Ethics & Understanding the Self PDF

Dr. Carl E. Balita Review Center CBRC Headquarters 2nd Flr., Carmen Building, 881 G. Tolentino St. corner España Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila 1008...

Dr. Carl E. Balita Review Center CBRC Headquarters 2nd Flr., Carmen Building, 881 G. Tolentino St. corner España Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila 1008 Academics and Services Department (ASD) LET Review Program GENERAL EDUCATION: ETHICS &UNDERSTANDING THE SELF UNDERSTANDING THE SELF The Self from Philosophical Perspective Philosophers Concept of Self Characteristics He believed that the Self exists in two Two Dichotomous Realms: parts: Physical Realm: The body is changeable, 1. Physical (body) – tangible and mortal transient, and imperfect. The body and aspect of a person is or can be soul are attached while the person is A. Socrates constantly changing. alive. (496-399 B.C.) 2. Soul – is immortal Ideal Realm: Soul is unchanging, eternal, “Our TRUE SELF is our SOUL” and immortal. When a person dies, the -“Know thyself” is to question oneself body stays in the physical realm while the and others which is the highest form of soul travels to the ideal realm which human excellence makes it immortal. - “An unexamined life is not worth living” -“To live but to die inside” can be the Famous quote: “The unexamined life is worst thing that can happen to man NOT worth living” -The self is an "immortal soul in a mortal Tripartite Nature of Soul: perishable body. a) an immortal rational part which existed - The soul has a tripartite nature. before it became part of the body B. Plato -Soul is the "giver of life to the body, the b) a courageous or spirited part which is (428-348 B.C.) permanent, changeless and divine mortal and perishable element c) an appetitive part -Body is changing, transitory and perishable (Book IV of Plato's Republic). “Life is a continuous ascent towards the The body is just a shell of the soul. world of ideas” which means to free our soul from imprisonment in the body. -The self is composed of body and soul, -He does not neglect the development mind and matter, sense (lower nature of of a human person's physical, economic, human person which dominate person’s and social powers. life) and intellect, passion, and reason -Human happiness comes from the C. Aristotle (supreme in human person which harmonious development of the whole (384-322 B.C.) govern all life’s activities). self. - Theory of Golden Mean focuses on - Perfection and happiness come from moderation; avoid the extremes, avoid wisdom (true knowledge) and virtue too much and too little. Living a life of (doing what is best for you) moderation is doing things in consonance with reason. 1  - The self is made up of a body and a - Every human person is created into the soul, "a soul in possession of a body' image and likeness of God. Every human which does not constitute two persons person is made for God. It is only upon but one man." his/her recognition of God's love and D. St. -Happiness is the end-all and the be-all his/her response to the invitation to love Augustine of human living and this happiness can that he/she finds inner peace. (354-430 A.D.) be found in God alone. - Virtue is "the order of love." - To love God means necessarily to love - Aristotle's Golden Mean one's fellow man. - Taught against hedonism - Never to do any harm to another as you would not want others to do unto you. - Man craves for something perfect, immutable, and enduring. Possession of the goods of this world such as health, beauty, power, honor, fame can never give to a human person what he/she is truly looking for, as these goods are finite, unstable and ephemeral. - Proclaimed the supremacy of reason in -A human person can know the truth with a human person certainty by the use of his reason. There E. St. Thomas -God, who is TRUTH Itself. are some truths which cannot be known Aquinas - Aquinas pointed to a higher form of by human reason alone and which can (1225-1274) human perfection beyond this life be perceived only with the aid of the because of the immortality of the light of divine revelation, can never human soul - found in God alone. contradict each other because they emanate from the same source. - Dualism: self is an immaterial mind and -Mind is the seat of consciousness. The F. Rene a material body. body (which includes the human senses) Descartes - One can have ideas prior (a priori) to is unreliable hence should not be trusted. (1596-1650) experience. - The rationality and activity of the mind -"I think, therefore, I am." are at the center of man's being. To instill virtue and to give primacy to the mind -At birth the (human) mind is a tabula -The mind is empty at birth. rasa which means blank slate." - Infancy serves as the foundation of the G. John Locke -“Associations of ideas” that individuals development of the self, this does not (1631-1704) make when young are more important mean that individuals can no longer than those made later because they unmake the negative effect of not-so- are the foundation of the self. good earlier experiences. - Emphasized the "freedom of individuals - Individuals are free to define the to author their own soul." content of their character except for -"God created man and we are, [sic in their basic identity as a member of the effect, God's property. human species. - Every human person has the right to - The chief end set by our creator for us as life, liberty, health and property. a species and as individuals is survival. - Human person has an inner and an - Inner self consists of his/her outer self which, together, form his/her psychological state and rational intellect. H. Immanuel