Ethics

GE 107 - Introduction -
The Key Concepts

FATIMA MYNABELLE D. BELDIA, Ph.D.

Course Description:

Ethics deals with principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person, and
society, and in interaction with the environment and other shared resources. (com 20s 2013)

Morality pertains to the standards of right and wrong that an individual originally picks up from the
community. The course discusses the context and principles of ethical behavior in modern society at
the level of the individual, society, and interaction with the environment and other shared resources.
The course also teaches students to make moral decisions by using dominant moral frameworks and
by applying a seven-step moral reasoning model to analyze and solve moral dilemmas.

The course is organized according to the three (3) main elements of the moral experience: a) agent,
including context - cultural, communal, and environmental; b) the act; and c) reason or framework (for
the act).

This included the mandatory topic of taxation.

2
Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, the students must be able to:

1. Differentiate between moral and non-moral problems;

2. Describe what a moral experience is as it happens in different levels of human existence;
3. Explain the influence of Filipino culture on the way students look at moral experiences and
solve moral dilemmas;
4. Describe the elements of moral development and moral experience;
5. Use ethical frameworks or principles to analyze moral experience;
6. Make sound ethical judgments based on principles, facts, and the stakeholders affected;
7. Develop sensitivity to the common good;
8. Understand and internalize the principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level
of the person, society, and in interaction with the environment and other shared resources.

3
Introduction: Key Concepts

1. What are moral standards, and how do they differ from

other rules of life?
2. What is a Moral Dilemma?
3. Why is freedom crucial in our ability to make moral
decisions?
4. What is the advantage of owning moral standards
(morality and ethics) over merely abiding by moral
standards?
4
Moral Experience
A moral experience is any encounter wherein a
person understands that the values he or she
believes to be important are either realized or
thwarted (Hunt and Carnevale, 2011).
- An encounter is not limited ethical questions;
- Moral experiences happen everyday based on
moral standards;
- As an example, when you wanted to give a
poor person some sort of money, and you
believe that it is right, it is a moral
experience.

5
Ethics
Ethics “deals with principles of ethical behavior in modern
society at the level of the person, society and in
interaction with the environment and other shared
resources. (CHED, CMO series 2013).” Understanding your
moral experiences and your concepts of morality is the
aim of the study of ethics.
As a college student, you have developed a sort of moral
standards which you utilize to understand the world.
Hence, it is significant that you examine, explore, and
reflect critically you value systems in which the goal is to
make sound judgments and a concern for the common
good.
6
 The Importance of Ethics in Your Profession
Ethics gives a sense of justification of a person’s judgment
which in turn helps decisions at work not based on subjective
interpretations or personal biases. A profession without ethics is
prone to conflicting individual interpretations.
For an instance, have you ever thought of doctors believing that
the best way to cure a disease is based solely on their opinions?
How about lawyers who believe that justice should be served to
those who have higher socioeconomic status? Or perhaps,
teachers who want the corporal punishment to students be
followed?
These circumstances show the lack of moral reasoning that may
cause conflict or even violence and injustice.
7
Social Being and Rules
Humans are social beings whose common
goal is to survive and thrive. Human
communities have a higher chance of
survival by working together.

This notion of working together becomes

even better when there is system in place.

One of these systems that we have

developed are “rules”.

8
 Rule
A rule is defined as “a statement that tells you
what is or what is not allowed to a particular,
situation” (Merriam-Webster, 2017). Some
examples are as follows: ∙

- Traffic rules
- Sports rules
- Code of conduct

These rules allow a system of implementation

for society to function even in the light of
conflict within its members. Rules are placed to
manage harmful behaviors, prevent chaos, and
encourage stability.

9
Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
A moral standard is “a code of what is right or wrong
without reference to a specific behaviors or beliefs”
(O’Connor & Lynn, 1997). This intrinsic code is believed to
be present in children that matures and is influence by the
environment. It is also what we think of those behaviors
that have particular consequences. Non-Moral or Conventional Standards
are standards by which we judge what is.
good or bad and right or wrong in a
However, these are not rules associated with authority but
non-moral way.
is based on good reason. A feeling of “guilt” happens often Some examples are: good or bad
when an individual goes against these moral standards. manners, etiquettes, house rules,
technical standards in building structures,
Judgment is founded on the rightness or wrongness of an rules of behavior set by parents,
act and an individual’s moral standards. teachers, other authorities, the law,
standards.
10
Characteristics of Moral Standards (Velasquez, 2012)
1. It involves behaviors that seriously affect other people’s well-being.
2. It takes more important considerations than other standards such as
Self-interest.
3. It does not depend on any external authority. It is about how an
individual
perceives reason of an action.
4. It is believed to be universal.
5. It is based on objectivity.
6. It is associated with vocabulary that depicts emotion or feelings.

11
Activity 1: Identify if the statement is Moral or Non-Moral
1. Respect others' property.
2. Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
3. No cursing inside the house.
4. Do not talk when your mouth is full.
5. Stand up for what you know is right and fair
6. Do not disrespect anyone
7. No to body piercings and tattoos.
8. Always be active in organizational meetings, events, and webinars
9. Care for the abused animals.
10. Always wear formal clothes in formal events.

