TOPIC: TINTRODUCTION TO ETHICS - rules by society

@ ETHICS - guide in behavior

- Derived from the Greek word ethos - what is right or wrong
meaning character, customs, or habit. @ THE ASSUMPTIONS OF ETHICS
- In ancient Greece, it was concerned 1. Man is a rational being
with the development of a virtuous and - This means that man is rational and
moral character. actions with a purpose, unlike brutes who
- Also called MORAL PHILOSOPHY, which merely act out of instinct and reflex.
affects how people make decisions and 2. Man is free
lead their lives. - Ethics assumes that man is free to act
- define as the study of the methods and according to his will and he has the
principles used to distinguish good from power to act, speak, or think if he
bad, right from wrong actions. chooses to restraints.
- Latin word “mores” @ THE OBJECTS OF ETHICS
@ MICROETHICS – Individual’s View • The Physical Object of Ethics
@ MACROETHICS – Generalized View - The doer of the act. Is not limited to a
@ USED OF ETHICS person but to organizations and
- Philosophical Ethics institutions. (SOCIAL GROUP)
- General Pattern or way of life • The Nonphysical Object of Ethics
- Set of rules of conduct or Moral Code - The action done by a moral agent, are
@ Ethics covers the following dilemmas: called the Nonphysical object of ethics.
- How to live a good life @ GENERAL FORM OF ACT
- Rights and responsibilities 1. Acts of Man
- Language of right and wrong - These acts typically don't make
- Moral decisions (what is good and bad) intentional choices and don't take into
@ CORE AREA OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY account ethical factors.
VALUE THEORY - There are two distinct categories of
- What is good life human actions that fall under the
- What is worth pursuing for his own sake concept of "Acts of a Man": involuntary
- How do we improve our lot in life and voluntary natural acts
NORMATIVE ETHICS *Involuntary Natural Acts
- What are our fundamental moral duties -happen automatically and instinctively
- Which character traits count as virtues, without conscious control
which as vices, and why - Ex. Breathing, yawning, and heartbeats
- Who should be our role models *Voluntary Natural Acts
- Do the end always justify the means, or - actions that are performed consciously and
are there certain types of action that intentionally as part of our daily activities
should never be done under any - Ex. Taking a bath, sleeping, and combing your
circumstances hair
METAETHICS 2. Human Acts
- Status of moral claims and advice - These actions are characterized by
- Gain moral wisdom being purposeful, intentional, and
- Do we always have good reason to do voluntary, and are subject to human
our moral duty? values and judgments.
@ MORALITY - It can be further divided into two
- understand morality by contrasting its categories: moral or immoral.
principles with those that govern law, *Moral or Ethical Acts
etiquette, self-interest, and tradition. - Acts that align with moral or ethical standards
@ FORMS OF ETHICAL ANALYSIS - Courses of action for moral situations
DESCRIPTIVE ETHICS where clear answers are lacking.
- It aims to reveal the ethical values 2. THEORETICAL ETHICS
embraced by a specific community, - study of the worth of human actions and
societal faction, or social institution. conduct and the meaning of ethical
NORMATIVE ETHICS concepts such as good, right, etc.
- A perspective that goes beyond defining - understanding the nature
right and wrong. - concepts of good
Major Normative Ethics - understand the meaning
1. Consequentialist 3. MORAL SKEPTICISM
- Known as Teleological ethics. - Greek “skeptesthai” – to examine or to
- It suggests that the rightness or consider
wrongness of an action is based on the - encompasses a range of perspectives
results it produces. that reject or cast uncertainty on the role
2. Nonconsequential (Deontological) of reason in morality
- This implies that the ethical value of an - viewpoints may differ in their rejection or
action is determined by its inherent doubt of moral knowledge
nature, intentions, adherence to - Ex. Religion
established rules or principles, rather @ PERSONAL ETHICS
than the outcome it yields. - Personal ethics pertains to an individual's
- LIE DETECTOR convictions regarding ethical and
3. Authoritarian unethical, and it serves as a compass for
- This relies on authority and force to decision-making in personal context.
decide what is right, wrong, good, or @ SOCIAL ETHICS
bad in terms of morality. - Social ethics involves deliberately
4. Theological contemplating the ethical aspects of
- The belief that the rightness or wrongness societal structures, systems, concerns,
of an action is determined by the will of and communities.