consciousness. - Outer self is a human person's senses Kant - Self as prone to corruption and the physical world (1724-1804) - Known for his supreme principle of - Live in the Enlightenment period morality, the Kantian Categorical characterized by growing secularism and 2  imperative: "Act only according to that the weakened effect of religion. Kant maxim by which you can at the same replaced religion with reason. time that it should become a natural law." - Self is an inextricable union between -"Everything that we experience in this mind and body. world - experiences of joy, sadness, love, - Oneness or harmony between the remorse - happens with our bodies. There I. Maurice body and the world as our being-in-the- is never a moment in which we are Merleau Ponty world, that our being is always an separated from our bodies as if it is a (1908-1961) existence that is in the world. clothing that we can shed oft." -The mind and the body are so -We grow and move about in the world in intertwined that we cannot even such a way that our bodies learn to be in distinguish where the work of the mind harmony with it. ends and where the work of the body - Knowledge shows that the body is also begins. intelligent. Conversely, the mind is not pure spirit, detached from the material world through its cognitive activity. The mind always thinks in an embodied way. -The workings of the mind are not - The mind is a set of capacities and distinct from the actions of the body but abilities belonging to the body. The mind are one and the same. is a mysterious entity that controls the - Understanding and developing mechanical workings of the body. The J. Gilbert Ryle yourself is the distinction of: mind should not be viewed as an (1900-1976) knowing how (technical ability), additional mysterious thing that is knowing that (facts and propositions) subjected to observation or to knowing what (acquaintance with mechanical laws. things and persons). -Knowing that (some facts) is empty intellectualism without knowing how to make use of the facts. - Effective possession of a piece of knowledge (museum possession of knowledge) involves knowing how to use that knowledge, when required, for the solution of other theoretical or practical problems (workshop-possession of knowledge). - Adheres to materialism -Materialism is the belief that nothing -It is the physical brain and not the mind except matter exists. If a thing can't be K. Paul that gives us our sense of self. recognized by the senses, then it is not Churchland - Defends his eliminative materialism real. (1942-present) -Decision-making and moral behaviors - the mind can't be experienced by our are biological phenomena senses, then the mind doesn’t really exist. - Human behavior must be explained -Eliminative materialism is when we materially in terms of "recurrent neural believe in a mind when science is proving network” and this is neuro-conscience. that mental health is connected to the physical brain? For instance, depression is strongly linked to brain chemicals gone wrong. -Example: depression is strongly linked to brain chemicals gone wrong. Some 3  people still say things like, ‘She's lost her mind. But neuroscience says, 'No, it's a physical problem and we aim to fix it. THE SELF FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE SOCIALIZATION is the whole and lifetime process by which people learn the values, attitudes and behaviors that are appropriate and expected by their culture and community. -It is the process of internalizing the norms of society which influences one's beliefs, actions, and behavior. -The process of socialization helps shape a person's image. According to both Cooley and Mead, the concept of self is developed through a socialızation process. Philosophers Concept of Self Characteristics -Self is not there at birth -Self is not based on inherited traits and other A. GEORGE - Self influence is restricted biological factors. Self is something which has a HERBERT only to “significant others” development and not initially there at birth. MEAD -Self is also influenced by the -Self is developed over time from social experiences (1863-1931) "generalized other” and activities. -Concept of self emerges from social interactions such as observing and interacting with others opinions about the self, and it is developed with social experience - The significant others are people who play important roles in the life of a person such as parents, teachers, friends and take place only at certain periods of life. -Example: younger children do not really care about what other people think of them. They are focused on their own world. But as children grow up and get more socialized, their beliefs about how other people perceive them become important. They gain a new understanding of society. -The "generalized other” act based on personal beliefs but also on what society expects of them. Talks about our personality as the “I” and the "me”. -The "I” is the natural, existential aspect of the self. -The “me" is the socialized me or the cultured self. -Man develop our sense of -We learn to view ourselves as we think others view us. B. CHARLES self or self-image by his - We are influenced by our own imaginations or COOLEY looking-glass self-theory. perceptions or opinions on how others see us. This (1864-1929) -Three steps in the formation means that we are actively engaged in defining our of the looking glass self: self-image or self-concept using our past experiences 1. We imagine how we to aid us in interpreting others responses. appear to others. 