FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 3

THE ACT
MODULE OVERVIEW

Module Outline:

A. Feelings and Moral Decision Making

1. Why they can be obstacles in making the right decisions
2. How they can help in making the right decisions

B. Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirements for Morality

1. Reason and impartiality defined
2. The 7-step moral reasoning model

C. Moral Courage
1. Why the will is as important as reason
2. Developing the will

Introduction:

Some ethicists believe that ethics is also a matter of emotion. “Feelings are seen as also
necessary in ethical judgment as they are even deemed by some as instinctive and trained response
to moral dilemmas” (De Guzman, 2018).

In this Module, “The Act” simply means the action performed by the agent (as deliberate and
free). When you perform whatever kind of action, you need to consider three important things: 1)
feelings, 2) reason and impartiality, and 3) will. You will learn in this module the role of feelings in
making the right decisions and further assent that no matter what type of moral dilemma we
encounter, our moral decisions must be based on reason and impartiality as minimum standards for
morality. Lastly, you will also learn that the “will” is as important as reason.

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. Compare responses based on reason and those based on feelings

2. Identify and analyze your feelings in personal moral experiences
3. Compare reasonable and emotional responses
4. Apply the 7-step moral reasoning model to real-life cases
5. Distinguish between knowing and actually executing a good moral decision
6. Assess your own moral behavior in terms of planning and execution in important moral
experiences

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Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

LEARNING CONTENTS (Feelings and Moral Decision Making)

Topic 1. Feelings and Moral Decision Making

Sub-Topic 1.1. Feelings can be Obstacles in Making the Right Decisions

What are feelings?

Feelings are instinctive responses to moral dilemmas. According to David Hume, “a person
gains awareness of moral good and evil by experiencing the pleasure of approval and uneasiness
of disapproval. Reason alone is insufficient to yield a judgment that something is virtuous or vicious”
(plato.standford.edu, 2018).

Feelings as obstacles in making the right decisions

Feelings can be obstacles in making the right decisions because of its three central features,
they are: 1) their non-deliberate nature, 2) their partial nature, and 3) they are capricious (Gallinero,
2018).

Sub-Topic 1.2. Feelings can Help in Making the Right Decisions

As mentioned by Gallinero, there are at least three ways that feelings help in making the
right decisions, namely: 1) it signals the need to adjust behavior, 2) it can help us learn from our
mistakes, and 3) emotional responses can be reshaped as time pass by (Gallinero, 2018).

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1.1

Self-Assessment:

Consider the following as self-assessment questions for reflection:

• How can feelings help in moral decision making?
• How can feelings be harmful in making moral decisions?
• Based on what you have learned about the role of feelings in decision-making, what is the
best approach in moral decision making?

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1.2

“Coward of the County” Song Analysis

You will be listening to the song “Coward of the County” by Kenny Rogers. After which, you will be
assigned a partner among your classmates and communicate with him/her. Compare your responses
with your partner regarding the role of feelings in the decision made in the song. Submit your Song
Analysis (one output per PARTNER – only one will submit) using the format below.

Answer the following guide questions in the analysis of the song:

• What happened to Tommy and his girlfriend, Becky?
• Describe your own feelings after listening to the song.

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Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

• Describe the feelings (and the role feelings) involved in the song. Compare your responses
with your partner regarding the role of feelings in the decision made by Tommy in the song.

GE 9 - Ethics
Names: ______________________________________
Course: _______________________

“Coward of the County” Song Analysis

1. What happened to Tommy and his girlfriend, Becky?

2. Describe your own feelings after listening to the song.

Student A’s Response: Student B’s Response:

3. Describe the feelings (and the role feelings) involved in the song. Compare your responses
with your partner regarding the role of feelings in the decision made by Tommy in the song.

Student A’s Response: Student B’s Response:

Comparison:

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Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

LEARNING CONTENTS (Reason and Impartiality)

Topic 2. Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirements for Morality

Sub-Topic 2.1. Reason and impartiality defined

What distinguishes human beings from animals is our ability to think and rationalize. The
definition “man is a rational animal” clearly implies the supremacy of humans over animals, suggesting
that we are above them. This also means that, based on our understanding of ethics, only humans
can be ethical because only humans possess rationality and act based on reason.

According to Merriam-Webster, reason is “the power of the mind to think, understand and form
judgments by a process of logic”. Furthermore, Emmanuel Kant claims that reason alone is the basis
of morality, hence, acting morally is acting rationally.

Impartiality “involves the idea that each individual’s interests and point of view are equally
important. It is the principle of justice holding that decisions ought to be based on objective criteria,
rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, etc.” (De Guzman, 2018).

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2.1

Advance Reading:

Read in advance reading material “Reason and Impartiality” by James Rachels. Make sure that
you understand what reason and impartiality are and how they are deemed important in ethics.

LEARNING CONTENTS (The Seven-Step Moral Reasoning Model)

Sub-Topic 2.2. The Seven-Step Moral Reasoning Model

Scott Rae suggested a 7-step model which can be used in making moral decisions. These
steps are: 1) gather the facts, 2) Determine the ethical issues, 3) what principles have bearing on the
case, 4) list the alternatives, 5) compare the alternatives with the principles, 6) weigh the
consequences, and 7) make a decision.

