ETHICS

SELF/INDIVIDUAL

We are going to apply the four ethical theories into three levels of moral valuation which is the personal, society and
physical environement.

Q. Ano-ano na nga yung ethical theories na ‘yon?

A. Mill’s Utilitarianism, Aquinas’ Natural Law, Kant’s Deontology, and Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics

> Let’s discuss first Mill’s Utilitarianism.

Q. Ano na nga ang utilitarianism?

So, sinasabi lang ni Mill dito is that before taking care of one self kailangan na iconsider muna natin yung karamihan.
Kasi hindi porket feel natin na Maganda or Mabuti to sa atin is okay talaga yon lalo na sa iba. Kasi in this theory diba
ang ineemphasize niya is yung greatest number. So basically, before taking care of yourself isipin muna natin yung
ibang tao.

“It is better to be a Socrates dissatisfied rather than a pig dissatisfied.”

Q. Ano sa tingin niyo yung gustong iparating dito ni Mill?

Sabi ni Mill, walang taong gustong maging pig or any animal para sa sariling comfort. Kasi even though being a person
is nakakastress hindi naiimagine ni Mill na someone would actually give up their human brain para lang sa comfort of
an animal life.

In this theory, an individual make sure na yung action na gagawin niya will be for greatest happiness, not just in
number but in kind, and hindi lang para sa sarili niya but for everyone that can be affected by her actions.

> Next is Aquinas’ Natural Law.

So, basically according to natural law diba kung ano yung natural kung ano yung human nature ito yung sinusunod ng
mga tao. So for example, harming yourself, based on natural law it is deemed to be bad for you because youre not
taking care of yourself.

For Aquinas kasi part ng person’s moral responsibility for herself is to make sure na mabubuhay tayo in a healthy way
and to avoid all things that may hurt one or cause one harm. Also, a part of a human nature is to promote the truth
and cultivate a harmonious life in society with other humans. So, a part of responsibility ng isang tao is the dedication
to the truth and para mabuhay in peace.

So, basically what Aquinas want a person to do is to think and realize what his innermost part wants to do, which is
the promotion of life, of the truth, and of harmonious coexistence with others.

> Kant’s Deontology.

This is all about the duty and the principle of universalizability wherein tinuturuan tayo or it challenges us to think
beyond our own preferences and to instead consider kung ano yung gagawin ng mas nakakarami sa isang situation.
Ang universalizability diba is if pag pinatupad ang isang action dapat gawin yon ng lahat. Som for example, pinatupad
sa rules ng deontology na dapat tayo lahat mag pafacial, or spa. Technically, it is considered good kasi it is somewhat
taking care of yourself.

So, what Kant is concerned with is that yung parang manggagamit ka pa ng ibang tao just to satisfy your own desires
to the point na nakakalimutan itreat ang human baing as the goal or the purpose of an action in and of herself. Kasi
‘di ba maraming tao nakakalimutan kung ano ba talaga yung makakabuti para sa lahat kasi they are consumed with
many other perceived goals such as financial wealth, revenge, domination, and so on. Kant basically imply that don’t
lose yourself in the process of attempting to satisfy such desires.

Sinasabi naman niya na ang highest authority is not the king nor the general nor the pope but none other than the
rational individual herself. Basically, one self’s moral or ethical responsibility is to maintain her dignity as a moral
agent, and in this way, he becomes the self-legislator in the realm of morality. Hindi siya magiging follower or alipin
ng makasariling desires or external authority.

> Lastly, Aristotle’s virtue ethics.

Aristotle is more concerned with is whether an action of a person leads one to become a better person in terms of
cultivating her character. Even though sometimes nagkakamali tayo but in the end what’s important is the lesson
we’ve learned from those mistakes.

His concern is that a person must become a better person with those mistakes and not just live a series of endless
mistakes.

Sa mesotes kailangan hindi over or hindi kulang yung pagdedesisyon natin. For example, gusto natin kumain kasi
gusto mong itreat yung sarili mo for doing a good job, in the mesotes kailangan tama lang yung pagkain natin not to
the point na magiging obese na tayo but in the same time hindi rin naman kulang na malnourished na tayo, dapat
nasa middle lang. Kasi that’s somewhat taking care of ourselves na hindi tayo ganon kapayat or mataba, tayo ay
healthy living persons lang sa mundo.

SOCIAL LIFE: IN THE PHILIPPINES CONTEXT AND IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE

UTILITARIANISM

Under utilitarianism, diba ang pinaka sinasabi niya is yung greatest happiness and yung greatest number eme eme.
For example yung pangungutang, considered ba siya as a good action dahil lang accepted siya sa culture natin? So sa
theory na to, iisipin muna natin kung makakabuti or makakatulong ba yung pangungutang sa ibang tao para makamit
yung greatest happiness ng nakakarami. Isipin natin kung mas marami bang magbebenefit sa isang decision bago
tayo gumawa ng action.

NATURAL LAW

Dito, since were talking about the society, how are we going to apply this theory, kailangan yung ginagawa mo is
pasok sa human nature and sa tingin mo magdudulot ng harmonious life hindi lang sa family natin but also in the
society para masabi natin na good action yon under this law. Kasi ang sinasabi ng theory na ito is that an action is
natural if it is unquestionable diba then if your action is unquestionable and it natural for you to act then it is deemed
to be good.

DEONTOLOGY

So, for example if a certain place have a rule na like sa trash, na kailangan naka segregate into nabubulok hindi
nabubulok at recyclable. Then it is considered good if lahat ng tao susundin yon kasi sa deontology is more on duty,
obligation and sa universalized actions. Under this theory, technically all people in the place will do it kasi it is a duty.

VIRTUE ETHICS
Character or the mesotes.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Under utilitarianism that we should gain or we are functioning based on gaining pleasure and avoiding pain. In
physical environment hindi lang sa ating mga tao but also with the other things sa environment like the animals. Kasi
they are the same in terms of having feelings, emotions. And aside from avoiding pain and gaining pleasure we can
also assess our works or tingnan natin kung ano yung nafefeel natin or pakiramdam natin if ever na sa atin yon
mangyari and isipin din natin kung ano yung nararamdaman ng animals, especially don sa mga abusive type of
people na sinasaktan yung mga animals. Pwwede naming hindi natin hilig yung animals but wag na natin silang
pakialamanan to the point na nasasaktan na sila. If mabait ka then bigyan mo ng foods. Kasi may feelings din sila and
yun din dapat yung iniiisip natin when doing such things based on this theory.

In deontology, it is also again the universalizing. But then medyo iba yung maxim dito or yung view ng deontology tho
it is an ethical principle pero minsan kahit hindi na siya ethically good or correct ginagawa pa rin kasi it is an
obligation or a duty to do so. For example it is universalized na pataasin yung economic wealth ng pilipinas so
regardless kung ano mang damage ang mangyari sa environment natin, we’re going to follow it since it is an
obligation because the rule or the maxim is to gain economic wealth so wala silang pakialam kung anon ang mangyari
sa bansa natin basta maattain lang yung economic wealth, yun yung sinasabi ng deontology.

Under natural law,

As a person ang nakikita mo lamang is yung paligid mo, yung community mo yung barangay mo. For example, all of
the things that were doing is focused on a small environment bc sa tingin natin ito lang yung kailangan natin
pagfocusan kasi dito lang tayo belong. But in the bigger picture you should not be looking on one place but we need
to expand our vision, tingnan din natin yung mga kailangan natin gawin sa culture as a whole.