MODULE 1: WHAT IS ETHICS?

 Ethics makes it possible for an individual to fully understand

what conscience is.
ETHICS OVERALL VIEWS
 Derived from the Greek word “ethos” which may mean tradition, habit, character, or 1. Through ethics, people can determine the difference between right from wrong,
attitude. good and bad.
 A systematic analysis of the nature of human actions. 2. People can eliminate actions that do not conform to what is right.
 As a philosophy, it is a higher level of human discipline. 3. People will be very careful to the actions and decisions to make.
 As a branch of philosophy, ethics is divided into normative and meta-ethics. 4. People will not be disturbed of the internal and external factors of not doing the
right thing.
NORMATIVE ETHICS 5. Establish good habits of characters of a person.
 Seeks to examine how human beings respond to a moral question. 6. Come up to rational decisions in facing an ethical dilemma.
 Purpose is to address our questions about the essence of human behavior. 7. It makes a person responsible in the family, school and society.
 Two fields of normative ethics: 8. Person becomes sensitive to the needs of others more than himself or herself.
Moral Philosophy 9. Reminds a person to fully need conscience in decision making and a person can
Applied/Practical Ethics acknowledge the actions made.
META-ETHICS
 Discipline that relies on meaning. MORAL STANDARDS
 A science that is seeking to address non- moral questions about morality.  It compels us to behave accordingly, although we have no right to insist on others on
non-moral values.
IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS  Refers to guidelines we have on the types of acts that we find to be morally
 It provides true, specific guidance to our lives. permissible and morally unacceptable.
 Ethical Principles:  Blending of norms and values.
Fairness  Focuses on what is acceptable, desirable and beneficial.
Trustworthiness  Objective: unbiased, unpartial
Responsibility  Promote common good
 Ethics is all about decisions.  Potentially threaten/harmful
 Moralists vs. Ethicists  Helpful to human beings
MORALISTS
 We follow our own interest whatever we think is right. CHARACTERISTICS: (Velasquez, 2012)
 It is what we do, our preferences, our stand. o Entail serious harm or benefit.
ETHICISTS o Not determined by authority figures.
 It is not only about us. o It should be adopted over other values including self-interest.
 We consider everything before decisioning. o Focused on objective considerations.
o Perceived to be universal.
 Virtues that guide ethical decision-making providing the basis o Correlated with different feelings and vocabulary.
for rational decisions when faced with an ethical dilemma: NON-MORAL STANDARDS
Intelligence  Applies to laws which are not related to social or legal considerations.
Bravery  Examples:
Patience Etiquette
Justice Statutes
Code of Professional Ethics
NOTE:  According to Figar & Dordevic (2016), it is a situation whereby a person has to make a
All morals are legal, but not all legal are morals. decision.

HOW MORAL STANDARDS ARE FORMED: CHARACTERISTICS

 It shaped by the beliefs of an individual.  Making an option to one moral value over the other.
 Values are the basis of the capacity of an individual to distinguish between right and  A situation where moral values are equally significant.
wrong.  A scenario where a person has a strong moral reason in action, but not equally strong
 Formed from the experience of a person's life and are subject to opinion. moral reason in acting in another way.
 A state where a person should morally do one, two, or more and have difficulty in
FACTORS THAT INLFLUENCED: deciding any of those conflicting choices.
 Moral values or principles that we conform with, in our rearing.
 Character and manners that imbibed with us by means of birthright. 3 LEVELS OF MORAL DILLEMAS
 Religious values
 Values we learned from school.  ORGANIZATIONAL
 Moral conduct, ways and habits of those people around us.  A situation that causes an organization to respond negatively or positively to
 Direct and implied cultural norms. an ethical issue that affects staff, shareholders, and society, as well as
 Life experiences. corporate ethics and customers. (Lamberto et. al 2013)
 Critical thinking in these experiences.  Common ethical issues in the organization such as:
Unethical leadership/bad leadership behavior.
CHAIN OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL STANDARDS Toxic workplace culture.
1. Individual Beliefs Discrimination and harassment/peril of employee favoritism.
2. Values/Religious/Characters/Manners Unrealistic and conflicting goals.
3. Rules & Regulations Use of the organization’s technology, social media use, technology &
4. Individual Action privacy concerns.
5. Life’s Experiences Business travel ethics.
6. Moral Standards  INDIVIDUAL
 A situation where individuals confront with a number of factors such as peer
pressure, personal financial position, an economic and social status which
MODULE 2: MORAL DILLEMAS may influence all individual ethical standards.

