LESSON 1: THE MORAL AGENT

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:
 Follow and make use the rules set up by Ethics.
 Explain the Principles of Morality in setting the idea of good life.
 Articulate the basic knowledge of what is morally good.
ORIENTATION OF THE COURSE

What is ETHICS?

 Moral Philosophy
 Comes from the Greek word “ethos” meaning “habit
or custom”
 a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing,
defending, and recommending concepts of right and
wrong conduct
THE SUBJECT-ETHICS
WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT ETHICS SUBJECT?

Moral Philosophy is the rational study of the meaning

and justification of moral claims. 
 A moral claim evaluates the rightness or wrongness
of an action or a person’s character. 
 For example, “Lying is wrong” claims the act of lying
is wrong, while “One shouldn’t be lazy” claims a
character trait (i.e., laziness) is wrong.  
Three distinct subject areas of Moral Philosophy

Meta-ethics Normative ethics Applied ethics

-examines the nature of - examines moral standards that attempt -examines specific moral issues.
moral claims and to define right and wrong conduct. 
-For example, one is doing applied
arguments. 
ethics when one addresses the
- This partly morality of abortion, euthanasia,
involves attempting to capital punishment, environmental
determine if moral claims
concerns, or homosexuality. 
have clear essential
meanings - By using the conceptual tools of
meta ethics and normative ethics,
discussions in applied ethics try to
resolve these issues.
Why study ethics?

It can provide a moral map

It can pinpoint a disagreement

Can give several answers

It doesn’t give right answers but it is only a moral compass.

It is not only about the morality of a particular courses of action, but its also
about the goodness of individuals and what it means to live a good life.
What are the rules of ethics?

Rules of ethics are described as

set of rules that describes
acceptable conduct in the society.

 Make direct eye contact with the person you are speaking with.
 Do not pick your nose in public and if you must burp or fart say "excuse me."
 Flush the toilet after use and always wash your hands when finished.
 Say "please" when asking for something and say "thank you" when someone does something for
you.
 Dress appropriately for the environment you are in.
 Don't interrupt someone while they are talking. Wait for them to finish and then take your turn.
What are Rules?

It is understood as a regulation or principles

governing conduct within a particular activity or
sphere.
Social Rules System

NORMS
-most commonly defined as rules or expectations that are
socially enforced.

- Norms may be prescriptive (encouraging positive

behavior; for example, “be honest”) or proscriptive
(discouraging negative behavior; for example, “do not
cheat”).
1 LAWS
-the discipline and profession concerned with the
customs, practices, and rules of conduct of a
community that are recognized as binding by the
community.

- Enforcement of the body of rules is through a

controlling authority.
2. REGULATIONS
-Regulations are rules made by a government or other authority in order
to control the way something is done or the way people behave.

-Regulation is the controlling of an activity or process, usually by means

of rules.

Ex: childs labor, minimum wages, employment regulations

3. TABOOS

-a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a

particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person,
place, or thing.

EX: Muslim communities, people are forbidden from eating pork

4. CUSTOMS

-A custom is defined as a cultural idea that describes a regular, patterned

behavior that is considered characteristic of life in a social 

EX: FAMILY REUNION, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION…….

ORIENTATION OF THE COURSE

What are the importance of Rules?

The importance of the rules serves as a

guide to moral daily living and helps one
judge whether a certain behaviour can
be justified.
The importance of the rules serves to
maintain civil behaviour, be organised,
more harmony in the community.
 LESSON 2: THE MORAL AGENT

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:
 Define Moral Agent and Features of Morality.
 Discuss man as a moral agent.
 Explain Differences between moral and non-moral.
 Participate in the virtual discussion.
Let us define Morality

What is Morality?

Principles concerning the distinction between

right and wrong or good and bad behaviour.
5 Key features of Morality
Prescriptivity- The practical or action-guiding, nature of morality.

Universalizability-Moral principles must apply to all people who are

in a relevantly similar situation.

Over ridingness- Moral principles have predominant authority and

override other kinds of principles

Publicity- Moral Principles must be made public in order to guide

our actions

Practicability- A moral principle must be workable and its rules must

not lay a heavy burden on us when we follow them
Man as a…….
What do we mean by Moral Agent?

