The Development of

Moral Character
-Jansen R. Quinto-
How Is Moral Character
Developed?
 Introduction

• The judgment regarding the morality of an

action is based on the person who did the
action. This was basically the belief of Plato,
Aristotle, Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.
 Introduction

• The goodness of an action can be based on the

kind of person who did the action; 1. from the
intention of doing act;
2. from the character of the moral agent
 Introduction

Etymologically, Character comes from the

Greek term character, which initially referred to
the mark impressed upon a coin. Such mark
determines the value of the coin.
• A person’s value will be determined by the
character that a person possesses.
• A person’s character is the mental and moral
character that one possesses which makes
him different from others.
• In philosophy, the person’s character refers to
the moral aspect of a person.
 Aristotle
An ancient Greek philosopher
One of the greatest intellectual
figures of Western history.
Aristotle migrated to Athens,
where he joined the Academy of 
Plato (c. 428–c. 348 BCE). He
remained there for 20 years as
Plato’s pupil and colleague.
• His idea of character is etymologically linked
to “ethics” and “morality.”
• Aristotle’s concept of morality is connected
with his concept of arête, which Aristotle
translated as EXCELLENCE.
• Therefore, to make the person moral, his
action must be an act done in the most
excellent way.
•A human person is considered
to be an excellent man if he is
functioning in the most
excellent way.
•In general, excellence is a
quality that makes an
individual a good member of
his kind.
•For this reason, a person will
have a greater value if he
keeps on acting as a person
excellently.
•When a person is acting
excellently consistently, then
he is said to have a great
character.
Moral character is the force
behind moral action.
Factors affecting
Moral Character
Development
 Moral character is formed by one’s
actions. “The habits, actions and
emotional responses of the person of
good character all are united and
directed toward the moral and the
good” (Mitchell,2015, para. 1).
Mamawal (1993) listed several agencies of values formation:

1. Family,
2. Biological constitution,
3. Peer,
4. School, and
5. Community
 Family

• The family plays a crucial role in the formation of

someone’s moral character.
• Biological or not, the family that one considers to
have has an immense impact.
 Family

• Modern times also affect the composition of the

family we traditionally have known to be.
• But, now, the composition of parents could varied.
 Family

• Despite the changes, the adults who are deemed to

be the parents, are still accountable for the moral
development of their child or children.
 Factors are:

• Socioeconomic • Religion, and

Status • Education
• Culture
• Age
• Gender
 Biological

• Biological factors such as age, sex, and gender, may

also have an impact on the value information.
 Biological

• It is supposed that as one grows older, the moral

character one has should also grow or improve.
 Biological

• However, this is not always the case. One’s progress in

moral development is also hinged to other factors. One’s
sex or gender would have more impact once it combines
with the other factors that could shape one’s moral
character.
Peer

Peers, friends,
classmates, and
colleagues are also
influencers in our moral
character.
• Parents and teenagers are to be aware that in
the adolescent years, teens are drawn to
spending time with peers than family.
• The time spent with peers expose them to
other perspective and practices.
• This would test their existing morals.
• Thus, the foundation of their moral
character formed in the family should be
strong.
 Community
• To be part of a community means to also share
their beliefs and/or practice their traditions or
culture. A community could pertain to a “locality,
neighborhood, town, city, or even a nation”
(Panopio, 1983, as cited in Mamawal, 1993).
 School

• Most of person’s life before adulthood is

commonly spent in school.
 School
• In this span of time, the exposure of the students
come from the school, teachers, classmates,
lessons in class, and their peers.
• Companies and workplaces are expecting
applicants to be of good character because of the
attainment of such.