MORAL DILLEMAS  STRUCTURAL

 Applies to our personal life, in a job, in a profession, education, and some others.  Selecting a proper system of responsibilities and relationships, which is a
 An individual must analyze every aspect scrutinize the pros and cons, and after several continuing universal challenge.
evaluations, then finally decide.  CONCEPTS:
 According to Kvalnes (2019), it is a situation in which a decision maker must give Differentiation vs. Integration
preference to one moral principle over another. Gap vs Overlap
 According to Kurie & Albin (2007), it is a situation in which people assume that they Lack of Clarity vs. Lack of Creativity
should Excessive Autonomy vs. Excessive
 morally do one thing and that they should morally do another thing, and occasionally Interdependence
a third thing or even a fourth thing.
 2. Perfect & Imperfect
o Perfect duty is always true and it is more important. (Ex. Telling the
HOW TO AVOID: truth)
o Must have well-distributed jobs and the laws, policies, rules, and regulations must be o In contrast, flexibility is indispensable in imperfect duty.\
balanced through lateral approaches. o In perfect duty, it is a must to do what is good while imperfect duty,
o Must have an implicitly defined job description, roles, and duties to evade from gaps you do good but it is not an obligation to do so.
and overlaps.
o Must have a clear-cut expectation of the tasks in a wide range of goals. 3. Categorical Imperative
o Must have a well-balanced interdependence and coordination. o In categorial imperative, the action to be done does not depend on
the result or desire or not conditioned by desire. However, in
MODULE 3: FREEDOM AS FOUNDATION FOR MORAL ACTS hypothetical imperative, the basis of the action to be done is what I
want and the means to get it.
I. KANT’S PHILOSOPHY ON FREEDOM
 Individuals have the right to choose one's conduct based on reason, 4. Universalizability
not desire. o Pertains to acts that is acceptable or permissible.
 Individuals have to abide by the rules that they follow. o It must be applied to all citizens without any contradictions.
 Individuals are independent from being limited by the option of others
to the extent that they may coexist with each other's freedom under Morality
universal rule. o Objective law of reason.
 Equality is the most among the various freedoms; Freedom is the only
inherent power. Confirmity Obligations
 Three Concepts of Freedom o We have subjective will and objective rule.
o Freedom of a human being as a member of a state
o Dignity of each person as a subject 5. Humanity as an end itself
o Freedom of any member of the commonwealth as a o A human intrinsic worth does not depend on something else, it does
resident. not depend on whether a person loves his or her life or makes other
 Individuals have an autonomous right to be happy in their own way, people's lives better.
and the intervention of another's freedom means forcing others to be
happy. III. KANT’S PHILOSOPHY ON JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS
o Justice involves external acts through which an individual may directly
II. KANT’S PHILOSOPHY ON MORALITY or indirectly influence others.
o Justice does not affect the desires, wishes, or needs of others.
1. Goodwill & Duty o Justice is concerned primarily with the nature of interpersonal
o One of a kind because it is always good and maintain moral values. relationships and not with their substance.
o A moral concept that freely seeks to use values for moral reasons.
o Good will is more of a conception rather than obligation. TAXATION IN THE PHIL.
o A will that acts out of duty can be defined as a will that overcomes the o Equality (lahat pare-parehas)
obstacles to the protection of moral law. o Equity (base sa pangangailangan/kakayahan)
o Dutifull Will is a special care of goodwill under favorable. o Financial obligations of people
 o It should be universal and equal. 7. Lack of Self Analysis and Reflection