God is expressed through this idea. - As a whole or general
5. Legalism of Legalistic Morality WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT ETHICS?
- This relies on a set of laws to distinguish 1. THE REWARDS ARE WORTH THE EFFORT
between right and wrong - Satisfaction
6. Ethical Egoism - Being ethical can benefit you personally.
- An action is considered morally correct if In simpler terms, it has its rewards.
it benefits either the individual carrying - When you have a basic level of ethics,
out the action or the person on whose the situation appears more desirable.
behalf the action is being taken. - This creates a sense of contentment and
- Benefit to the doer satisfaction.
7. Situational 2. YOU'LL LEAD A LIFE FULL OF HONESTY AND
- The moral correctness of an action HONOR.
depends on the specific circumstances, - To achieve a life of integrity, adhering to
not universal moral principles. ethical principles is crucial as it guides
@ FORMS OF ETHICS one to do what is right.
1. PRACTICAL ETHICS KEY ASPECTS OF INTEGRITY
- Called Moral Philosophy or Applied @ INTERNAL
Ethics - Internal integrity refers to the state of
- Focuses on answering matter of fact completeness and wholeness that a
questions person should possess.
@ EXTERNAL impacts others, identifying possible
- External integrity means ensuring that the courses of action, and determining the
principles, character traits, or behaviors consequences of each potential
that make up our preferred way of living strategy.
are morally sound. - HOW MAKAKAAFFECT SA OTHERS
2. MORAL JUDGEMENT
TOPIC: ETHICS “MORAL DILEMMA” - make judgments about what is the right
@ DILEMMA or wrong thing to do in this specific
- is a situation in which a difficult choice context.
must be made between two or more 3. MORAL MOTIVATION
alternatives, especially equally - decision makers must be motivated to
undesirable ones. follow through on their choices.
@ MORAL DILEMMA - MOTIVATED DECISION
- it's a situation in which a person faces 4. MORAL CHARACTER
conflicting moral principles, making it - Moral agents must overcome active
challenging to make a morally justifiable opposition, cope with fatigue, resist
choice. distractions, and develop sophisticated
Note that moral dilemmas: strategies for reaching their goals.
• ARE CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO OR MORE - ACT AS KUNG ANO ANG TAMA
MORAL VALUES OR PRINCIPLES (SAD Model (Singer, 2011))
• HAVE NO CLEAR RIGHT OR WRONG - Situational definition
CHOICE - Analysis of the situation, application of
• ARE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT moral theories
CONSEQUENCES - Decision or ethical judgement
@ FACTORS AFFECTING MORAL DILEMMA (Double Effect)
1. CULTURAL BACKGROUND There is a morally relevant difference between
2. PERSONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS an "intended" consequence of an act and one
3. SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS that is foreseen by the actor but not calculated
4. SITUATIONAL FACTORS to achieve their motive. If an action has
@ APPROACHES BASED ON ETHICAL THEORIES IN foreseeable harmful effects that are practically
RESOLVING MORAL DILEMMA: inseparable from the good effect, it is justifiable
1. UTILITARIAN APPROACH if the following are true:
- Maximizing overall happiness - The nature of the act is itself good, or at
- KAHIT MALI BASTA MASAYA least morally neutral.
2. DEONTOLOGICAL APPROACH - The agent intends the good effect and
- Following moral rules or duties does not intend the bad effect, either to
3. VIRTUE ETHICS APPROACH the good or as an end in itself.
- Acting in line with virtuous character - The good effect outweighs the bad
traits effect in circumstances sufficiently grave
- HONESTY to justify causing the bad effect and the
4. ETHICAL PLURALISM agent exercises due diligence to
- Considering multiple ethical principles minimize the harm.
