bratton, 2004; De Guzman, et al.,
2018).

Inner-directed negative emotions like guilt, embarrassment, and shame often

motivate people to act ethically. Outer-directed negative emotions, on the other hand,
aim to discipline or punish. For example, people often direct anger, disgust, or
contempt at those who have acted unethically. This discourages others from behaving
the same way. Positive emotions like gratitude and admiration, which people may feel
when they see someone acting with compassion or kindness, can prompt people to
help others too. Emotions evoked by suffering, such as sympathy and empathy, often
lead people to act ethically toward others. Indeed, empathy is the central moral
emotion that most commonly motivates prosocial activity such as altruism,
cooperation, and generosity. So, while we may believe that our moral decisions are
influenced most by our philosophy or religious values, in truth our emotions play a
significant role in our ethical decision-making (Lerner, et al., 2014; “Moral Emotions”
(n.d.)).

Activity 1: Form a group of 5 members. Discuss how you think feelings can be
obstacles in making the right decisions and give 5 examples to prove your point.
Discuss how you think feelings can help in making the right decisions and give 5
examples to prove your point to be put in a yellow paper.

Assessment Task: (25 points in each item)

Name: _________________________ Course & Year: ______________

I. Situation Analysis: Search for a situation that you think involves ethical
subjectivism and emotivism. Evaluate the situation by pointing out how both
ethical models are fitted.
2. Essay: Are ethical subjectivism and emotivism plausible for standards of
morality? Justify your answer.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

49
 ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Learning Resources
Bratton, V. K. (2004). Affective morality: The role of emotions in the ethical
decision-making process.
http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:181290/datastream/PDF/d
ownload/citation.pdf
Izard, C. E. (October 2010). The meanings/aspects of emotion: Definitions,
functions, activation and regulation. Emotion Review, Vol. 2, No. 4. 363-
370. SAGE Publications and The International Society for Research on
Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073910374661
De Guzman, Jens Micah, et al. (2018). Ethics: Principles of ethical behavior in
modern society. Philippines: MUTYA Publishing.
Lerner, J.S., et al. (2014). Emotions and Decision Making. Annual Review
Psychology.
Martin, M. K. (2007). Everyday morality. Canada: Thomson Wadsworth.
“Moral Emotions”. (n.d.) https://www.ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu

50