MODULE 5: MORAL CATEGORIES, STANDARDS, ISSUE, DILEMMAS MORAL STANDARD | CHARACTERISTICS

MORAL CATEGORIES 1. Moral standards deal with matters that can seriously harm or benefit human beings.
2. The validity of moral standards depends on the sufficiency of the reasons that support
● are classifications used to evaluate actions and decisions based on their ethical and justify them.
implications. 3. Moral standards are to be preferred over other values and over self-interest.
4. Moral standards are based on impartial or unbiased considerations (universalizable).
PRIMARY MORAL CATEGORIES 5. Moral standards are associated with special—usually strong—emotions (such as guilt,
shame, remorse, and praise).
Permissible Morally acceptable actions that are allowed but not required
MORAL ISSUE
Forbidden Actions that are morally wrong and should not be done.
● A moral issue or a moral problem is any case, situation, condition, or
Obligatory Actions that are morally required, and failing to do them is considered circumstance that deals with a potential of an actual violation of a moral
wrong. standard.

RULES Moral Violations Situations where a clear moral standard is violated.

Ex: Planned and intentional killing of another person
● are everywhere they exist to give order and maintain peace.
Moral Conflicts Situations where there are conflicting moral claims, but not all of
them are equally strong.
MORAL STANDARD
Ex: Killing someone as self defense

● a norm which a society or an individual has regarding which actions are morally Moral Dilemmas Facing conflicting moral principles, making it hard to choose an
right and which actions are morally wrong. action without violating some moral standard.
● The rightness and wrongness of an act make us, willingly or unwillingly, Ex: Deciding whether to assist in ending the life of a terminally ill
confront the morality of our decisions. patient who is in severe pain
● It is significant, therefore, that we analyze carefully, not only the motive of our
actions but to be certain that our actions are indeed keeping up with the ethical MORAL DILEMMA
values that we have.
● situations where an individual faces difficulty choosing between alternatives
MORAL STANDARD | EXAMPLES because each option involves conflicting moral principles, and any choice will
result in compromising or violating one of those principles.
Honesty This moral standard acts as a rule that dictates one should tell the
truth and avoid deceit. MORAL DILEMMA | BASIC TYPES

Respect This standard acts as a rule by requiring individuals to treat others

with dignity and consider their rights and opinions. Obligatory situations where people are obligated to perform two (or more)
Moral Dilemma actions, but they can only perform one. Fulfilling one obligation
inevitably leads to the violation of another.
Justice Justice as a moral standard functions as a rule that demands fairness
and equality inhow people are treated and how decisions are made.
Prohibitive situations where people are prohibited from performing two (or
Moral Dilemma more) actions, but they must choose to perform one of them. Any
Compassion Compassion is a moral rule that urges people to be kind and
choice will result in committing a morally wrong action.
empathetic towards others, especially those who are suffering or in
need.
MORAL DILEMMA | LEVELS Pero hindi ibig sabihin na sa Moral development, parang isang biglaang
pangyayari lang. This development is a lifelong process that is influenced by various
factors, which shape how one interprets and responds to moral challenges.
Individual involves moral dilemmas faced by individuals when their personal
ethical standards conflict with those of others

