REGION'S PREMIER UNIVERSITY CHOICE

PA N G A S I N A N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

GE-8

Ethics
Instructor :Michelle o. quinto
 REGION'S PREMIER UNIVERSITY CHOICE
PA N G A S I N A N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

KEY CONCEPTS
1 IN ETHICS
Importance of Rules to Social Beings
Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
Dilemma and Moral Dilemma
Three levels of Moral Dilemmas
‘Only human beings can be ethical’
Freedom-Responsibility as a Foundation of Morality
Minimum Requirement for Morality: Reason and Impartiality
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Learning Objectives
At the end of this Module, you
should be able to:
 Explain the importance of following various rules (home,
community, school rules and regulations)
 Differentiate between moral and non-moral standards
 Differentiate between dilemma and moral dilemma
 Identify a moral dilemma in a given situation
 Classify moral dilemmas according to the three levels of moral
dilemmas
 Explain why only human beings can be ethical
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INTRODUCTION: KEY
PA N G A S I N A N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

CONCEPTS IN ETHICS
 Ethics “ethicos” (Greek) is the branch of philosophy that
systematically studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of human
conduct.
 Morality “mores” (Latin) speaks of a code or system of behavior
(customs/traditions) in regards to standards of right or wrong.

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1. The Importance of Rules to Social Beings

 Rules refer to explicit or understood regulations or principles governing
conduct within a specific activity or sphere.
 Rules tell us what is or is not allowed in a particular context or situation.

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Rules benefit social beings in various manners:

 Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior.
 Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and freedom.
 Rules produce a sense of justice among social beings.
 Rules are essential for a healthy economic system

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2. Moral vs. Non-moral Standards

 Not all rules are moral rules. That is, not all standards are moral standards.
 Morality refer to the standards that a person or a group has about what is right and
wrong, or good or evil.
 Accordingly, moral standards are those concerned with or relating to human
behavior/actions/activities, especially the distinction between good and bad (or right or
wrong) behavior.

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2. Moral vs. Non-moral Standards

 Non-moral standards refer to rules that are unrelated to moral or ethical
considerations. Either these standards are not necessarily linked to morality or
by nature lack ethical sense.
i.e. rules of etiquette
fashion standards
rules in games

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Characteristics of Moral Standards

 Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits.
 Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values.
 Moral standards are not established by authority figures.
 Moral standards have trait of universalizability.
 Moral standards are based on impartial conditions
 Moral standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary.

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3. Dilemmas and Moral Dilemmas

 Dilemma refers to a situation in which a tough/difficult choice has to be made
between two or more options, specially more or less equally undesirable ones. Not
all dilemmas are moral dilemmas.
 Moral dilemmas are situations involving serious and difficult choice/s has/have to be
made between two courses of action, either which entails transgressing a moral
principle.

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4 - Features/Characteristics of Moral/Ethical Dilemma

 1. One is obligated/mandated/required to act each of two (2) (or more) behaviors
 2. The two (2) (or more) acts/behaviors are based on moral standards
 3. One can act each of the two (2) (or more) behaviors but one cannot act both (or
all) simultaneously
 4. One seems condemned to choose even the wrong/bad/evil or fail for doing what
one ought to do (choosing the lesser evil)

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4. Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas

 Personal Dilemma – individual / personal/ subjective level
 Organizational Dilemma – unit/department/college
 Structural Dilemma – national/international

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5. ‘Only human beings can be ethical’

 Only human beings are rational, autonomous, and self-conscious.
 Only human beings can act morally or immorally.
 Only human beings are part of the moral community.

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6. Freedom as a Foundation of Morality

 Basically, morality is a question of choice. Morality practically, is choosing
ethical codes, values, or standards to guide us in our daily lives.
 Philosophically, choosing is not possible without freedom.
 Practically, the sum of our choices can be said to define our specific
‘morality’.

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7. Minimum Requirement for Morality: Reason and Impartiality

 Reason/Intelligence
 Good reason
 Good/Beautiful/Best thing to do given the situation
 Involves the idea that each individual’s interests and point of view are equally
important.

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Thank you!
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CLASS DISCUSSION

Recall some rules you have to follow in school and

Place your screenshot here
community. What rules do you find constricting? Explain
why people have to follow rules.

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Quotations are commonly printed as a

means of inspiration and to invoke
philosophical thoughts from the reader.

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