ETHICS 202

ETHICS AND CULTURE

Culture- the complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, and arts, morals, law, customs, and any
other capabilities and habirs acquired by man as a member of society (Burke, 2008). It is one big chuck
of our society thatdictates how we are supposed to act n varying situations based on what is right and
wrong, acceptable or not. As our actions and perspectives are culturally constructed, so is our moral
behavior.

FILIPINO MORAL NORMS:

1. Group-centeredness or group think. – usually determines filipino moral beahvior. It’s

sometimes called as the Filipinos conscience from the outside.
2. The “Dont be caught” attitude based on shame or fear of the authority figure. For example,
even if thee is alreay a national smoking ban in the country at present, there are still those who
disregard the law since they are not being caught by the authorities.
3. Complacency when one is aware but is not concerned. It is an open-secret that corruption is
rampant in the government. Even though we are aware of it, there are still a lot of filipinos who
do not really mind about changing the status quo by invoking their rights of suffrage, but
perhaps are just so indifferent about it.
4. Rationalization. We have that instinct of justifying an act no matter how wrong it is. Students
do know for a fact that cheating is bad, Still and all, f they feel like it is the only way to pass the
course, then, they will rqationalize the act and continue doing it until they achieve their goal.

FUNCTIONS OF CULTURE
Here are some functions of culture which are significant in understanding our moral beahvior.
1. Culture provides identity to the people in the society. This is what separates communal groups
from each other. They are known by their distinct traditions and beliefs that they hold dear.
2. Cultures mirror the laws of the land. Laws in one society is born out of the norms which are the
socially acceptable behavioral patterns in the community. These norms held with
supremeimportance, and so the people make sure that they are systematized and followed by
all. Going against these laws are punishable in most , if not all cases.
3. Culture unifies people in ways that those who belong in that society understands. It is always
what the communal group invokes in matters of decisions, practices, and traditions.
4. Culture influences our concept of morality. Culture provides the rules of the games in the
society through our cultural norms. It is very much prescriptive of waht is morally right or
wrong, what is respectful and not, affecting our patterns of behavior. It is the cultures that
molds, if not dictates, the values that should be adhere to by the people.

CULTURAL RELATIVISM: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFEENT FOLKS

One way of knowing which ethical views work in certain context is by understanding the cultures of
different people. Behaviors of people are very much affected by the society they belong to. It is in the
society that they learn what is right or wrong, acceptable or not.
Communal groups have ways in which they show respect for people, for the law, for the environment
and what not. We ought to recognize and appreciate differences in moral behaviors of people from
varying cultures.

Cultural relativism – is the view that moral beliefs and practices vary with and depend on the human
needs and social conditions of a particular cultures (Holmes, 2007).

MORAL RELATIVISM – maintains that different societies hold distinct systems of morality and that there
are no objective, and transcultural criteria for judging betwee these systems. Thus, people are supposed
to be understood from the perspective of the traditions that they hold dear. No one has the right to
intrude a society whose values are embbeded in their culture and tradition. It might be improper as well
to teach them what to do and what not to do on the basis of one’s belief as an outsider. As diversity is
celebrated in cultural relativism, so should due respect be given to people of all cultures, deferring
judgement and extending understanding to all.

ETHNOCENTRISM –is the practice of taking one’s own people, society and culture to be the vantage
point from which all else is viewed and judged (Bruce & Yearly, 2006)People coming from the 1st world
countries could be prone to ethnocentrism, because of the idea that they are living in ideal, powerful
countries. There is a tendency that they might look down on other cultures which are totally opposite of
theirs.

XENOCENTRISM – is the belief that one’s own cultural features are downgrade in comparison to those
of other cultures. Xenocentric individuals value commodities, style, culture or even ideas from another
country or culture other than their own (Bell,2017)

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MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Factors affecting moral character development

1. Family – (parents, siblings)
2. Biological constitution –(age, sex, gender)
3. School- (friends, classmates, colleagues)
4. Community-(Cultures and traditions)
5. Mass Media-(informatics, readings, shows)

Theory of MORAL DEVELOPMENT

-developed by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg stemmed from Jean Piaget’s theory of moral
reasoning.

LEVEL 1. PRE-CONVENTIONAL ( you scratch my back and i will scratch yours)

Stage 1. Obedience and punishment Orientation –the physical consequences of an action

determine its goodness or badness regardless of the value of these consequences. Avoidance of
punishment are regarded as values in their own rights. ( Obeying to avoid punishment)e.g. we follow
the law because we do not want to go to jail.
Stage 2. Naively Egotistical / Instrumental Relativist Orientation – Relativists orientation. Right
action is viewed as what satisfies one’s own needs, and occassionally the needs of others. E.g. a person
steals money from another person to buy food for his hunger children.

LEVEL 2. CONVENTIONAL (conforming to other’s expectations is seen as valuable in its own right,
regardless of immediate consequences)

Stage 3. “Good boy-Nice girl orientation –Behavior which pleases or helps others, or is
approved by others, is viewed as good beahvior. One gains acceptance and approval by being nice. E.g
a child gives away her lunch to street peasant because she thinks doing so means being nice.

Stage 4. Authority-law and order orientation –dooing one’s duty, showing respect for authority,
and following fixed rules is viewed as demonstrating good beahvior. Maintaining the social order for its
own sake, rather than out of fear of punishment. E.g. a policeman refuses the money offered to him
under the table and arrests the offender because he believes this is his duty as an officer of peace and
order.

LEVEL 3. POST CONVENTIONAL( determine moral values and principles apart from groups holding
them)

Stage 5. Contractual-Legalistic Orientation. Correct action is viewed in terms of general

individual rigts and standards that have been accepted by society. There is emphasis upon the “legal
point of view”.
e.g. a person look at the various opinions and values of different people before coming up with the
decision on the morality of the action.

Stage 6. Conscience and principle orientation. Right is determine by conscience in accordance

with personal ethics and principles of justice. E.g. when a person considers universally accepted ethical
principles, thr judgement may become innate and may even violate the laws and rules as a person
becomes attached to his own principles of justice.