2. We imagine how others judge our appearance 4  3. We develop feelings about and responses to these judgments THE SELF FROM AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Anthropology employs a holistic approach to the study of the self. -Quinn refers to the self as the "totality of what an organism is physically, biologically, psychologically, socially and culturally." -Quinn likewise refers to the self as the "totality of what an organism is physically, biologically, psychologically, socially and culturally. -Ewing (1990) likewise says, "self" encompasses the physical organism, all aspects of psychological functioning and social attributes. Anthropology employs a holistic approach to the study of the self by integrating various models into a broader framework by considering what each model brings and by showing the interactions among them. The physical characteristics of people affect their culture, their way of life. Example: because man has two legs and two feet we walk upright. We don't crawl nor move like quadrupeds (four-legged animals). Our locomotion is not crawling like the snake but walking upright on two feet. On the other hand, people's culture affects the physical characteristics of people. Think of the tattoo that the Kalingas of the Cordillera Administrative Region have even before this has become widespread among the present generation who have tattoos on their legs and arms and in other parts of the body for varied cultural reasons. Universals and Variety: Hallmarks of Anthropology Holistic concept of the self, anthropologists look at the full range of human people by studying people in all parts of the world, at different times and at different levels of society. Anthropologists are likewise mindful that any general theory of humanity must at the same time account for variety. They are concerned with human universals as well as human variety. This is the hallmark of anthropology. Stratigraphic Approach and Reductionism Division of Self: 1. physical self 2. biological self 3. psychological self 4. social self Note: There is no integration of the different selves, avoid error reductionism which means interpreting all observations by reducing the different self to a single level analysis. Example: reductionism as an error is committed when Ideas are explained purely in terms of electron flows in the brain; life is defined only in terms of chemical equations, and human culture is described only by biological needs and instincts. Understanding the Self and Culture Culture is the integrated system of learned patterns of behavior, 1deas and products characteristics of a society. A person’s culture influences his/her physical being. 5 People’s physical being also affects the kind of culture they build and the ways in which they relate to fellow human beings. Two Contrasting Models of the Self: Egocentric and Sociocentric Culture exerts an influence on the development of an egocentric and sociocentric self. 1. Egocentrism but always within a larger interpersonal relation "natural tendency to view everything within the world in relation to oneself. Example: Americans are egocentric, they believe that they should be assertive and independent. 2. Sociocentrism is the natural tendency to view everything within the world in relation to one's group and so be group-centered. The sociocentric person abides by the group and so is highly accepted by and is popular in the group. (interdependence) Example: Japanese and Chinese are both sociocentric. Their very essence of interpersonal relations is mutual dependence Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person’s own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another. Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's culture is Superior to that of others. Xenocentrism is the thinking that another's culture is superior to one's culture. THE SELF FROM A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Sense of self (psychology) is defined as the way a person thinks about and views his or her traits, beliefs, and purpose within the world. -The self is said to be in constant change. As one grows up, his/her sense of self changes. -The self is a multilevel system not simply reducible to genes or neurons that emerges from multifaceted interactions of mechanisms operating at neural, psychological, and social levels. Philosophers Concept of Self characteristics -Id is the completely unconscious, impulsive, child-like portion A. SIGMUND FREUD The Id, Ego and of the psyche that operates on the "pleasure principle” and is (1856-1939) SuperEgo the source of basic impulses and drives. It sees immediate pleasure and gratification. -Ego acts on “reality principle" -Super ego acts on moralistic and idealistic principles. -James Theory -The Self is the totality of all that a person can call his or hers. B. WILLIAM JAMES of the Self -"I" (Self-as-subject) is “The thinker that does the thinking." (1842-1910) - Self into the Pure ego, “I” is the self that knows who he/she is and what “Me" and into he/she has done in his/her life. "I know it was me who ate the the "I." cookie." - Self is an -"Me is the “self-as-object." The "Me" is the material self, social object that can self and spiritual self can be thought of as a separate Object be observed 6  and a subject, or individual a person refers to when describing his/her an agent that personal experiences, part of self the “empirical me” does the - Associated with the body are clothes, family, home, and observing. material possessions. Everyone pays attention to his/her -The Material clothes because his/her clothes reveal who he/she is. Clothes Self – the core reflect a person's status. Clothes contribute to the formation of Material Self is and maintenance of self-image. BODY - 1. The Social Self – is a person in a social situation. It is the - person given recognition by others. It is how one presents oneself in public. Every person has an innate desire to get himself/herself noticed favorably by others. 