Chapter 2 Notes - PDF

It was discussed that morality deals with the choices that define who we become and determine our eternal destiny. We can never choose for ourselves alone since naturally we are living in a society so we can only say that our freedom of choice has been exercised when we have not only the ability to...

It was discussed that morality deals with the choices that define who we become and determine our eternal destiny. We can never choose for ourselves alone since naturally we are living in a society so we can only say that our freedom of choice has been exercised when we have not only the ability to choose but rather, the ability to choose what is for the greatest good of all humanity. **Freedom and Moral Acts** **Introduction** Visiting the philosophy of Immanuel Kant would give us the definition of freedom as a concept which is involved in the moral domain. The main question is: what ought I to do? Self -- knowledge or self -- legislation then is the summary of Kant's concept of moral law. Meaning, "moral law is that I know myself as a free person" (Leaño, 2018). Autonomy is the name of the game for Kant. It means law itself. This means that freedom is becoming obedient to the law I created myself. **1.1. Kant's Morality and Freedom** For Immanuel Kant "to act freely is to act autonomously". This means that I am free only in acting when I am acting according to the law I give myself. to act freely is choosing the end itself for its own sake. This leads us now to give due respect to the dignity of human beings and not to treat them as means to an end, but rather, as ends in themselves. **What is Categorical Imperative**? One should act only in ways that are UNIVERSALIZABLE. The problems of the categorical imperative are largely those of universalizability. **There are two main formulations of the Categorical Imperative:** 1. Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law 2. "Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end." For Kant, human existence has in itself an absolute value -- it is an end in itself and the only ground of a possible categorical imperative.   **1.3. The Role of Freedom in Morality** The interpersonal aspect of morality is more about rule following. Freedom is so precious that God will not override it, even when we badly misuse that freedom. In other words, we cannot get where we are going if we're not free to walk the road. Thus, freedom is essential to genuinely good human life at all levels of morality. **1.4. Freedom: The Foundation of Moral Act** Freedom is humans' greatest quality and it is a reflection of our creator. Having freedom means having responsibility. Every action you choose further determines our character. Are animals free? Do they have freedom? What separates human from animals? Reason (Intellect) and will (moral action). Freedom is a power rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act. Good and evil are forged in freedom. **1.5. Freedom and Freewill** While the existence of freedom is central in the premise of Catholic morality, we are not all equally free. There are many possible limits to our freedom: both external and internal. External freedom is a freedom from factors outside ourselves that limit or destroy our free will. Internal freedom is a freedom from interior factors that limit our free will. **1.6. Requirements of True Freedom** True freedom is dependent upon truth, True freedom is oriented toward the good. We should not understand freedom as the possibility of doing evil. Evil enslaves us and diminishes our ability to be free. True freedom requires responsibility. **1.7. Human acts versus Acts of Human** Human acts make use of his knowledge and free will. Examples of acts of human are breathing, blinking and sneezing. A person is responsible for his voluntary acts. Man's responsibility and imputability can be lessened or nullified by ignorance, fear, habits or inordinate attachments or other factors. Whenever man deliberately chooses, he is the "father of his acts". An act is good when the object, the intention, and the circumstances are all good. We cannot do evil so good will come from it. **LESSON OVERVIEW** This part of the lesson will try to navigate on the development of culture especially the concept of a certain anthropologist whose definition of culture was utilized and its connection to morality. The seemingly obscured connections between culture and morality will be explicated here as the lesson will slowly unveil what culture has to donate to morality and what morality can charitably return to culture to see their collaboration in making the essence of man not only as cultured one but also a moral one. With this, man will be elevated in a pedestal where he alone can be given the title of being an ethical being among other beings. **LESSON CONTENT** **Introduction** In a review essay on morality and culture, Mary Douglas pointed out that there exists little communication between the anthropologists writing on morals and the (Western) moral philosophers. Anthropological findings enter the ethical discussions as 'exotic examples.' She expects this situation to last for quite some time. Two conversations are running parallel: one the philosophers', about the rational foundation of ethics, another the anthropologists', about the interaction between moral ideas and social institutions. The conversations, as they are set at the present time, (seemingly) will never converge. Anthropologists are confident that they are peaking about the role of culture in human life and societies. Moral philosophers are sure that they are discussing moral issues. But the problem begins when anthropologists turn to the investigation of the morality of a culture and when philosophers try to account for the role of culture in the formation of morality. The central difficulty has to do with the way the relation between morality and culture is perceived. it is impossible to reduce the gap between anthropologists and philosophers if the latter were to give up some of their (culturally determined) views on morality. The anthropologists have difficulties too while accounting for the morality that philosophers speak about. a. **What is culture?