MODULE 4: WHAT IS CULTURE? HOW DOES IT DEFINE OUR MORAL BEHAVIOR? MODULE 5: CULTURAL RELATIVISM

1. KOHAK (1984) – human alienation from the environment. (paano naiiba sa iba) CULTURAL RELATIVISM
o COLTUS: giving respect to the sacredness of all. o We do not judge a society by our own criteria of what is right or
2. COLE (2019) – broad and diverse collection of intangibles areas of social life wrong, odd or natural.
o SOCIOLOGISTS: behavior, ideas, beliefs, language system, communication o Any opinion on ethics is subject to the perspective of each person within their
3. LEDERACH (1995) – collective knowledge and schemes about realities. particular culture.
4. ZIMMERMAN (2017) – characteristics and awareness involves in specific community o People must understand other societies’ cultures.
o Based on language, religion, food, social behavior, etiquette, fashion, music, arts, etc. o Goal is to strengthen our knowledge and interpretation of the practices and cultural
traditions that are not part of our culture and that not uncommon to other cultures.
THE INFLUENCES OF CULTURE IN MORAL DEVELOPMENT o A moral theory that claims the idea of no objective universal moral rules that would
o Culture is always social and communal (laws, norms, values & attitudes) apply to every culture and it varies depending on the culture of the society.
o Defines the normative principles and behaviors of society (maintain, preserve or
change) THE PROS OR ADVANTAGES OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
o Develop restricting and set boundaries & limitations (serves as protection & security) o It creates learning opportunities that could make humanity stronger.
o Helps generate character and identity o It eliminates the concept of separate, but equal.
o Identifies authorities or governing individuals (maker, implementer of rules & o It creates a system of niche expertise.
interpreter) o It encourages respect.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FILIPINO CULTURE: Dumaraos (2018) THE CONS OR DISADVANTAGES OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
1. Resilient o There will be actions taken that would be defined by some as “violent,” “unsafe,” or
2. Take pride in their families “wrong.”
3. Religious o It is based on a concept that people are perfect.
4. Respectful o It creates a personal bias.
5. Help one another o It eliminates the idea that reform or change can be a good thing.
6. Values traditions and culture
7. Longest Christmas celebration
8. Love art and architecture.
9. Hospitable

WEAKNESSES OF FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. Extreme Personalism
2. Extreme Family Centeredness
3. Lack of Discipline
4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative
5. Colonial Mentality
6. Kanya-kanya Syndrome
 o daring activities
o varied life
o exciting life

MODULE 6: UNIVERSAL VALUES

5. SELF-DIRECTION
VALUE o creativity
o something that a person or a group believes has a value that merits being sought, o freedom
promoted, or privileged. o independence
o curiosity
UNIVERSAL VALUES o choosing your own goals
o something has universal value because everyone finds it important
o when all people have reason to believe it has value 6. UNIVERSALISM
o connected with morality or ethics o broad mindedness
o need to be socially expressed o wisdom
o social justice
SCHWARTS CONCEPTS OF UNIVERSAL VALUES o equality
o a world at peace
SCHWARTS TYPES OF UNIVERSAL VALUES o a world of beauty
o unity with nature
1. POWER o protecting the environment
o authority
o inner harmony
o leadership
o dominance 7. BENOVELENCE
o social power o kindness
o wealth o helpfulness
o honesty
2. ACHIEVEMENT o forgiveness
o success
o loyalty
o capability
o responsibilities
o ambition
o friendship
o influence
o intelligence 8. TRADITION
o self-respect o accepting one’s portion in life
o humility/humbleness
3. HEDONISM o devoutness
o pleasure
o respect for tradition
o enjoying life
o moderation
4. STIMULATION
9. CONFORMITY
 o self-discipline o Safety
o obedience o Intelligence
o Respect
10. SECURITY o Equality
o cleanliness o Justice
o family security o Nature
o national security o Health
o stability of social order
o reciprocation of favours THE HUMAN DIGNITY
o health
o sensel of belonging o It is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
o It is earned and cannot be taken away from anyone.
UN CHARTER OF UNIVERSAL VALUES o The 1987 Philippine Constitution Article 2 Section 11 provides, “The state recognizes
the dignity of every human person and guaranteed full respect for human right.”
“The values of peace, freedom, social progress, equal rights and human dignity, enshrined in
the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are no
less valid today than when, over half a century ago, those documents were drafted by MODULE 7: THE FILIPINO WAY
representatives of many different nations and cultures.”
- Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Global Ethics SIR – Smooth Interpersonal Relationship (Pakikipagkapwa-tao)
o It is supported by Filipino values includes customs & traditions
UN CHARTER OF UNIVERSAL VALUES o Central core of essential cultural traits

 FUNDAMENTAL VALUES: FILIPINO VALUES - pinahahalagahan o isinasabuhay

o Freedom
o Equality 1. Pakikisama / Sense of Togetherness
o Solidarity - doing a good deed to people
o Tolerance o Over generous praise
o Respect for nature o Submit to group opinion
o Shared responsibility o Concealing negative emotion
 IN REALITY: o Smiling when things go wrong
o Discrimination o Avoiding to say NO
o Double standards o Refraining from venting anger
o Injustice 2. Utang na Loob / Gratitude
o Partiality o Recognizing and returning of favor
o Oppression 3. Hiya or Kahihiyan / Sense of Shame
o Honor or reputation
BASIC UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUES 4. Amor Propio
o Happiness o Self-esteem or self-respect
o Peace o Pride
o Freedom o Losing faces (walang mukhang maihaharap)
 o
FILIPINO TRAITS – distinguishing feature or character
o Hospitality
o Close Family Ties
o Respect for Elders

FILIPINO SOCIAL VALUE - maintain harmony