Organizational the moral dilemma occurs within an organization where the ethical
standards of the organization itself may be in conflict with those of
its leaders, policies, or practices. FACTORS AFFECTING MORAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Systematic arise from broader societal, political, or economic systems affecting 1. FAMILY
the ethical practices of organizations or individuals.
● The family plays a crucial role in the formation of someone’s moral character.
Biological or not, the family that one considers to have has an immense impact.
Modern times also affect the composition of the family we traditionally known to
MODULE 6: MORAL DEVELOPMENT be. There are factors affecting the values a parent could teach a child.
● These factors are: socioeconomic status, culture, age, gender, religion, and
MORAL AGENT education.
● The one who can guide his or her behavior by means of moral reasoning and so
someone who is fit for praise or blame. 2. BIOLOGICAL CONSTITUTION
● We are moral agents if we fit these characteristics. ● Biological factors such as age, sex, and gender, may also have an impact on
the value formation.
MORAL AGENT | CHARACTERISTICS ● It is supposed that as one grows older, the moral character one has should also
● is concerned impartially with the interests of everyone affected by what he or grow and improve.
she does ● However, this is not always the case. One’s progress in moral development is
● carefully sifts facts and examines their implications also hinged to other factors.
● accepts principles of conduct only after scrutinizing them to make sure they are ● One’s sex or gender would have more impact once it combines with the other
sound factors that could shape one's moral Character.
● who is willing to “listen to reason” even when it means that earlier convictions
may have to be revised 3. PEER
● is willing to act on the results of this deliberation ● Peers, friends, classmates, and colleagues are also influencers in our moral
character. Parents and teenagers are to be aware that in adolescent years,
MORAL DEVELOPMENT teens are drawn to spending more time with peers than family.
● The time spent with peers will expose them to others perspective and practices.
● Moral development refers to the process by which an individual’s character and This would test their existing set of morals. Thus, the foundation of their moral
sense of morality are formed and refined over time. character formed in the family should be strong.
● Moral character is formed by one’s actions. The habits, actions, and emotional ● “Tell me who your friends are, I tell you who you are.”
responses of the person of good character all are united and directed toward
the moral and the good. SCHOOL
● It is not just about acquiring knowledge of what is right or wrong, but about
cultivating habits, actions, and emotional responses that align with moral and ● Most of person’s life before childhood is commonly spent in school. In this span
ethical principles. of time, the exposure of the students come from the school, teachers,
classmates, lessons in class, and their peers.
Kagaya ng sinabi ni Ferriols, ang pilosopiya ay ginagawa. Ganun din sa ● The school and its teachers could enhance the student’s moral character if they
pagiging mabuti, hindi lang basta ina-aral kung paano maging mabuti, inilalagay natin ito know how and if they are intentional about it. More and more schools and
sa gawa. Kapag meron tayong kilala na biglang bumati, madalas nating nasasabi, “Wow! workplace settings expect a student applicant to be of good character so
Character Development!” teaching how to develop one is vital.
● UA: Byasa, Maganaka, Mayap
 At this stage of moral development, people begin to consider society as a whole
COMMUNITY when making judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and order by following the
rules, doing one’s duty and respecting authority.
● To be part of a community means to also share their beliefs and/or practice their
traditions or culture. A community could pertain to locality, neighborhood, tow,
city, or even a nation.
● African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” LEVEL 3 – POST- CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

LAWRENCE KOHLBERG’S THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights
● Born October 25, 1927 At this stage, people begin to account for the differing values, opinions and
● Grew up in Bronxville, New York beliefs of other people. Rules of law are important for maintaining a society, but
● Died, January 19, 1987 members of the society should agree upon these standards.
● Professor of education and Social Psychology
● Made books about Moral Development and Reasoning STAGE 6: Universal Principles
Universal Principles Kolhberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based upon
Kohlberg’ s theory of moral development is a theory that focuses on how universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. At this stage, people follow these
children develop morality and moral reasoning. Kohlberg’s theory suggests that moral internalized principles of justice, even if they conflict with laws and rules.
development occurs in a series of six stages. The theory also suggests that moral logic is
primarily focused on seeking and maintaining justice.

Kohlberg’s theory is broken down into three primary levels. At each level of
moral development, there are two stages. Similar to how Jean Piaget believed that not all
people reach the highest levels of cognitive development, Kohlberg believed not
everyone progresses to the highest stages of moral development.

LEVEL 1 – PRE- CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

STAGE 1: Obedience and Punishment

The physical consequences of an action determine its goodness or badness
regardless of the value of these consequences. Avoidance of punishment are regarded
as values in their own rights

STAGE 2: Naively Egotistical

At this stage of moral development, children account for individual points of
view and judge actions based on how they serve individual needs. Reciprocity is
possible, but only if it serves one's own interests.

LEVEL 2 – CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

STAGE 3: Interpersonal Relationship

Often referred to as the “good boy-good girl” orientation, this stage of moral
development is focused on living up to social expectations and roles. There is an
emphasis on conformity, being “nice,” and consideration of how choices influence
relationships.

STAGE 4: Maintaining Social Order