Moral Assumptions

(Foundation of Morality)
Introduction:
Certain assumptions are essential in ethics. Acts are
considered moral or immoral, ethical or unethical,
acceptable or unacceptable because of these
assumptions. These assumptions are necessary because
without them, no moral valuation can be passed on to
certain acts. Here, we speak of reason and freedom as
necessary assumption of moral valuation. Acts can only
be judged to be moral or immoral, ethical or unethical
when these assumptions are present. Their absence
makes these acts morally or ethically valueless. In some
references, moral assumptions are referred to as the
elements of morality. This means that without reason,
freedom and voluntariness an act is not moral or ethical.
What are assumptions and what makes them so important?
To illustrate their meaning and significance, let us take the
example of my duty to do my work. It is assumed that when I
report to work that I will be doing my job. The company or
organization that hired me assumes that I will perform the tasks
for which I was hired. For that reason, the company pays me for
the services I render to it. The company assumes that I am doing
my job. If it does not, there is no reason for it to keep me and
pay me. Assumption is therefore based on the belief that I am
doing my job whether or not it is true that I am doing it. The
significance of that assumption is that the company pays my
salary. Because if it does not, it has ceased to believe that I am
doing my task or the assumption no longer stands to be true. Let
us see why assumptions are necessary components of morality
or ethics.
Learning Outcomes
1. Define moral assumption;
2. Identify the assumptions
of ethics or morality; and
3. Distinguish the
differences among moral or
ethical, immoral or unethical
and amoral.
Activating Activating Prior Learning

Decide whether the situation below suggests moral

implication. Suppose, the children in the
neighborhood are playing one morning. As is the
case when children play, they end up quarrelling.
Suppose a boy pushes a playmate who falls down
and starts to bleed immediately. With this scenario,
consider whether the boy who pushed the playmate
is morally responsible or not. Articulate your
reaction.
4. Presentation of Contents
One crucial assumption in making moral valuation of
certain acts and ascribing moral responsibility to a
moral agent is reason. Reason is the first element of a
human act. We assume that any person is a thinking
being. By that, he or she is aware of the purpose of
his or her action. Furthermore, this assumption is
also true about the consequences of such action.
Meaning, the person is also aware of the effects of
the act. In other words, the person can make
judgment whether an action is right or wrong.
Through reason, one can assess the rightness or the
wrongness of an act.
By this, we understand that it is not possible to
ascribe moral responsibility to a child who is way
below the age of reason. The child cannot make a
judgement whether his or her act is right or
wrong. By the same token, we cannot judge the
action of an insane person as right or wrong
because the person has no way of evaluating the
rightness or the wrongness of his or her act.
Reason, therefore, is essential before we can
ascribe moral valuation to any act or any moral
responsibility to the doer of the act. Hence, only
acts performed with deliberation or performed by
anyone who knows the consequences of the act
are moral or ethical acts.
When reason cannot be ascribed to
such acts, absolutely no moral
implication is applicable. One can get so
mad over an act performed by 3-year
old child but we are in no position to
ascribe to the child any form of moral or
ethical guilt or responsibility. Reason
therefore is absolutely required or is
assumed to be a basis for declaring the
rightness or wrongness of an act.
Second element or assumption is freedom. It is considered an
important element in making moral valuation and without which,
no amount of reasoning can justify the ethical value of an act. We
say, moral action can only emanate from individuals who act
according to their choice or free will to do good. Moral valuation
and moral responsibility cannot therefore be ascribed to actions
devoid of the freedom to act and as such they are not qualified as
moral action. Forcing someone to do an act will not make the
person morally responsible for the action taken. For instance,
forcing someone to contract marriage, this individual may later
separate from the partner. Should the person act on that
possibility, his action is without moral implication and is free to act
on it because there was no marriage at all that took place since the
person was forced under the threat of being killed or for any other
reason.
An act is considered human act with
moral responsibility when it is
undertaken on the basis of free choice
or with a sense of freedom. Without
the element of freedom, no amount
of explanation can declare someone
morally responsible over the act.
Summary:

Filipinos easily blame others for certain actions committed. We

have the commonly used expression: "Kasalanan mo ang
nangyari." (What happened was your fault.) Analyzing such
accusation, we realize that it has some tone of moral valuation
or judgment. Kasalanan is sin and in the Filipino context, the
utilization of the word is ethically loaded with strong religious
connotation. A person who commits sin has a moral
responsibility and has also offended God not only another
person to whom the moral agent has done something wrong. A
person who is accused in these terms, may finally end up
accepting not only that he or she is at fault but more
significantly, accepts that he or she, is a bad person if he/she
will use the catholic equivalent of moral significance and does
not conform to God's law or commandments.
Based on the discussion above, there is a need to be
extra cautious about accusing someone to have
committed a sin or is morally guilty even when
evidences favor it. To ascertain the full implication of
any accusation, there is a need to clarify it vis-a-vis
the two moral assumptions of reason and freedom.
Too often, Filipinos make others suffer from moral and
religious perspectives when it should not be the case
because the act is not grounded on the assumptions
of reason and freedom.
One who acts with complete or deliberate
has the full moral responsibility of the
consequences reason and freedom or
voluntariness of his actions