Required Reading: To learn more about the lesson, please read “Model for Making Ethical
Decisions” by Scott Rae.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2.2

Self-Reflection:

Read in advance “Model for Making Ethical Decisions” by Rae. Consider the following guide
questions after reading:

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Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

• Check real-life experiences/ cases against the 7-step model.

• Use the 7-step model to solve this case:
o “Jen and her husband Lito, along with their three young children, live as informal
settlers in a compound in Halaan city. Jen works as the stay-out house helper for Ms.
Carla, who is the administrative assistant of Mayor Balasic of Halaan city. One day,
Ms. Carla approached Jen to offer her a source for extra money. What Ms. Carla wants
Jen to do is to sign up as a ghost employee in a city hall project Ms. Carla is overseeing.
Ms. Carla tells Jen she does not have to do anything except to put here signature in
an employee contract. Ms. Carla will give Jen half of the expected Php. 8,000.00
monthly allowance for a six-month long project. Jen, who is an active member of her
local church, is now feeling conflicted. Ms. Carla wants her to sign soon. What must
Jen do?” (Gallinero, 2018)

Sharing:

Respond to the guide question provided above using the 7-step model (under “Self-Reflection”).
Prepare for sharing online. Some of you will be requested to to share their answers to the guide
questions above. Good luck!

MIDTERM EXAMINATION

MIDTERM EXAMINATION:
It’s now time to check what you have learned in Ethics!

Be “I-am-ready!” by reviewing all the concepts that you have learned from Module 1 down to this
lesson (Module 3, Sub-Topic 2.2. The 7-step Moral Reasoning Model). The Midterm Examination will
be scheduled on the ninth week of the semester. More details on this will be posted in our Messenger
group chat. Good luck!

LEARNING CONTENTS (Moral Courage)

Topic 3. Moral Courage

Sub-Topic 3.1. Why the “will” is as important as reason

One’s will power is very important in making moral decisions.

Moral Courage is the courage “to put your moral principles into action even though you may
be in doubt, are afraid, or face adverse consequences. On the other hand, will is the capacity to act
decisively on one’s desire” (Gallinero, 2018).

Sub-Topic 3.2. Developing the will

To develop the will, the one and only way to do it is to engage into putting rational, moral

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Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

choice into action.

According to De Guzman, to develop the will, one must: 1) develop and practice self-discipline,
2) do mental strength training, 3) draw inspiration from people with great courage, 4) repeatedly do
acts that exhibit moral courage and will, and 5) avoid deeds that show lack of moral courage and will
(De Guzman, 2018).

Required Reading: To learn more about Topic 3, please read “Moral Courage” by Manuel
Dy.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

Self-Assessment:

Consider the following self-assessment questions after learning about Moral Courage:
• Recall a most recent personal moral dilemma that you experienced and reflect on the
following questions:
o How did I decide? (or How did I come up with a decision?)
o What did I actually do?
o Was my decision an action aligned with my moral principles?

Classroom Sharing:

Prepare for sharing in class. I will randomly select 3-5 “lucky” students among you to share about
their responses to the above self-assessment questions. Good luck!

SUMMARY

• Feelings can really become obstacles when making ethical decisions; but this fact should not be
interpreted as completely removing your feelings in the domain of morality. Though feelings can
become obstacles, they can likewise help in making the right decisions.

• Since some feelings can hinder decisions, making your actions automatic, instinctive and
emotional responses, there should be a minimum requirement in making ethical decisions - they
are reason and impartiality.

• According to Rachels, morality at the very least “is the effort to guide one’s action based on the
most logical choice (reason) while giving equal importance to the interests of each person affected
by your decisions (impartiality)”.

• To help you in making a reason-and-impartiality-based ethical decision, the 7-step moral reasoning
model is very useful. The steps in the model are as follows: 1) gather the facts, 2) determine the
ethical issues, 3) identify the principles that have bearing on the case, 4) list the alternatives, 5)
compare the alternatives with the principles, 6) weigh the consequences, and 7) make a decision.

• Will power is very important in making moral decisions. It helps you to make a courageous
choice/decision and the resolve to stand firmly and put into action that decision.

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Study Guide in GE 8 - Ethics Module No. 3

REFERENCES

De Guzman, J. M., et.al. 2018. Ethics: Principles of Ethical Behavior in Modern Society. Malabon
City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.

Dy, Manuel. 2016. Lecture During CHED-GET – Moral Courage. Ateneo De Manila University.

Gallinero, W.B., et.al. 2018. Ethics. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.

Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Hume’s Moral Philosophy. August 20, 2018.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-moral

Rachels, J. 2004. The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 4th ed. New York: McGRaw-Hill College.

Rae, S.B. (n.d.). “Model for Making Ethical Decisions”, July 27, 2017.
http://en.liftinghands.net/upload/topic/1267845485_4450.pdf.

Universal Music Group, “Coward of the County” by Kenny Rogers, October 30, 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNlswqBZ7u4

//JJLMN and RCR

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