@ ETHICAL DECISION – MAKING FRAMEWORKS • NATURE OF GOOD
(The Four Component Model (Rest. 1983)) @ IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING MORAL DILEMMAS
1. MORAL SENSITIVITY 1. Ethical Awareness
- is the recognition that an ethical 2. Decision-Making Skills
problem exists. Such recognition requires 3. Moral Development
being aware of how our behavior 4. Ethical Discussions
 5. Conflict Resolution - Ethnocentrism involves judging or
6. Professional Ethics evaluating another culture based on
7. Moral Integrity one's own cultural norms.
8. Cultural Awareness @ FILIPINO CULTURE
9. Enhanced Empathy - Filipino culture is characterized by
10. Ethical Leadership positive qualities like hospitality, respect
11. Preventing Ethical Lapses for family, and resilience.
12. Moral Responsibility @ FREEDOM AS THE FOUNDATION OF MORAL
@ THREE LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMAS ACTS
1. PERSONAL DILEMMAS • FREEDOM
- Moral quandaries that individuals face - defined as the act of being able to do
and resolve on a personal level. These something or anything without
dilemmas often stem from conflicting hindrances, impediments, or restrictions.
values, obligations, or choices in one's But it doesn’t mean that is not bounded
own life. by rules.
2. ORGANIZED DILEMMAS • FREE WILL
- Arise within social organizations, such as - the idea that we are able to have some
businesses, medical institutions, and the choices on how we act and assumes
public sector. These dilemmas are often that we are free to choose out behavior.
complex because they involve ethical @ HUMAN ACTS VS ACTS OF HUMAN
decisions made by the organization or its • HUMAN ACTS
members. - actions done intentionally, free and
- Ex. HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION, deliberate of a person.
BUSINESS, AND PUBLIC SECTOR • ACTS OF HUMAN
3. STRUCTURAL DILEMMAS - are natural involuntary actions that are
- Are broader ethical issues that extend done without utilizing reason.
beyond individual organizations and @ DEONTOLOGICAL THEORY
affect entire networks or systems. These Deontological ethics, in philosophy, ethical
dilemmas often require collective theories that place special emphasis on the
decision-making and systemic change. relationship between duty and the morality of
- Ex. INCOME INEQUALITY AND human actions. The term deontology is derived
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY from the Greek deon, “duty,” and logos,
@ FREEDOM “science.”
- Freedom is the fundamental ability to @ TELEOLOGICAL ETHICS
act, speak, and think without restraint. Also called consequentialist ethics or
@ MORAL ACT consequentialism) holds that the basic
- A moral act is an action that we standard of morality is precisely the value of
consciously choose to take, driven by our what an action brings into being.
reasoning and will. @ IMMANUEL KANT
@ CULTURE - Kant held that nothing is good without
- Culture encompasses a wide range of qualification except a good will, and a
aspects in our lives, including religion, good will is one that wills to act in accord
food, language, and customs. with the moral law and out of respect for
@ CULTURE RELATIVISM that law rather than out of natural
- Cultural relativism is the idea of inclinations.
understanding and not judging a culture - “Act only on that maxim through which
by one's own standards. you can at the same time will that it
@ ETHNOCENTRISM should become a universal law.”
 - “So act that you treat humanity in your 5. It is arrogant for us to judge other
own person and in the person of cultures. We should always be tolerant of
everyone else always at the same time them.
as an end and never merely as means.” @ IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING CULTURE
• Fosters respect and tolerance;
• Helps enhance communication;
1. “Any possible act has many sides to it
• Promotes cultural awareness (cultural
which are relevant to its rightness or
• sensitivity);
wrongness.”
• Facilitates interactions and relationships;
2. “Forming a judgment on the totality of its • Fosters inclusivity; and
nature.” • Enriches personal growth
3. ‘Good is not because of what it causes, @ CULTURE
accomplishes, usefulness, or purpose, - as the set of customary beliefs, social
but it is good of itself’ norms, and material attributes that
@ JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS distinguish a racial, religious, or social
- Giving each person what he or she community.
deserves @ ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
1. Language
TOPIC: CULTURAL RELATIVISM - primary means for a cultural group to
communicate, encompassing both
@ CULTURAL RELATIVISM
verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Cultural relativism refers to the idea that
Verbal communication refers to the use of
the values, knowledge, and behavior of
spoken and written words, which is the most
people must be understood within their common form of communication.
own cultural context; that is, standards, Non-verbal communication includes gestures,
behaviors, norms, and values within the body language, and even symbols.
culture and not by anything outside. 2. Values and Beliefs
“Every Moral Standard is shaped by the specific - Most crucial elements of culture
culture it belongs to” – William Graham Summer - Values are a set of standards used to
This perspective, as articulated by sociologist judge what is good or bad.