A moral agent is an individual who is able to make

moral judgments based on some notion of right and
wrong actions and to be held accountable for these
actions.
Aristotle and moral responsibility

-He is an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, one of the

greatest intellectual figures of Western history.
-Virtue – a perfection of a good habit.

Aristotle
Differences between moral and non-moral Standards
 Moral Standards  Non-Moral Standards

The norms about the kinds of actions believed to be These refer to standards by which we judge what is
morally right and wrong. good or bad and right or wrong in a non-moral way.
These are rules unrelated to moral or ethical
considerations.

Moral Dilemmas- It is a situation in which there are two present problems by which an individual regards his self
as having moral reasons to do each of two actions to resolve the problems, but doing both actions is not possible.

Moral dilemmas in Health Care Service-Medical procedures- e.g: euthanasia etc…

 LESSON 3: FREEDOM AND MORALITY

 Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:
1. Become responsible regarding the use of their freedom.
2. Do self- introspection to guide their will in doing what is always humane.
3. The students can analyse the relationship between culture and morality.
A.Kant’s Morality and Freedom
- Man is only free once he is free from his
passions and vices. Hence, man achieve free
through moral acts.
- Freedom is achieved through morality.

B.The Role of Freedom in Morality

Freedom is the capacity to choose – having a
choice. One way to exercise our freedom is when
we choose between good and evil. Thus,
freedom in morality allows us to have a choice to
do what is right.
C. Freedom: The foundation of moral act
Since, freedom is the capacity to choose. It is the individual who
should be completely responsible for one’s choices. Thus,
freedom is the foundation of moral acts.

D. Freedom and Free will

“Will” is the faculty of the mind that selects, at the moment of decision, a
desire among the various desires present; it itself does not refer to any
particular desire, but rather to the mechanism responsible for choosing
from among one's desires.
Free will is every person's basic human right to make their own decisions
and choose their own path. Freedom is the physical and mental ability to
exercise that free will, and is also a person's basic human right.
E. Human acts vs. Acts of humans

Acts of man are instinctive, such as physiological in nature.

 Acts that are performed by men without being master of them
through his intellect and will, therefore acts of man are involuntary
actions. (blinking of eyes, digestion, perspiration, beating of heart)
Human acts are performed only by a human being and thus is
proper to man. Not every act that a human being does is a
distinctively human act. (eating, regular exercise,freedom,
knowledge)
THE FILIPINO WAY

A. The Filipino Customs and Traditions

-Asking for blessing (pagmamano)
-The Filipino way of hospitality to show respect

B. Characteristics of Filipino Culture

-Diverse, dynamic, open to changes, firm

C. Filipino Family Values

Filipinos as family oriented people
Cares for their old family members
Huge respect to parents
 LESSON : FRAMEWORK AND PRINCIPLES

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Become eager to reinforce the lack of ethical framework in the lives
of others.
2. Articulate how to face and act on the ethical challenges they
encounter.
3. Promote the principles of ethics.
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND EQUALITY

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND EQUALITY

Justice and fairness

 Justice and Fairness

What is Justice

It is the morally fair and right state of everything.

To have justice as a person's character trait
means that they are just and treat everyone the
same, or how they would like to be treated.
 Justice and Fairness

What is FAIRNESS

It is defined as just and reasonable treatment in

accordance with accepted rules or principles.

Treating all people equally and applying

reasonable punishments only when rules are
broken is an example of fairness. 
ORIENTATION OF THE COURSE

TAKE NOTE:

Justice and fairness are closely related terms

that are often today used interchangeably.

In any case, a notion of being treated as one

deserves is crucial to both justice and
fairness.
 Principles of Fairness

The principle of fairness establishes moral standards for

decisions that affect others.

Fair decisions are made in an appropriate manner based on

appropriate criteria.
 
Principles of Justice

The principle of justice could be described as the

moral obligation to act on the basis of fair adjudication
between competing claims.
 
 Different kinds of Justice

Commutative - based on the principle of equality.