2. The Spiritual Self – is a person’s subjective and most intimate self. It is who a person is at his/her core. It is more permanent than the other two selves. The spiritual self includes things like personality, core values and conscience. The spiritual self-dwells on introspection and asks spiritual, moral, or intellectual questions. William James asserts that achieving a high level of understanding of our spiritual selves is more rewarding than satisfying the needs of the social and material selves. THE SELF IN WESTERN AND ORIENTAL THOUGHT Oriental concept of a human person is one integrated whole. He/she is also one with society and the universe. Oriental philosophers do not emphasize the dichotomy of matter and spirit, body, and soul. Everything that happens to the universe affects man and everything that man does affect the universe. People are fundamentally connected. Duty towards all others is a very important matter. Collectivism is strong. In contrast, for Westerners, a human being has an individualistic nature and is an independent part of the universe and society. INDIVIDUALISM is comparatively stronger. UNPACKING THE SELF: THE PHYSICAL SELF Aspects of Physical Self - Refers to the body that includes basic parts such as head, neck, arms, and legs. As part of the natural course of nature, physical changes become evident at the onset of puberty. During this period, some changes noticed among the boys are their voice gets deeper; hair starts to show on their faces. This develops into a mustache, as they progress into adulthood. At this period, they experience rapid growth in a span of two to three years. This is referred to as growth spurt. Also, during this period, they attain body maturity when they experience ejaculation, the ejection of semen through the penis. On the other hand, maturity of the body among the girls is attained when girls experience their first menstruation. It is at this stage when they become capable of reproduction. More noticeable changes occur when the individual reaches adolescence, the transition between childhood and adulthood. ADOLESCENCE STAGE (Corpuz, et. al., 2020) Early Adolescence Adolescents would rather tell their stories to their peers rather than to (11-14 y/o) their family. Middle Adolescence The child demonstrates consistency to achieve their goals in life. 7  (15-17 y/o) Late Adolescence They become more concerned of others rather than, mainly, of (18-24 y/o) themselves. -Children notice further changes in their physical self. - They become more conscious of how they look, rather than the other aspects of the Self - Sometimes, they can adapt to the changes, but there are others who find these changes difficult to accept. -Children at this period would need guidance from their significant others to realize that they should not only be concerned of their physical self, as they should value much higher goal that lasts and that is, the formation of the Positive Self-identity, self-image, self- concept and self-esteem Self-identity, Self-image, Self-concept, Self-esteem There are four important concepts related to physical self Self-introduction, what usually would you tell people about you In all probability, you would state your name, your status, profession, your place of origin, the place where you reside, your rank in the family whether you're the eldest, or the youngest, as the case may be. That is how you are known. That is your personal self-identity. Self-image refers to the idea one has of his/her abilities, appearance, and personality. Example, as you stand before the mirror, what do you see? How do you look? What skills are you capable of doing? All these tell of your self-image, the idea that you have about yourself. Self-concept is a collection and construction of an individual's thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that he/she holds about himself/herself and the responses about him/her. It is active, dynamic, and adaptive. Self-concept differs from self-awareness which refers to the extent to which self-Knowledge is defined, consistent and currently applicable to one's attitudes and dispositions. Self-esteem, on the contrary, refers to how much you appreciate, value and like yourself. Your self- concept affects your self-esteem. What you hear from other people, their influences and beliefs, including those of your family, contribute to the formation of self-concept. Factors Affecting Growth and Development Heredity Is the transmission of physical characteristics from parents to children through their genes 2 biological factors: 1. Nutrition 2. Gender Intelligence Specifically in emotion, it means honestly evaluating and paying attention to how you feel. Environment Is observed that a well-nurtured child does better than a deprived one. Accidents and incidents that children experienced may also affect their physical development. 