Lesson 1: Cultural Relativism Lesson 2: Aristotelian Virtue Ethics

Learning Ethics systematically studies the

underlying principles of morality and
Moral virtue is the disposition to
choose good actions and passions,
Brochure relies on social consequences in order
to determine what is ethical or not.
informed by moral knowledge of several
sorts, and motivated both by a desire for
allows us to have reasonable obligation characteristic goods and by a desire to
to refrain from hurting others and live perform virtuous acts for their own sake.
By: Carmela A Sta. Clara up to standards that are reasonable and Thus, a virtuous person thinks creatively
evident based. and does not act involuntarily. His actions
emanated from a certain disposition to
Cultural relativism is the view
behave in the right manner and as a means
A summary of my that all beliefs, customs, and ethics are
between extremes of deficiency and
relative to an individual’s social
learnings from the context. The distinction of right and
excess, which are vices. Moreover,
Aristotle identifies moral virtues which
wrong is culture specific. Other
Ethics class throughout cultures might be problematic to others.
are prudence, justice, fortitude, and
temperance. Prudence or practical wisdom
Despite our varied notions of what’s
the semester
TOPICS right and wrong, it is undeniable that
is deliberating well about what is right to
do or supposed to be done regardless of
we all meet at the center. Therefore, we
Lesson 1: Culture Relativism the unprecedented events. Next is justice
need to be aware of the points of view
or the giving of what is due to the
Lesson 2: Aristotelian Virtue Ethics of all involved parties, reevaluate our
community as a whole. Another is
cultural differences, and bear in mind
fortitude. It is finding the right way to act.
Lesson 3: Confucian Ethics the welfare of the greater good. Of
A courageous person will assess the
course, we must not tolerate other
Lesson 4: Filipino Virtue Ethics situation and take the action that is
culture’s unjustified conventions in a
capable in a particular situation. Right
Lesson 5: Natural Ethics respectful manner. We must not judge
action is always at the midpoint of the
them using the standards of our own
Lesson 6: Deontological Ethics extremes. Lastly, temperance is
culture to avoid misunderstandings.
moderating one’s use of pleasurable
With this, we can promote cultural
Lesson 7: Utilitarian Ethics things and can readily give up excess
differences upholding appropriate
things without being pained by
Lesson 8: Feminist Ethics principles rather than mere
abstinence. A temperate man knows how
conventions.
Lesson 9: Discourse Ethics to control himself, one whose passion
does not prevail over reason, will and
Lesson 10: Recognition Ethics heart. These virtues are exhibited by a
virtuous person.
Lesson 3: Confucian Ethics Lesson 4: Filipino Virtue Ethics Lesson 5: Natural Ethics
Confucian ethics as role ethics An act is considered to  The central theme of natural law
emphasizes that morality is based on project kagandahang loob if it is done out of ethics is “‘good is to be done and pursued,
fulfillment of social roles in relation to the free will and not because of external and evil is to be avoided”. Our instinct
situation, he is in. A moral person is compulsion, positive feelings towards shows us the basic goods and reason
someone who has the ability to adapt and beneficiary and anticipation of reward. An allows us to derive the natural law from
respond on moral demands of a situation act should be initiated by the person without them. Humans do the morally right thing
where complex relationships are involved. having to be solicited by others. Since if we act in accordance with reason, and
He acts not because for some moral ends, kagandahang loob is purely derived on the the morally wrong thing if we don’t.
rather because it is the moral thing to do benefactor’s will, the latter does not have a
Eternal law is God’s plan of order
or appropriate for the situation.  right to a reciprocal treatment by the
that is imprinted in rational creatures, like
beneficiary. He should not demand for any
In order to become “junzi” or a human beings, in a special way and it is
compensation because if he does, he is
superior man, one must follow “Dao” called as Natural law. It is intrinsically
negating one of the conditions necessary for
which is consists of four cardinal virtues, knowable to human beings. Moreover,
the establishment of the debt of good will.
the yi, chih, li and ren. Yi which is God created the world in a goal-driven
The beneficiary may feel to have the
translated as "righteousness" is the ability manner where everything is following its
obligation to repay the benefactor’s
to recognize what is right and good or strict laws to fulfill its purpose. We,
kagandahan ng loob so he may impose utang
being in accordance with a rational path humans, are moving to our telos. We then
na loob to the benefactor to show his
and moral principles. Next is “chih” or move towards our telos by pursuing what
gratitude. In order to reciprocate the
wisdom means to know human beings. is good and avoiding what is evil which is
benefactor’s kagandahang loob, the
The other virtue is “li” which simply the primary precepts of natural law. 
beneficiary should return the favor with
means good manner and right conduct or another kagandahang loob while observing Aquinas viewed conscience as our
acting in accordance with conventionally justice and fairness at the same time. He practical intelligence at work, in a
recognized right behavior. Last virtue is should give what is due to his benefactor concrete situation while natural law is the
the “ren” or translated as humanness or without depriving the people that may be man’s cognition of eternal law.
benevolence. These four cardinal virtues affected in his repayment of utang na loob. Conscience is basically the application of
are intimately connected. Chih is Thus, repaying of debt of good will coexists moral principles
knowledge of right and wrong, li is the with justice. Only a person can be entitled to from synderesis or practical reason to our
action which has been deemed appropriate possess such virtues if he indeed practices it individual human activities. A man has
by society, yi is the action that is indeed out of good will and taking interpersonal freedom to choose the course of his
correct, and ren deals with relationships justice into consideration. actions and there is still a beacon that
between the agent and object of the continually pushes him to follow the
action. When all of these virtues are natural law which is so patterned after the
possessed, then one can truly be identified eternal law. This natural light implanted in
as a superior man.  his nature is the conscience. 