** The term culture is actually derived from Latin, "cultura" or "cultus" which literally means "to cultivate" care or cultivation. What then can culture cultivate? Culture as cultivation implies that every human being is a potential member of his own social group. Edward Tylor, an anthropologist and an Englishman, defines culture as that "complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, moral, custom and other capabilities and habits acquired as a member of a society. In Tylor's view, culture includes all aspects of human activity, from the fine arts to popular entertainment, from everyday behavior to the development of sophisticated technology. It contains the plan, rules, techniques, designs and policies for living. b. **The influence of culture in moral development** Culture has been with us since the dawn of human existence. Significant as it is, a culture considerably shapes its members on how they live and relate within themselves and with other cultures (Bretzke, 2004). Therefore, culture functions to mold and establish a social identity that brings people as well as to the knowledge of common objectives which members would try to achieve. Culture would tell the members on what to do, how to do things, and what are the things that should be done as well as those things that should be avoided. Culture imprints the existing moral principles into its members, thus, shapes the character of its members as well. **LESSON OVERVIEW** Lesson three on chapter two will discuss cultural relativism as one of the inevitable yet necessary dynamics of culture. This may sound controversial since morality becomes relative in different human persons belonging to different communities having different cultures. This difference in culture will give birth to difference in moral perspectives as well as topics as far as morality is concerned. What may be a taboo to one may be non -- taboo to others and vice versa. Nonetheless, the lesson will also try to present the benefits and shortcomings of having such. traditions in other cultures may hinder the practices of some cultures. Instead of welcoming progress through collaboration amidst differences, actions are barred sometimes through it. The danger is that once it happened, no one can already claim that his culture serves as the ultimate truth. **Cultural Relativism** What is cultural relativism? It is the ability to accept the practices of other cultures by not using one's own cultural standard in the assessment process. This means that each culture must be seen in each own context and not from the context of one's culture. The concept then of cultural relativism means that all moral perspectives will be subjected to how people in a society valuates it using their cultural standards. **Advantages and Disadvantages of Cultural Relativism** 1. It is a system which promotes cooperation. 2. It creates a society where equality is possible. 3. People can pursue a genuine interest. 4\. Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism. People come from different cultures. They have different ideas. They pursue different definitions of success. Because such a system promotes the individual's definition instead of a group definition, a society can evolve because there is natural level of respect built into the process. Each person is naturally given the right to pursue life through his/her own specific perspective and then learn from his/her experiences in a way that works best for him/her. 5\. It preserves human cultures 6\. Cultural relativism creates a society without judgment. 7\. Moral relativism can be excluded from a cultural relativism. 8\. We can create personal moral codes based on societal standards with ease 9. It stops cultural conditioning. **The disadvantages are as follows:** 1. It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias. 2. It would create chaos. 3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity. 4. It could promote a lack of diversity. 5. It draws people away from one another. 6. It could limit moral progress. 7. It could limit humanity's progress. 8\. Cultural relativism can turn perceptions into truth. **III. LESSON OVERVIEW** The lesson in this chapter will try to focus its navigation on the Filipino Culture. This is so because it is very awkward to see the pattern of some Filipino knowledge where they know very much something about the culture of Koreans, Japanese and other foreign cultures but when they are ask about their own culture, they can say very little or nothing at all. The chapter then will, however, not only discuss the richness and complexities of Filipino culture but present at the same time its weaknesses and some reasons why the culture is inflicted with these issues. **Introduction** Seeing our culture now is mirroring the richness and complexities of our very own antiquity. Its becoming is a product of interacting with so many kinds of people who have established relationships with us. With this we cannot already claim that we are Full -- Blooded Filipinos since we are already a blend of the Malayo -- Polynesian and Hispanic culture who were again influenced by Chinese, Indians, Arabs and other Asian cultures that contributed a lot to the customs and traditions of the Filipinos. **. The Filipino Customs and Traditions** Let us start by pondering on this questions: What is the reason behind the caption of some tourist promotions "Only in the Philippines" What is present in the Philippines that makes it different from the rest of the world? **Let us now try to visit some of their customs and traditions**. 1\. Close family ties 2\. Bayanihan System 3\. Courtship 4\. Religion 5. Superstition 6\. Marriage and Wedding Customs 7\. Death 8\. Society 9\. Christmas 10\. Fiestas Living with parents **4.2. Characteristics of Filipino Culture** 1\. The Filipino people are very resilient 2\. Filipinos take pride in their families 3\. Filipinos are very religious 4\. Filipinos are very respectful 5\. Filipinos help one another 6\. Filipinos value traditions and culture 7\. Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebrations 8\. Filipinos love art and architecture 9\. The Filipinos are hospitable people **4.4. Social Values of the Filipinos** 1. High regard or amor propio (Self -- esteem) 2. Smooth interpersonal relationship 3. Personal alliance system. 4. The compadre system 6. Suki relationship 7. Friendship **4.5. Weaknesses of the Filipino Character** 1\. Passivity and lack of initiative 2. Colonial mentality 3\. Kanya -- kanya syndrome 4\. Extreme personalism 5\. Extreme Family centeredness 6\. Lack of discipline 7\. Lack of self -- analysis and reflection 8\. Ningas cogon 9\. Gaya -- gaya attitude