Th e A c t

g s a n d M o r a l
Fe e l i n
i s i o n - m a k i n g
De c
Feelings as Instinctive Response to Moral Dilemmas.

Ethical judgments are highly

Some ethicists believe that
emotional as people emotionally
ethics is also a matter of
express their strong approval or
emotion. They hold that moral disapproval of different acts.
judgments at their best should Some hold that reason and
emotion are not really Moral sentiments highlight the
also be emotional. Feelings are need for morality to be based also
seen as also necessary in opposites. Both abstract
inference and emotional on sympathy for other people.
ethical judgment as they are Many ethicists conclude that
even deemed by some as intuitions or instincts are seen
being good involves both thinking
as having relative roles ethical
instinctive a trained response to and feeling.
thinking. For one thing, feelings
moral dilemmas.
or emotions are said to be
judgments about the
accomplishment of one's goals.
Feelings as Obstacles to Making the Right Decisions

Ethical Subjectivism
• This theory basically utterly runs contrary to the principle that morality is
objective. This theory is not about what things are good and what things are
bad. It also does not tell how we should live or what moral norms we should
practice. Instead, it is a theory about the nature of moral judgments.
• Ethical Subjectivism holds that the truth or falsity of ethical propositions is
dependent on the feelings, attitudes, or standards of a person or group.
Contrary to the belief that morality is about objective facts, this theory states
that moral judgments describe our personal feelings.
Feelings as Obstacles to Making the Right Decisions

Emotivism
• Emotivism is deemed invulnerable to many objections. This theory that was developed
chiefly by the American philosopher Charles L. Stevenson (1909-1979) has been one of
the most influential theories of Ethics in the 20th century.
• Emotivism is the most popular form of non-cognitivism, the meta-ethical theory that
claims that ethical sentences do not convey authentic propositions. Moral judgments,
according to Emotivism, are not statements of fact but are mere expressions of the
emotions of the speaker, especially since they are usually feelings-based.
• . Emotivism claims that they have two (2) entirely different purposes:
- First, they are used as a means of influencing other's behavior.
- Second, moral sentences are used to express (not report) the speaker's attitude.
 Feelings Can Help in Making the
Right Decisions
Ethics-without-feeling also appears to Artwork
go against Christian philosophy’s The feelings or emotions involved in
Experientially, our moral compasses
emphasis on love, for love is basically are also strongly influenced by the moral thinking should be anchored on
careful consideration of a full range of
a strong liking, desire, or emotion. fleeting forces of disgust, fondness,
right goals, including altruistic ones.
Applied religiously, excluding feelings or fear. Indeed, subjective feelings
This consideration ought to mesh with
in moral living seems to go against the sometimes matter when deciding an instinctive emotional reaction that
biblical decree to worship and serve between right and wrong provides a motivation to act ethically
God with a joyful heart or feeling. and correct injustices.
 Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirement
for Morality
• Humans have not only feelings but also reason, and reason plays a vital role in Ethics. Moral truths are
truths of reason; that is, a moral judgment is true if it is espoused by better reasons than the alternatives
• At least in Philosophy, reason is the basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction. As a quality, it
refers to the capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought; for consciously making sense of things,
establishing and verifying facts, applying common sense and logic, and justifying, and if necessary,
changing practices, institutions, and beliefs based on existing or new existing information.
• Moral deliberation is a matter of weighing reasons and being guided by them. In understanding the nature
of morality, considering reasons is indispensable. Truth in Ethics entails being justified by good reasons.
That is, the right moral decision involves selecting the option that has the power of reason on its side.
• Impartiality in morality requires that we give equal and/or adequate consideration to the interests of all
concerned parties. The principle of impartiality assumes that every person is equally important; that is, no
one is seen as intrinsically more significant than anyone else.
 p M o r a l
7 - S t e
The M o d e l
a s o n i n g
Re
 Gather the
facts
Some moral dilemmas can be resolved
just by clarifying facts of the case in
question. But in more complex cases,
gathering the facts is the indispensable
first step before any ethical analysis and
reflection on the case
 The moral issues should be Determine the
ethical issues
correctly stated in terms of
competing interests. It is these
conflicting interests that
practically make for a moral
dilemma.