Lesson 6: Deontological Ethics Lesson 7: Utilitarian Ethics Lesson 8: Feminist Ethics
Categorical Imperative is Utilitarianism considers an action Ethics of care is a feminist approach
universally binding because there’s no as moral if it produces the greatest good to ethics that emphasizes interpersonal
religion involved in determining what is for the greatest number.  An action is relationships and care as a virtue.  It
morally right or wrong, only pure reason. It good in so far as it fosters happiness, and rests on the premise of non-violence and
consists of universal respect for others wrong if they promote unhappiness. In its logic is inductive, contextual, and
based on their status as rational agents. addition, two philosophers, Bentham and psychological. According to Giligan,
Moral actions are rational and immoral Mill have different views and there are three phases on how ethics of
actions are irrational. perspectives on utilitarianism. For care emerges. In the early phase or pre-
Bentham, character had nothing to do conventional stage, individuals care
There are three formulations of with the utility of an action. Everyone more for themselves than for others. In
categorical imperative. The first one is the sought pleasure and avoided pain the middle phase or conventional stage,
principle of universalizability which states regardless of personality or morality. care comes to emphasize concern for
that you are to “act only in accordance with Rather than making moral judgments, others over care for oneself. In the last
that maxim through which you can at the utilitarianism weighed acts based on their phase or post-conventional stage, ethics
same time will that it become a universal potential to produce the best for the most of care seeks a balance between care for
law” An act is permissible if you want that people. It judged neither the good nor the oneself and care for others. 
action to be universalized. The second people who benefitted. For Bentham,
formulation of the categorical imperative is utilitarianism reflected the reality of Utilitarianism focuses on
called the Formula of the End in Itself: human relationships and was enacted in consequences; deontology accentuates
“Act in such a way that you always treat the world through legislative action. rules and theories of justice highlights
humanity, whether in your own person or justice. These moral theories emphasize
in the person of any other, never simply as I have objections with this abstract principles, general duties,
a means, but always at the same time as an framework. First, it is overly permissive individual rights, and deliberative
end.” This means that we should not use a as it requires someone to violate the reasoning. Ethics of care is
person as an instrument, but instead standard of justice. We can imagine distinguished from these moral theories
recognize his/her inherent dignity and instances where a certain course of action by an emphasis on attachments, issues
value. The third formulation is autonomy. would produce great benefits for society, of self-sacrifice and consideration of
Each subject must have maxims that could but they would be clearly unjust.  Second, relationship as primary. Decisions are
be universally self-legislated.  It requires it is too demanding as it requires people sympathy-based rather than duty- or
people to recognize the right of others to to make excessive levels of sacrifice in rule-based. Dilemmas are solved
act autonomously and means that, as moral order to help others.  If the happiness of through inductive reasoning and
laws must be universalizable, what is the majority is increased enough, it can development through stages is
required of one person is required of all. justify making the minority miserable in sequential and hierarchical.
service of the rest.
LessonLesson
The
10: Recognition
9: Discourse Ethics Ethics
three spheres
Discourse ethicsof recognition
offers a are
-END-
care/love,
procedure to respect,
come up and esteem.
with aCare/
love address
universalizable norm ourthrough
singularity and cater
practical
our intimate,
and rational discourse.personal, or emotional
It examines the
validityneeds
of granted
proposed,within the familial
hypothetical
norms.relationship.
Moral actions Theareother one is respect
not created in
in which
a thought we are recognized
experiment but in practicalas part of
the universal
argumentation of the community of human
actor’s claims
which beings. 
can be Lastly,
basedesteem on is truth,
generated
when an andindividual
righteousness, sincerityrecognizes
of
his/her unique traits that enable
truthfulness. 
him/her to express his/her capacities
Thea contributing
as principle ofindividual
discourse in the
ethics society.
states that “Only those norms
can claim to be valid that meet (or
could Social
meet) with the approval
critique is what makesof all the
affected in their
struggle capacity asmoral
for recognition
participants
because we are ablediscourse
in a practical to explore
(MCCA, 66)”.perspectives
various This means and that a
understand
universalizable principle is binding
justifications of such contrasting for
all if beliefs
everyone andconsented
principlesorthat agreed
pave the
upon itwaythroughfor praxis towards is self-
deliberation. There
an articulation
realization. of ideas, discoursing
with the members and coming up with
a consensus that one is indeed a
universalizable principle.