Moral Statements and Standards Lecture Notes PDF

MORAL STATEMENTS AND MORAL STANDARDS LECTURE NOTES NATURE OF MORAL STATEMENTS AND MORAL STANDARDS Descriptive or Normative Statement? Some college students are not Catholic believers. One must knock before he/she enters a room. One must cover his/her mouth when she coughs. Some Fili...

MORAL STATEMENTS AND MORAL STANDARDS LECTURE NOTES NATURE OF MORAL STATEMENTS AND MORAL STANDARDS Descriptive or Normative Statement? Some college students are not Catholic believers. One must knock before he/she enters a room. One must cover his/her mouth when she coughs. Some Filipino drivers are violating the speed limit set by MMDA. Students must observe silence when the teacher is giving a lecture. It is never permissible to cheat during exams. Catholics must confess their sins to a priest. There should be censorship when it comes to art. Shorts should not be allowed during a formal dinner. Picasso is a great painter. Descriptive or Normative Statement? Some students are impolite. There is uneven distribution of wealth in the Philippines. Rich countries are helpful to poor/developing countries. Some business owners are tax evaders. Littering in the classroom is prohibited. Take a bath everyday. Mr. dela Cruz is an awesome professor. Differences Factual/Empirical Ideal Verifiable Prescriptive Research Verifiable Moral and ethical claims as a subset of all normative claims... Not all normative statements are moral statements but all moral statements are normative statements Normative Statements Expresses value judgment Correctness is determined by a reference to a norm or standard Appeal to standards is a must in dealing with normative statements When can statements be moral/ethical? Characteristics of Ethical/Moral Statements NRPEORICSTIP OF NOCUDCT TAPYAILIRITM ORRIVNIEDG TPAEOIRNCM PCDEEIENDNEN OF IRBRYARAT ORAYTHUTI SDOCESATAI WIHT ICEALSP NOTIESMO Characteristics of Ethical/Moral Statements The need to observe a certain mode of behavior. It’s a claim of how things ought to be. Not enough criterion. Not allowing personal needs to dictate right or wrong A violation of moral rule is more important than rule of grammar or etiquette. Ought to be preferred compared to other values. It cannot be changed by authoritative bodies Characteristics of Ethical/Moral Standards Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits Universality Overriding Importance Not established by authoritative bodies Moral Standards REVIEW QUESTIONS MORAL STATEMENTS AND STANDARDS Question 1 What is meant by normative statements and why is it important to understand and recognize them? Question 2 Why do we claim that not all normative statements are moral statements, and yet all moral statements are normative statements? Question 3 What are the elements necessary in order to consider statements as ethical or moral? Question 4 Why is the prescription of conduct not enough criterion to consider a statement as moral or ethical? MORALITY AND OTHER NORMATIVE SUBJECTS  Set of rules or customs that determine the accepted behaviors in a particular social group ETIQUETTE it presents rules to improve social relations Etiquette is guided by social approval Etiquette determines what polite behavior is and not what right behavior is all about. Case Analysis PNP operatives from Davao Region implemented the warrants of arrest issued by different courts against Pastor Quibuloy who is suspected to be hiding inside the KOJC compound in Davao City. Members of KJOC barricaded the place in order to prevent the PNP operatives to enter the vicinity. The PNP operatives were forced to dismantle the barricade in order to serve the warrants of arrest. The action was considered by some observers as over kill.  MORALITY AND LAW May overlap but not identical. We don’t consult the law to determine what is right A person’s morality is not derived from the law. Laws are passed for moral reason. MORALITY AND LAW Before there was the state to promulgate laws, there was already human that possesses rights  MORALITY AND LAW The content of morality of people is embodied in code of laws which directs and governs the actions of the individual. Human positive laws are laws of the state. The laws of the state are based on and derive their binding force from natural moral law QUESTIONS TO PONDER In case of conflict between the law of the state and the law of conscience, which prevails over which? Since everything in human conduct is already contained in the natural moral law, why do we need the laws of the state? Ethics and Religion: Fundamental Problems Moral directives of religion are general and imprecise Nobody can be certain of what God wants him/her to do The role of the faculty of reason REVIEW QUESTIONS EHICS AND OTHER NORMATIVE DISCIPLINE REVIEW QUESTIONS What does it mean to say that morality and law may overlap but not identical. What are the fundamental problems that we face when we speak of the relationship between morality and religion? Task... Consider certain practices that are accepted in one religion but rejected in another. Is the difference a matter of religious belief or of moral principle? Explain.