The Moral Agent

Presented by: Ey and Emman

Culture
It is the way of life of a group of people that “includes their
knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of
society” (Tylor, 1974, 1981).
Rice during meals Praying before meals
Culture
According to Emile Durkheim, it has the power over
individuals to create beliefs, such as belief in God, and with
more people holding the same beliefs, social order is also
strengthened (Little and McGivern, 2016).
Belief in Christianity Ramadan
How does culture affect
human behavior?
How does culture affect human behavior?

Since human beings are naturally social creatures, we as

people, are also naturally drawn to participate in culture.
The Dark Side of Culture
 The Dark Side of Culture

Plato worried about the idols and ideologies of his day,

especially about the power of the public to corrupt a young
person’s mind.
“Whenever the populace crowds together at any public gathering, in the
Assembly, the law-courts, the theater, or the camp, and sits there
clamoring its approval and disapproval, both alike excessive, of whatever
is being said or done; booing and clapping till the rocks ring and the whole
palace redoubles the noise of their applause and outcries. In such a
scene, what do you suppose will be a young man’s state of mind? What
sort of private instruction will have given him the strength to hold out
against the force of such a torrent, or will save him from being swept
away down the stream, until he accepts all their notions of right and
wrong, does as they do, and comes to be just such a man as they are.
And I have said nothing of the most powerful engines of persuasion which
the masters in this school of wisdom bring to bear when words have no
effect. As you know, they punish the recalcitrant with disenfranchisement,
fines, and death.”

(Plato’s Republic, trans. By F. M. Cornford, 1966)

 The Dark Side of Culture
Karl Marx also argued that culture served to justify
inequality:

“The ruling class, or the bourgeoisie produce a culture that

promotes their interest, while repressing the interests of the
proletariat.”
Gladiator Duels
The Elements of Culture
 The Elements of Culture

1. Symbols
It can be anything that a group of people find meaningful.

For example, in religious groups, the cross is a symbol for Christianity while
the crescent is for Islam.
Maneki-neko Pride Flag
 The Elements of Culture

2. Language
It is a complex symbol system that enabled human beings to communicate
either verbally or through writing.

Examples include the native languages: Ilocano, Bisaya, Tagalog and the
likes, and their ancient script called baybayin.
Ancient Writings A Filipino Conversation
 The Elements of Culture

3. Beliefs
They are assumptions or convictions held to be true by an individual or a group
of people. These assumptions or convictions could be about events, people, or
things.

For example, ancient civilizations attributed events to spirits and gods.

Zodiac Readings Feng Shui
 The Elements of Culture

4. Values
They are culturally acceptable standards of behavior. This may also include
what a person considers important or beneficial in life.

For example, in pre-colonial Philippines there were evidences that women were
equally valued and held central roles in society just as did the men (Perez,
2013). However, as the Spanish colonizers came, women’s value became just as
good as domestic caretakers.
Infant Baptism Altar at Homes
 The Elements of Culture

5. Norm
It is an informal guideline by a particular group of people or social unit about
what is considered normal or correct or incorrect social behavior.

For example, Filipinos have this what we call “pakikisama” where they tend to
choose to get along with people, rather than stand out and leave someone
behind, promoting fellowship and comradeship.
Eye Contact Pagmamano
Thank you for listening and participating!