William Graham Sumner, suggests that what is - Beliefs encompass the things that
considered "right" is determined by ancestral people hold to be true and can be
traditions and customs. It is not something shared as a group or personal.
3. Norms and Customs
external to these traditions but rather
- Customs refer to the traditional practices
embedded within them.
and rituals that are unique to a culture
@ CULTURAL RELATIVISTS EMPHASIZE THE and are passed onto the next
ASSUMPTIONS: generation.
1. Different societies have different moral - Norms are the accepted rules of
codes. behavior that determine how to resolve
2. The moral code of a society determines conflicts and dictate appropriate
what is right within that society; so, if a behavior within a cultural group. Norms
society says that a certain action is right, can be either formal or informal.
then that action is right, at least in that 4. Symbols and Rituals
society. - as means for individuals belonging to a
3. There is no objective standard that can group to express their shared beliefs,
be used to judge one society’s code as values, and customs, thereby aiding in
better than another’s. There are no moral creating a sense of community and
truths that always hold for all people. belonging.
4. The moral code of our own society has - Symbols are objects or actions that carry
no special status; it is but one among meanings.
many.
 - Rituals refer to established procedures adhere to different cultures and practices. Let's
and ceremonies performed for a specific consider a man as a purely biological being.
purpose. This suggests that every action of a man should
5. Artifacts be based solely on reproduction and survival.
- Artifacts are objects that serve as bridges
connecting the past and the present. @ DUAL PURPOSE OF MORALITY
They function as records of how our 1. Survival: Morality is artificially constructed
ancestors lived during their time. for humans to harmonize with one
@ CULTURAL VARIATION ACROSS SOCIETIES another and maintain survival by
1. Geography minimizing moral conflicts
- role in shaping one's culture. Our world 2. Essence: Morality is established by
consists of diverse types of environments, humans to live life based on principles,
and people living in a particular not just a biological cycle.
environment adapt to the best ways of *Culture is one of the major extrinsic properties
utilizing the natural resources abundant that shapes the moral behavior of humans.
in that area.
2. History Four important ways culture defines our moral
- have a profound impact on cultural behavior:
practices.
1. Norms: This simply defines what is
3. Religious and Spiritual Diversity
- Different cultural groups often adhere to considered "normal" within a particular
different religions, each of which comes culture.
with its own set of beliefs, values, rituals, 2. Socialization: This involves how culture
and ceremonies. values our interpersonal relationships
4. Contact with other Culture within society, such as family, friends,
- When one cultural group encounters elders, and acquaintances.
another, they can indeed influence 3. Cultural Change: Even though certain
each other, often driven by trade in moral virtues are inherent in cultural
goods and specialties unique to their practices, the importance given to these
respective cultures. This phenomenon is virtues by those practicing them can
known as cultural diffusion change over time, leading to variations
@ EXAMPLE OF CULTURAL VARIATION
in how culture influences the
1. Language
perspectives of different generations.
- The word “puto” (food in PH while in
4. Tolerance: In most cases, our culture
Spanish it is offensive)
informs us about which behaviors are
2. Values and Beliefs
tolerable and which ones are to be
- Religions
condemned. There will be instances
3. Norms and Customs
when people from outside one's culture
- Greetings “shake hands” (PH) “kiss on
behave differently and engage in
cheeks” (others)
actions not necessarily considered
4. Symbols and Rituals
"right." Culture then dictates the extent to
- “flags” , “ burial ceremony”
which such "wrong" behaviors are
5. Artifacts
tolerable.
- “ bahay kubo”
@ HOW CULTURE DEFINES MORAL BEHAVIOR @ PRINCIPLE OF DEONTOLOGY BY IMMANUEL
"Why do we need to act morally, considering KANT
that the end result of every interaction we have,
and our lives is, by definition, death?" We find that determining whether an act is
-Arthur Harbert Asuncion morally right or wrong can be done by
This quote, regardless of its nihilistic context, applying the principle of universality. This
holds value in terms of explaining how humans essentially means that when an act is
 hypothetically applied or projected on a - Cultural relativism helps in the
universal basis, followed by virtually preservation of cultural heritage sites,
everyone in the universe, the moral value of artifacts, and practices.
