PHILO 101

LESSON 5
 Is it universally
"right" or "wrong"?
 What is Culture?
• derived from the latin word
“cultura” or “cultus” which means
care or cultivation
• implies that every human being is a
potential member of his own social
group
 Culture is that complex whole
which includes knowledge, beliefs,
law, art, moral, custom, and other
capabilities and habits acquired as
a member of society
THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN MORAL DEVELOPMENT
• Culture is always social and communal
- Culture is shared by a group of people, not
just one person.

• Culture defines the normative principles

- Culture sets rules about what is right or
wrong in society.
THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN MORAL DEVELOPMENT
•Culture as best exemplified in the experience of
the people
- Culture is seen in people’s daily lives,
traditions, and stories.
• Culture helps in generating the character and
identity of its people
- Culture shapes how people behave, think, and
see themselves.
THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN MORAL DEVELOPMENT

• Culture identifies the authorities or the

governing individuals or group
- Culture influences leadership and who
holds power in society.
DYNAMICS OF CULTURE
Cross- cultural relationship is the idea
that people from different cultures can
have relationships that acknowledge
respect and begin to understand each
other’s diverse lives
 People with different backgrounds can
help each other see possibilities that they
never thought were there because of
limitations, or cultural proscriptions
posed by their own traditions.
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM
• the ability to understand a culture on its own
terms and not to make judgements using the
standards of one’s own culture
• promote understanding of cultural practices that are
not typically part of one’s own culture
• this perspective leads to the view that no culture is
superior than other culture
ADVANTAGES OF
CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
• A system which promotes cooperation
- encourages understanding and tolerance,
making it easier for people to work together
peacefully
• It creates a society where equality is
possible
- promotes fairness and prevents discrimination
based on cultural differences
• People can pursue a genuine interest
- free to follow their own cultural practices and
beliefs without fear of judgment or forced conformity
• Respect is encouraged in a system of
cultural relativism
- fosters mutual respect by teaching people to
appreciate and accept the diversity of cultures around
them
• It preserves human culture
- helps protect and maintain different cultures by
allowing them to exist and thrive without interference
or forced change
• Cultural relativism creates a society
without judgement
- helps people respect and understand other
cultures without thinking one is better than the other
• Moral relativism can be excluded from
cultural relativism
- Cultural relativism focuses on understanding cultures,
while moral relativism is about individual beliefs, so they
don't have to be mixed.
• We can create personal moral codes based on
societal standards with ease
- allows people to follow the values of their own
society, making it easier to form personal moral beliefs
• It stops cultural conditioning
- people can avoid blindly following
their own culture’s rules and be more
open to learning about others
DISADVANTAGES OF
CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
• It creates a system that is fueled by
personal bias
- can lead people to justify harmful practices
because they see them as part of another culture
• It would create chaos
- could lead to confusion and disorder, as there
would be no universal rules or standards to guide
behavior
• It is an idea that is based on the perfection of
humanity
- assumes that all cultures are equally perfect, which
isn't always true, as some practices may harm individuals
or groups
• It could promote a lack of diversity
- If we accept every cultural practice as equally valid,
it might discourage people from questioning harmful
traditions
• It draws people away from one another
- When each culture is viewed as separate and
unchangeable, it can create barriers and prevent
people from connecting or learning from each other
• It could limit moral progress
- may stop people from challenging harmful
practices or making moral improvements
• It could limit humanity’s progress
- If cultural relativism prevents critical thinking
about better ways of living, it could hinder overall
social and technological progress
• Cultural relativism can turn perceptions
into truth
- can make subjective views seem like objective
truths, leading to misunderstandings and false beliefs
about other cultures
 THE FILIPINO WAY
Our culture is a big
reflection of our great
and complex history
FILIPINO CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
• Having Close family ties • Society
• The Bayanihan • Christmas
• Courtship • Fiestas
• Religion • Living with Parents
• Superstition
• Marriage and Wedding Custom
• Death
HAVING CLOSE FAMILY TIES

Family takes care of

each other and is taught
to be loyal to family
and elders by simply
obeying their
authorities
 The Bayanihan