The issues must be

presented in a P vs. Q
format to reflect the
interests that are colliding
in a specific moral dilemma
Identify the principles that
have a bearing on the case

In any moral dilemma, there are sure

moral values or principles that are vital
to the rival positions being taken. It is
very significant to recognize these
principles, and in some cases, to decide
whether some principles are to be
weighted more heavily than others.
 List the alternatives
This step involves coming up with various
alternative courses of action as part of the creative
thinking included in resolving a moral dilemma.
Though there will be some alternatives which you
will rule out without much thought, in general, the
more alternatives that are listed, the better the
chance that your list will include some high-
quality ones. Also, you may come up with some
very creative alternatives that you had not
considered before.
 Compare the
alternatives with the
principles
This step involves eliminating
alternatives according to the moral
principles that have a bearing on the
case. In many cases, the case will be
resolved at this point, since the
principles will remove all alternatives
except one.
 Weigh the
consequences
If the principles do not produce a clear
decision, then a consideration of the
consequences of the remaining available
alternatives is in order. Both positive and
negative consequences are to be
considered.
 Make a
decision
A decision must be made at some point. It
must be realized that one common element to
moral dilemmas is that there are no easy and
painless solutions to them. Normally, the
decision that is made is one that possesses the
least number of problems or negative
consequences, not one that is devoid of them.
M o r a l
Co ur a g e
 The Importance of Will and
Moral Courage
A good rational moral decision is not Moral courage means doing the right One sense of the concept 'will' refers
always executed. It is one thing to thing even at the risk of to that faculty of the mind which
know a good moral act, and it is inconvenience, ridicule, punishment, chooses, at the moment of making
loss of job or security or social status, decision, the strongest desire from
another to actually execute it. Often,
etc. Moral courage requires that we among the various desires present.
what is lacking is the moral courage,
rise above the apathy, complacency, Will does not refer to any particular
which necessarily involves the
hatred, cynicism, and fear-mongering desire, but rather to the capacity to act
concept of will. In morality, in our political systems, decisively on one's desires
therefore, will is essential just as socioeconomic divisions, and
reason is significant. cultural/religious differences.
The Importance of Will and Moral Courage

The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer

explained that when we become conscious of
ourselves, we recognize that our essential
qualities are endless urging, craving, striving,
wanting, and desiring. He said that these are
features of that which we call our will.
According to him, will is the innermost
essence, the kernel, of every particular thing
and also of the whole. It appears in every
blindly acting force of nature, and also in the
deliberate conduct of man. He believed that
the will is primary and uses knowledge to find
an object that will satisfy its craving.
 The Importance of Will and
Moral Courage
A pertinent concept is that of willpower. Moral courage demands us to make
Having moral courage and will
judgments about what behavioral acts
It refers to the inner strength to make a means doing the right thing, which
are supportive of our ethical
decision, take action, and handle and may include listening to our ideologies or highest ideals, and
execute any aim or task until it is
conscience. Disregarding our which ones are destructive. Moral
accomplished, regardless of inner and
conscience may lead to feelings of courage and will require us to
outer resistance, discomfort, or recognize our responsibilities be
inadequacy, guilt, and diminished
difficulties. accountable to the consequences of
personal integrity.
our own actions.
 The Importance of Will and Moral
Courage
Moral courage sounds
Lack of moral courage
like:
sounds like:
• "I believe strongly in _ _ " • "That's got nothing to do with me."
• "Let's volunteer." • "How could you do this to me?"
• "Dad, I'm in trouble." • "I only did it once."
• "I am going to campaign for " • "This is all your fault!"
• "It's not fair that _” • "Just let it slide."
• "I broke this, Mom. I'm sorry." • “I might get into trouble.”
• "I'll march with you." • "She got what she deserved."
 i n g W i l l
D e v e l o p e
l C o u r a g
M o r a
and
 a n d p r a c t i c e s e l f -
De ve l o p
d i s c i p l i n e .
l v e s t h e r e j e c t io n
d i sc i p l i n e i n v o
The concept self- o r o f s o m e t h i n g
ra t if i c a t i o n in fa v
of instant g g i v i n g
t m a y r e fe r to th e
a p p l i e d , i
better. Ethically f a c t io n f o r a h i g h e r
le a s u re a n d s a t i s
u p of i n st a nt p ti o n a l
e c u t i n g a g o o d r a
u c h a s e x
and better goal s
moral decision.
 t r e n g t h t r a i n i n g .
Do m en tal s