this act depends on whether the result of @ DANGERS OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
that universal application reflects goodness A. MORAL AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES
or badness. • Dilemma in Cultural Practices
@ ADVANTAGES OF RECOGNIZING CULTURAL • Human Right Violation
DIFFERENCES - Early Child Marriage
- Female Genital Mutilation
A. PROMOTING CULTURAL UNDERSTADING - Corporal Punishment
- “There is no objective standard that can - Scarification
be used to judge one society’s code as - Honor Killing
better than another’s.” B. CULTURAL RELATIVISM VS. UNIVERSAL ETHICS
- Cultures are diverse in nature; societies • The Debate on Universal Human Rights
have different ideas, traditions, and - Questioning whether human rights are
practices. universal is a philosophical debate that
- Cultural beliefs, practices, and values depends on fundamental interpretations
should be understood and evaluated of what is right and, indeed, to what
within the context of their own culture, extent rights are accepted and enjoyed
rather than setting a standard based on by all.
what you believe is right and accepted.
• Balancing Cultural Respect and Moral
1. Fostering Empathy and Tolerance
Principles
- Exposure to different cultures allows us to
understand the experiences, challenges, - To understand deeper the cultures in
and values of the people having diverse question, respecting their customs and
backgrounds. beliefs but can still discern when to
2. Reducing Stereotypes and Prejudices intervene especially when practices in
- People are advised to step into the shoes question transgress universal values like
of individuals from different cultural human rights and such.
backgrounds so you could understand C. CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND CULTURAL
where they’re coming from. IMPERIALISM
B. ENHANCING GLOBAL COMMUNICATION • The Risk of Imposing One Culture’s
1. Facilitating Cross-Cultural Interactions Values
- Exposure to different cultures allows us to - Loss of culture, since another culture is
understand the experiences, challenges,
being imposed on an existing culture,
and values of people having diverse
there is a big possibility that the existing
backgrounds.
culture will be dissolved and get
2. Promoting Peace and Cooperation
- Understanding that one culture may devoured by the imposed culture.
have different communication and • Cultural Appropriation and
conflict resolution styles prevent commodification
misunderstanding and disputes. - Exploitation of the cultural practices
C. PRESERVING CULTURAL DIVERSITY without prior and proper knowledge
1. Valuing Indigenous Knowledge and about it. Using it for self-gain and
Traditions satisfaction, done without proper
- Respecting cultural diversity is crucial for permission, understanding and respect.
the preservation of indigenous
knowledge and traditions as it @ CONCLUSION
discourages attempts to assimilate or
A. Recap of Cultural Relativism and Culture's
dominate one culture over another.
Role in Morality
1. Safeguarding Cultural Heritage
 A philosophical and anthropological idea community, these two perspectives must be
known as "cultural relativism" contends that balanced.
moral and ethical principles as well as the
traditions and practices of a particular culture
should be understood and assessed within the
context of that culture rather than being
evaluated by external or universal standards. It
basically asserts that there isn't a single,
universally applicable morality that can be
applied to all civilizations. Rather, what is
deemed morally right or evil depends on the
cultural setting in which it takes place. People
are urged by cultural relativism to approach
other cultures with an open mind, suspend
judgment, and endeavor to comprehend their
beliefs and customs in their own context.
A society's morals are fundamentally shaped
by its culture. It affects how moral principles,
ethical standards, and codes of conduct are
developed and how they are applied to
communities and people. Keyways that culture
affects morality include the following:
1. Cultural Norms
2. Values and Beliefs
3. Socialization
4. Ethical Dilemmas
5. Globalization

B. Emphasizing the Importance of Cultural

Sensitivity
Stressing the value of cultural sensitivity includes
several essential components. Developing
cultural sensitivity is frequently summed up by
the acronym PERSON – we are the key in itself.
• P – Personal Growth
• E - Effective Communication
• R – Respect for Diversity
• S - Stereotype Awareness
• O – Objective Evaluation
• N – Nurturing Inclusivity

C. Encouraging a Balanced Approach to

Cultural Relativism and Ethical Universals
We may successfully negotiate the challenging
moral terrain of our globalized society by
encouraging a balanced view of cultural
relativism and ethical universals. As it recognizes
and values the richness of cultural variation, it
encourages empathy, respect for difference,
and a dedication to preserving universal
principles of human dignity. For the sake of
building a more inclusive and peaceful global