The spirit of
communal unity or
effort to achieve a
particular objective
COURTSHIP
Filipinos are very
romantic when it comes
to heart affairs.
Serenading or Harana is
one of the most popular
forms of courtship
 RELIGION
Have a deep faith and
belief when it comes to
religion. Filipinos are
very devoted to religions
that sometimes many take
risk of their lives
 SUPERSTITION
These beliefs have come from
the different sayings and
beliefs of our ancestors that
aim to prevent danger from
happening or to make a
person refrain from doing
something in particular
MARRIAGE AND WEDDING CUSTOMS
Marriage is a sacred union
of man and woman after a
period of courtship and
engagement. The eternal
quality of dedication to
God pervades a truly
sacred marriage
 DEATH
One of the most important
occasions in family life.
Time to pay respect and
honor the relationship to
the deceased, long lost
relatives, friends, and even
relatives working abroad are
reunited
SOCIETY
Philippines is a combined
society, both singular and
plural form. Singular as
one nation and plural in a
way that is fragmented
geographically and
culturally.
 CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Considered as one of
the biggest holidays in
the country. Earned the
distinction of
celebrating the world’s
longest Christmas
season
FIESTAS
Every town in the
Philippines has a fiesta of
its own. Fiestas are held
to celebrate a patron
saint, and their blessings
 LIVING WITH PARENTS
Filipinos highly value the
presence of family more
than anything. Many
Filipinos continue living
with parents until they
get married
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FILIPINO
CULTURE
• The Filipino people are very resilient
• Filipinos take pride in their families
• Filipinos are very religious
• Filipinos are very respectful
• Filipinos help one another
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FILIPINO
CULTURE
• Filipinos value traditions and culture
• Filipinos have the longest Christmas
celebration
• Filipinos love art and architecture
• Filipinos are hospitable people
 FILIPINO FAMILY VALUE
• Paggalang (Respect)
• Pakikisama (Helping others)
• Utang na Loob (Debt of Gratitude)
• Pagpapahalaga sa Pamilya (Prioritizing Family)
• Hiya (Shame)
• Damayan System
• Compassionate
• Fun-loving Trait
Paggalang (Respect)
To be respectful towards
other people

• Saying po and opo

• Kissing their hands
• Calling kuya and ate
 Pakikisama (Helping others)

Getting along with other

people. Fosters general
cooperation and
performing good or
helpful deeds
 Utang na Loob (Debt of Gratitude)
To pay your debt with
gratitude. There is usually
a system of obligation
and it imparts a sense of
duty and responsibility to
repay the favors done to
them.
Pagpapahalaga sa Pamilya (Prioritizing Family)

Putting importance on
your family. A person
will place a high regard
on his/her family and
prioritize that before
anything else
 Hiya (Shame)
Controls social behaviors
and interactions of a
Filipino. A value that
drives Filipino to be
obedient and respectful
to others
Damayan System

Extending sympathy for

people who lost their
loved ones.
 Compassionate

Being sympathetic to
others even the person is
a stranger.
Fun- loving Trait
A trait that makes them
unique that even in times
of calamities and other
challenges in life, they
always have something
to be happy about
 SOCIAL VALUES OF FILIPINO
• High regard for amor proprio (Self-esteem)
• Smooth interpersonal relationships
• Personal alliance system
• The compadre system
• Utang na loob
• Suki relationship
• Friendship
High regard for amor proprio (Self-esteem)
Refers to a strong sense of
dignity, self-worth, and
personal pride. People with
high amor propio strive to
maintain their honor and
avoid situations that might
bring shame or
embarrassment.
Smooth interpersonal relationships

The nature of
interaction that occurs
between two or more
people
 Personal alliance system
A network of relationships
built on mutual trust, loyalty,
and obligation. It is commonly
found in societies where
personal connections and social
ties influence decision-making,
power structures, and
cooperation.
The compadre system

Filipino kinship network

where godparents and
parents form strong
social and moral bonds
 Utang na Loob
To pay your debt with
gratitude. There is usually
a system of obligation
and it imparts a sense of
duty and responsibility to
repay the favors done to
them.
 Suki relationship
May develop between two
people who agree to
become regular customer
and supplier. Filipinos
regularly buy in return to
a reduced prices. They
receive a special treatment
in return for their patronage
Friendship
A close and meaningful bond
between people. True
friendship involves being
there for each other through
good times and bad, sharing
joys and sorrows, and offering
kindness without expecting
anything in return.
WEAKNESS OF FILIPINO CHARACTER
• Passivity and lack of initiative
• Colonial mentality
• Kanya- kanya syndrome
• Extreme personalism
• Extreme family centeredness
• Lack of discipline
• Lack of self- analysis and reflection
• Ningas cogon
• Gaya- gaya attitude
Passivity and lack of initiative

Acceptance of what
happens without response
or resistance. Has a strong
reliance on other people
 Colonial mentality

where people view foreign

influences, particularly
those from former colonial
powers, as superior to their
own indigenous or national
identity.
Kanya- kanya syndrome
Filipino trait where people
prioritize their own interests
over the community. It leads
to selfishness, lack of
teamwork, and division,
making it harder for people to
work together for a common
goal.
 Extreme personalism
People take things too
personally, even in
professional or public matters.
Instead of focusing on facts or
rules, decisions and actions are
influenced by personal
relationships, emotions, or
favoritism.
Extreme family centeredness

a person prioritizes their

family over everything else,
even at the expense of
fairness, rules, or the greater
good.
 Lack of discipline

A tendency to disregard
rules, deadlines, or
responsibilities. It can lead
to habits like
procrastination,
inefficiency, and disorder
Lack of self- analysis and reflection
not taking the time to
evaluate one’s actions,
thoughts, or mistakes. This
can lead to repeated errors,
poor decision-making, and
little personal growth, as
individuals fail to learn from
their experiences.
 Ningas cogon

Filipino trait of starting

something with
enthusiasm but quickly
losing interest before
finishing it
Gaya- gaya attitude
imitate others without
thinking critically. People
with this mindset follow
trends or copy ideas just
because they are popular,
instead of being original or
considering if it truly benefits
them.
THANK YOU