Module 2

INTRODUCTION OF KEY CONCEPTS

 The Key Elements of Ethics

 Character
 Moral Character
 Moral Courage
 Gawa and Gawi
 Reason
 Feelings
 Freedom
 Good and Evil Acts
Character

It is an evaluation of an individual's

stable moral qualities. Theconcept
of character can imply a variety of attributes
including the existence or lack of virtues such
as empathy, courage, fortitude, honesty,
and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits.
Moral Character

It primarily refers to the assemblage of

qualities that distinguish one individual from
another - although on a cultural level, the set of
moral behaviors to which a social group
adheres can be said to unite and define it
culturally as distinct from others.
Moral Courage

It is a result of morally developed will. It is the

capacity to initiate and sustain your resolve
whenever you are certain of doing the good.
Gawa

The term refers to the free action that is oriented

towards a particular end. For example, a worker
uses his/her free imagination and will to bring
about services and products that contribute to the
well-being of society.
Gawi

The term refers to the free kind of work.

However, instead of focusing on a particular end
like a product or fulfillment it ends up into habitual
action.
Reason

It sets the course for making ethical and

impartial decions especially in moral situations
although it is not the sole determining factor in
coming up with such decision.
Feelings

It provides the individual with an initial

reckoning of a situation, but they should not be
the sole basis for one’s motives and actions.
Freedom

It is the willful act and decision that gives form

and shape to the actions and inclinations of the
individuals. This is oriented toward the wherefore, ,
the what for, and the whom for of the doings of the
individuals.
Good and Evil Acts

A morally good act requires the goodness of the

object, of the intention of the agent, and of the
cisrcumstances together. While an evil act corrupts
the action even if the object is good in itself .
 Approaches to Normative Ethics

 Consequentialism
 Deontology
 Virtue Ethics
Consequentialism

At the heart of consequentialist theories is the

idea that the moral action is the one that produces
the best consequences.
Deontology

According to deontological theories, morality is

primarily a function of duties or obligations,
regardless of the consequences of acting in
accordance with those duties.
Virtue Ethics

It gives primacy of importance not to rules, but

to particular habits of character such as the virtue
of courage and other types of virtue that the
person is personally inclined to perform.
Moral Standards

It refers to the norms which we have about the

types of actions which we believe to
be morally acceptable and morally unacceptable.
 Specifically, it involve sets of recognized and
permanently acceptable character or norms
commonly used as primary measure of quality,
value, and extent.
Non-moral Standards

It refer to rules that we have about the types of

actions that are unrelated
to moral or ethical considerations.
 These refers to the peoples customary, and
habitual ways of doing things. These customary
ways are accumulated and become repetitive
patterns of expected behavior, which tend to
become permanent traditions.
Derivation of Moral Standards

   
The foundations of evolving moral systems rest
on a complex cybernetic process that sustains and
preserves the human species. This is a dynamic
process that drives the creation of moral and ethical
standards, namely: emotion, and rules
 Every human action inspires a corresponding
reaction whether subtle in nature or violent. Some
people are more emotionally reactive than others.
 Emotions can get out of control if not regulated
by laws, customs, moral codes, professional codes
and even the rules of etiquette.
 Rules are considered as an essential stabilizing
force that enhance the survivability of individuals,
families and nations.
Dilemma

It is a situation where a person is forced to

choose between two or more conflicting options,
neither of which is acceptable. As we can see, the
key here is that the person has choices to make that
will all have results she does not want
Ethical Dilemma

It is a decision-making problem between two

possible moral imperatives, neither of which is
unambiguously acceptable or preferable. The
complexity arises out of the situational conflict in
which obeying would result in transgressing
another.
 There are three conditions that must be present
for situations to be considered moral dilemmas:

First, the person or the agent of a moral action is

obliged to make a decision about which course of
action is best. Here, the moral agent must choose
the best option and act accordingly.
 Second, there must be different courses of action
to choose from. Hence, as already pointed out
above, there must be two or more conflicting
options to choose from for moral dilemmas to
occur.
 Third, no matter what course of action is taken,
some moral principles are always compromised.
 Types of Moral Dilemma

 Epistemic Dilemmas Self-imposed and world-

imposed
dilemmas
 Obligation dilemmas and prohibition
dilemmas
 Single agent and multi-person dilemmas
Epistemic Dilemma

It involve situations wherein two or more moral

requirements conflict with each other and that the
moral agent hardly knows which of the conflicting
moral requirements takes precedence over the
other. In other words, the moral agent here does not
know which option is morally right or wrong.
Self-imposed Dilemma

This is caused by the moral agent’s wrong

doings.
Obligation Dilemma

This are situations in which more than one

feasible action is obligatory,
Single Agent Dilemma

The moral agent is compelled to act on two or

more equally the same moral options but she
cannot choose both
 The Sources of Morality

 The Object
 The Intention of the Agent
 The Circumstances
The Object

It is the aim or goal of a certain action.acquired.

To make an act morally good, it’s object or aim
must conform to the law of God or the conscience
of the doer of the action must attest it.
The Intention of the Agent

It refers to the means of attaining the the object.

The Circumstances

This are the environments or conditions

prevailing when the action is done.
References

Corpus, R.M., de la Cruz, R.G., & Tabotabo, C.V.

(2011). Standards of Human Conduct: Ethics for
Filipinos. Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.
Corpus, R.M., de la Cruz, R.G., Estoque, R.S., &
Tabotabo, C.V. (2008). Introduction to Logic: A
Modular Approach. Intramuros, Manila:
Mindshapers Co., Inc.
Lombo, J.A., Russo, F. (2014). Philosophical
Anthropology: An Introduction. Illinos: Midwest
Theological Forum
Sheerean, Patrick J. (1983). Ethics in Public
Administration: A Philosophical Approach. Santa
Barbara, CA: Praeger