f o r a f e w s p e c i al
e v e r r e s e rv e d
This method is n e f fe c ti v e m e t h o d s
e s im p le st a n d
people. One of th t ra i n in g i n v o l v e s
e n t a l s t r e n g t h
under this m n d u n n e c es s a ry
s fy u n i m p o r t a n t a
declining to s a t i
desires.
 Do mental strength training.
Everybody is normally confronted and tempted by an endless stream of cravings and
temptations; many of which are not actually important desirable. By practicing to
refuse to gratify every one of them, a person becomes courageous and stronger.

The following are some examples mental strength training:

o Don’t open your social media account/s for a day or two (2).
o Drink water or juice, in spite of your desire to have a beer or liquor.
o Avoid chatting with your gossipy friend.
o Go to sleep an hour before earlier than usual for a week.
o Resist the desire to gamble.
 t i o n f r o m p e o p l e
Dr a w i n s p i r a
of gr e a t c o u r a g e
g e o u s p e r s o n s w ho
e a n d r e s p e c t c o u ra
e op l e u s u al ly a d mi r e a n d w il l
P i f e s ti n g di s c i p l in
t s u c cess b y m a n
hav e w o n g r ea l if e , w h o s h e er
l e i n a l l w a lks o f
e s e i n c l u de p eo p
po w e r . T h m e d if f i c u l ti e s and
ra l c o u ra g e , o v e rca
o
will power and m r a l lif e, a dv a n c e d o n t he
o v ed t h e i r m o
hardships, impr ew o r th y o f i m i ta t i on
o r al p at h , a n d b
spiritual or m
 a c t s t h a t e x h i b i t
Re p e a t e d l y d o
c o u r a g e a n d w i l l
mor a l

w i s h e s to n u rt u r e
e r fe c t . I f o n e
Practice makes p im , h e m u s t s t r iv e
g e a n d w i l l i n h
the moral coura th e m w h e ne v e r
t s t h a t m a n i f e s t
to do the ac it
o r t u n i t y a l lo w s
opp
 Repeatedly do acts that exhibit moral courage and
will

Here are some examples of acts that exhibit moral courage and will:
a. helping someone push a car, even if it means being late
b. standing up to a bully on the playground
c. picking up litter
d. doing homework or chores without being reminded
e. refusing to listen to or repeat gossip
 t h a t s h o w l a c k o f
Av o i d d e e d s
c o u r a g e a n d w i l l
mora l
in g a c t s t ha t s h o w
lv e s e v a d
This invo a t h y,
i t y, c o w a rd i c e , a p
irrespon s i b i l
e nc e , i ll w i l l , a n d
rashness , i m p r u d
wickedness.
 Avoid deeds that show lack of moral courage and will

Here are some examples of deeds that show lack of moral courage and
will:
a. walking away from someone in need
b. taking more than your fair share
c. laughing at someone's misfortune
d. grabbing the spotlight from someone who has earned it
e. placing too much reliance on the letter rather than the spirit of the law
Th a nk
you