12
Moral Standards should not be confused with the following:

❖Etiquette is a set of rules prescribed to individuals and how they should behave in
society. E.g., Proper attire and posture based on particular event.
❖Policy is clear statement of how organizations plan to handle services, actions,
and business. E.g., Code of conduct given by the Human Resource Department.
❖Law is a rule created and enforced by the government to maintain order and to
protect people’s rights and freedom. E.g., Republic Acts
❖Commandment is a rule strictly observed because it believed to be set by a
divine entity. E.g., The Ten Commandment

13
Dilemma
Dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to
be made between two or more alternatives, especially
those that are equally undesirable ones.
A Moral Dilemma is a situation where (a) there are two
or more actions that you can do; (b) there is a reason for
doing such actions; and (c) you cannot do all the possible
actions presented to you. You only need to choose one.

14
Three Levels of Moral Dilemma :

1. Personal Moral Dilemma - there is a moral conflict caused

by your own, another person, or a group of people’s potential
harm.
2. Organizational Dilemma - happens when member/s of
organization or a group of people has/have to make a moral
decision that can be potentially harmful to some members or
the whole organization.
3. Structural Moral Dilemma – people with high levels of
position in a society faces moral conflict that may affect the
entire social system

15
Activity 2:
DILEMMA NO. 1

Joe is a fourteen-year-old boy who wanted to go to camp very much.

His father promised him he could go if he saved up the money for it himself.
So Joe worked hard at his paper route and saved up the 1,200 pesos it cost
to go to camp, and a little more besides. But just before camp was going to
start, his father changed his mind. Some of his friends decided to go on a
special fishing trip, and Joe's father was short of the money it would cost. So
he told Joe to give him the money he had saved from the paper route. Joe
didn't want to give up going to camp, so he thinks of refusing to give his
father the money.

What would you do if you are Joe?

16
Activity 2:
DILEMMA NO. 2
Judy was a twelve-year-old girl. Her mother promised her that she could go to a special
rock concert coming to their town if she saved up from baby-sitting and lunch money to buy a
ticket to the concert. She managed to save up the 800 pesos the ticket cost plus another 500
pesos. But then her mother changed her mind and told Judy that she had to spend the money
on new clothes for school. Judy was disappointed and decided to go to the concert anyway. She
bought a ticket and told her mother that she had only been able to save her money. That
Saturday she went to the performance and told her mother that she was spending the day with
a friend. A week passed without her mother finding out. Judy then told her older sister, Louise,
that she had gone to the performance and had lied to her mother about it. Louise wonders
whether to tell their mother what Judy did.

What would you do if you are Louise?

17
Activity 2:
DILEMMA NO. 3

Melissa’s partner is dying from a rare disease. Luckily a cure has recently been invented by one
druggist who lives fairly close to her. This druggist is selling the cure for ten times the amount it cost
him to make it. Melissa tries to raise the money, but even borrowing from friends and taking a loan
from the bank, she can only raise half the amount. She go to the druggist and offer to pay him half
now and half later, but he refuses, saying that he invented the cure and is determined to make money
off it. She beg him to sell it cheaper as her partner will die before she can raise the full amount, but he
still refuses. She believed she could break into his store one night after he has gone home and steal the
cure. This would definitely save her partner, although she might be arrested for the crime.

What would you do if you are Melissa?

18
Why only Human Beings can be Ethical?

According to St. Thomas, the difference between animal ethics and human ethics
is that animals are behaving instinctively while humans think rationally.
Instincts are what functions to animals such as a pack of wolves that need to
survive, suicide attacks of worker honeybees that protect the colony from intruders,
and when chimpanzees scratch each other’s back as an example of altruism
(Thrivers, 1971).

Rationality is a concept of decision-making when people act on their best to attain

their needs, preferences, priorities, and principles (IRMA, 2015). We are free to act.
Thus, we are the only beings capable of ethics because of free moral judgment.

19
Freedom as the Foundation of Morality
The personal aspect of morality is about the development of virtues to think morally, to act
morally, and to choose to do what is good. However, virtues become habits which go beyond
moral behavior. A person becomes a role model when he/she does not only what is right but also
when it becomes a standard that others follow. A virtuous person is free to cultivate his/her
values.
For example, there is no virtue in giving if it is forced. Culture and society can guide virtues,
but it cannot be coerced. Then, freedom is the foundation of moral acts. A person needs to be free
or have a concept of his/her free will for him/her to know the nature of virtues. However, rules
help people live harmoniously and all rights are equally important no matter how much we are
free. So, only a person can understand his/her own ultimate end. Rationality and the idea about
enlightenment cannot be forced.

20
Freedom as the Foundation of Morality
● Freedom is a gift – is the ability to act significantly.
● Freedom is Complementary to Reason – both are necessary
faculties for consciously making sense of things.
● Freedom is Absolute – humans have higher kind of freedom.
● Freedom demands Responsibility – the consequences to
freedom are something that a person must endure. It serves as
voluntary check and balance of one’s freedom.

21
Freedom as the Foundation of Morality
It is important to note that a person can and
should choose to act, but his/her actions
should be in harmony with others and their
rights. Unbalanced freedom is dangerous
especially when it controls a social group.
Injustices have resulted out of this and as well
as the abuse of freedom and power.

22
Source
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/olivarez-college/ethics/the-study-of-ethics-moral-standards-moral-dilemmas-and-freedom/1639
4246

23