Concerning Standards

or Norms
 Concerning Standards or Norms

Etymologically, the term “norm” comes

from the Latin norma which means
“carpenter's square, rule or pattern”.
Now, carpenter's square is used for many
things, depending on the end of the
carpenter, but its primary purpose is for
laying down right angles.
Concerning Standards or Norms

In the language of geometry, a line that is perpendicular

(creating 90 degrees on both sides) to a given object is what
is called normal. And when a line creates 90 degrees on both
sides relative to a fixed point, it can be said that the line is
straight or correct.
With this, one can easily see the transition of “normal”
from geometry to man's actions.
The following are some of the standards or norms against which the rectitude or correctness of an act is measured
(Fernandez, 2018; Bulaong 2018)
 1. Aesthetic Norm

The word “Aesthetics” is derived from the Greek word

“aisthesis” which means “sense” or “feeling” and refers to the
judgments of personal approval or disapproval that we make about
what we see, hear, smell, or taste (Bulaong Jr. et al, 2018).
Aesthetics refers to our personal aesthetic preference based on
what we see, hear, smell and taste.
Some examples of these personal aesthetic preferences can be
found in such expressions as: “Ballad music is good,” “Metallic
music is disgusting,” “Lisa of Black Pink is admirable.”
 2. Societal Norm

This norm has something to do with the need for group

cohesion and for strengthening the bonds that keep the
community together. In this norm, we have certain manners or
attire, certain ways of speaking or of conducting oneself and For instance:
1.You ought to knock first before you open
certain rituals and ceremonies (Fernandez, 2018). These the door.
particular actions maintain the bond and cohesion of the 2.You should not pick your nose in
community. public.
3.You should not talk when your mouth
Other similar examples belong to the category of etiquette or is full.
what is known as “GMRC” (Bulaong Jr. et al, 2018). 4.You should wear the prescribed
uniform of the institution.
3. Technical Norm

This refers to man’s needs which come from his bodily

space-time limitations. This has to do with survival, health
and well-being. It concerns with techniques of how things
should be done (Fernandez, 2018).
For instance, “there is a proper way of planting rice”,
“proper manner of dribbling the ball”, “proper table
arrangement”, etc.
4. Moral Norms

In this type, man and his actions are judged to be

good or bad, right or wrong. All other norms are to
be subordinated to this moral norm.
The Norm of Morality
(Moral Norm)
 The Norm of Morality

Glenn said: “Morality is the relation of the human acts to

their norm.” This means that the quality of being good or
bad (morality) of an action depends on whether or not it
measures up to its standards.

But, what is the norm or standard of morality?

The Norm of Morality

Let us borrow and examine Glenn's words:

Let us view man as traveller standing at a point where many roads converge. The
traveler wishes to reach the City of Limitless Good. This city is the goal toward which the
traveller tends by a connatural and inevitable bent of his will. Now, the tendency of the
traveller will remain the same, even if he should choose a wrong road. In other words,
man, the traveller, will choose a road for the purpose of reaching the City of Limitless
Good, even if, as a fact, the chosen road leads away from his goal.
The Norm of Morality

It is obvious, then, that the traveller needs guidance, he needs direction, lest
perverse and mistaken judgment thwart his purpose and render impossible the
attainment of his goal.
In a word, the traveller needs a map.
More: he requires ability to read the map, and to interpret it rightly where the road
seems to fork or byways open invitingly.
Now, the map, the guiding direction, is supplied to man, the traveller, by law; and
the application of law in individual acts- the reading and interpreting of the map at
particular curves and corners- is achieved by conscience.
Human acts are directed to their true end by law, and law is applied by
conscience. Hence, law and conscience are the directives or norms of human acts.
 Context:
End/Purpose: Life preservation
Law: You shall not kill.
Conscience:

Law: Divine Reason

Conscience: Human Reason
 The Norm of Morality
What Glenn called the City of Endless Good is the ultimate goal of human acts. Recall
how human acts are responding to tendencies?
One performs an act in respond to or because of such tendencies. Now ultimately,
human acts tend towards the City of Endless Good.

What Glenn called the law- the map to guide man into the City- is the Divine Law or
Divine Reason. What he called the conscience - the faculty that one uses in reading and
interpreting the map- is human reason.
The Norm of Morality
For Glenn:
Law: Divine Reason: the Ultimate - comprise the
norm of morality.
Conscience: Human Reason: the proximate

In other words, for an action to be called morally good, it must be in

accord with the dictates of reason; for it is to be called bad, it must be in
disagreement with the dictates of reason.
 What, then, does it mean to be moral?

To be moral means to examine the tendencies, the goals, the objects of our desire
whether or not they lead to Heaven or the ideal society.
To be moral means using reason as guide for actions that lead one to Heaven or that
ideal, all the while embracing his or her strengths and weakness and rootedness.
To be moral, in the words of Rachels, means doing actions that are “impartial, adheres
to rules that serve everyone's interest, and that which corresponds to our natural inclination
to care for others.”