Ex: Voluntary exchanges, a sale of goods or a purchase of a house

Distributive - guarantees the common welfare by sharing what

God has created.
Ex: public programs that provide social security or medical care to
all elderly and retired persons a
 Different kinds of Justice

Legal - the obligations of the government to its citizens and

society.
-The restoration of fairness in the eyes of the law
-Legal Justice means rule of law and not rule of any person

Social – the view that everyone deserves equal economic,

political and social rights and opportunities.
-everyone has a right to a fair say in society.
 LESSON :THE ACT

 Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:
1. Internalize the distinction between good and bad; to avoid what is bad and
do what is good.
2. Explain the ethical requirements of a good action.
3. Apply the ideally good actions as paragon to the community.
 
ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS

Reason and impartiality

 What is reason?

-It is the capacity of consciously making sense of things,

establishing and verifying facts, applying logic, and adapting or
justifying practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing
information.

-It is man's tool of understanding.

 Steps in reasoning model

1. Gather the facts 6.Consider your character and

2. Define the ethical issues
3. Identify the affected
parties (stakeholders)
4. Identify the consequences
5. Identify the obligations
(principles, rights, justice).
integrity
7. Think creatively about potential
actions
8. Check your gut
9. Decide on the proper ethical
action and be prepared to deal
with opposing arguments.
 What is Impartiality?

-It is called as evenhandedness or fair-mindedness.

-It is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be

based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis
of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over
another for improper reasons.
 ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS

Reason and impartiality

Relationship:
-Reason is a requirement for impartiality.

-Reason clarifies the judgment of impartiality to be logically

objective on the criteria of judgment without any biases.
 Ethics and feelings

Emotions
that is to say feelings and intuitions – play a
major role in most of the ethical decisions people
make.

Ethics and feelings

Most people do not realize how much their emotions direct their moral choices.
Most often, it is impossible to make any important moral judgments without
emotions.
Inner-directed negative emotions
like guilt, embarrassment, and shame often
motivate people to act ethically.

Example:
A boy sitting on an LRT saw an old woman standing (feels guilt
and shame) offers his seat to the old woman.
Outer-directed negative emotions
on the other hand, aim to discipline or punish.

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 another acting with
compassion or kindness, can prompt people to
help others.

Example:
When a man saw a woman helping a group of children, he feels
admiration for the compassion and kindness shown by the woman.
Thus, he also wants to help the children.
Emotions evoked by suffering

such as sympathy and empathy, often lead

people to act ethically toward others. 

Example:
When a person sees an old weak man, he feels empathy. Thus,
he decides to help the old man.
 The difference between reason and will
Reason
Reason
In philosophy, it is the faculty
or process of drawing
logical inferences.
It is the method of thinking in
an organized, clear way to
achieve knowledge and
understanding.
Will
In philosophy, it is the volitional
faculty, it is an appetite for the
good; that is, it is naturally drawn
to goodness.
It commands the body to move or
the intellect to consider
something.
TRY TO ANSWER!

1. Which among the following statements defines ethics?

a.A Branch of Philosophy that involves, systemizing, defending, and recommending
concept of right and wrong.
b.A social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular
practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.
c.Comes from the Greek word “ethos” meaning “values or custom”
d.It is understood as a regulation or principles governing conduct within a particular
activity or sphere.
TRY TO ANSWER!

2. All includes the Branches of Ethics EXCEPT,

a. Meta-ethics
b. Normative-ethics
c. Applied-ethics
d. Conventional ethics
TRY TO ANSWER!

3. Which among the following scenario described the rules of ethics?

a. Burping and farting without saying excuse me.
b. Make direct eye contact with the person you are speaking with.
c. Picking your nose in front of a person who is taking his meal.
d. Wearing revealing clothes when you go to church.
TRY TO ANSWER!

4. Walking barefooted and eating with bare hands among the barrio folk is an example
under what Social Rules System?
a.Laws
b.Regulation
c.Taboos
d.Customs
TRY TO ANSWER!

5. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queers or popularly known as the “LGBTQ” is

one of the talked issues nowadays and still considered as an unacceptable norm to
many countries of the world. As a student, what emphasis should you do to lessen
this kind of societal discrimination?
a. Respect them because they too are human and they deserve to be accepted for
who really they are.
b. Embrace their total transformation because this builds a society where unity resides
among every member.
c. Spread love and not hatred.
d. All of the above.
ALL THE BEST TOPNOTCHERS!