8 Sexual Self - Comprises a complex set of schemas that allow us to understand and express ourselves as sexual beings. Sex - Refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women. SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT Prenatal Stage Gonads - At 6 weeks after fertilization, regardless of gender, all embryos have identical primordial gonads (primordial meaning existing at the beginning) (Pinel, 2014). The identical pair of gonadal structures consists of an outer covering, or cortex that has the potential to become an ovary and an inner core, or medulla that can potentially become a testis. At about 6 weeks after conception, the SRY gene (so named because it is found in the sox-determining region of the Y chromosome of the male embryos) triggers the synthesis of SRY protein (Arnold, 2004). This protein causes the internal part, or the medulla, of each gonad to grow and develop into testes. In female embryos that lack the: SRY gene that encodes the SRY protein, the primordial gonads automatically develop into Ovaries. Internal Organs - Until about the third month in the prenatal development, both embryos possess the same reproductive ducts including a male Wolffian system and a female Müllerian system (Freberg, 2010). The Wolffian system has the potential to develop into the male reproductive ducts comprising the epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicles (Witchel & Lee, 2014). The Müllerian system, on the other hand, has the capacity to form into the fallopian tubes, the uterus and the upper portion of the vagina (Goodman, 2009). This duplication in the reproductive ducts of the male and female embryos soon changes when at the third month, the male's newly developed testes begin to secrete two hormones: the testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormones (Freberg, 2010). Puberty Stage It is the period of maturity of the external genitalia and the development of secondary sex characteristics. Secondary sex characteristics are those physical changes that distinguish sexual maturity in women and in men. The changes that Occur during puberty are mainly caused by increased production of hormones. The anterior pituitary releases high levels of growth hormones that act directly on the bones and muscle tissues resulting in growth spurt (Pinel, 2014). The hypothalamus releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release two gonadotropic hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Both hormones are present in males and females but produce different effects. In males, FSH and LH cause the testes to release testosterone while in females; they stimulate the ovaries to produce estradiol (the most common type of estrogen). The higher the levels of androgen than estrogen, masculinization occurs. Likewise, the more abundant amount of estrogen than androgen results in feminization. Abnormalities in Sexual Development Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) - Individuals with AIS have an XY genotype but develop a female appearance. Adrenogenital Syndrome - It is due to Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), an inheritable condition in which there is increased level of androgen. 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency - The 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone is responsible for masculinization of the external organ of the fetus. 9 Gender - Refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex. MAMAWA - Men-Are-Men-and-Women-Are-Women Gender Identity - Refers to the internal awareness of where the individuals belong in the feminine and masculine categories. Gender Identity Terminologies Cisgender Is a male or female that identifies with the sex that was assigned at birth. Genderqueer The binary conceptualization of gender, male or female, does not accurately describe an individual's gendered outlook or self-concept. Intersex Described a variety of medical conditions wherein an individual’s reproductive anatomy or genitals do not fit the binary definition of male or female. Transgenderman Female to Man (FtM) - Is a man whose sex is female, but he lives and identifies as male. Transgenderwoman Male to Female (MtF) – is a woman whose sex is male, but she lives and identifies as female Gender Expression - The manner by which people express themselves and behave outwardly. Sexual Orientation - Refers to the stable pattern of attractions or sexual interest that one has to a member of particular sex. Sexual Orientation Terminologies Asexual Refers to absence of physical or sexual attraction to another human being. Bisexual Male or female who is attracted to both males and females. Gay Gay males are self-identified men who are emotionally, physically, romantically and/or sexually attracted to people who identify as male. Lesbian Self-identified female who are emotionally, physically, romantically and/or sexually attracted to people who identify as female Heterosexual An individual who identifies as either male or female and is attracted to opposite sex. Queer It describes an individual’s self-concept of their sexual orientation identity. Sexual Behavior Erogenous zone – areas in the human body that have heightened sensitivity, can produces sexual responses. Body Parts Arousal Score (highest first) Clitoris Penis Vagina Mouth/Lips Mouth/Lips Scrotum Nape of neck Inner thigh Breast Nape of neck Nipples Nipples Inner thigh Perineum Back of neck Pubic hairline Ears Back of neck Lower back Ears 10 Sexual Response Sexual desire is typically higher in men than in women (Van Anders, 2012). Biological response: o Vasocongestion - swelling of bodily tissues in penis, vagina and nipples o Myotonia - muscle contraction and tension that causes spasms of orgasm and spasms of the hands and feet. Triangle model of Love Intimacy – refers to the couple’s sense of closeness and the presence of mutual concern. Passion – means romance and sexual feelings. Commitment – means deciding to enhance and maintain the relationship. Consummate Love – ideal form of LOVE. Sexual Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases are as follows: Gonorrhea Syphilis ChlamydiaTrichomoniasis HPV or Human Papillomavirus HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus HSV or Herpes Simplex Virus Material Self - Refers to our body, as well as the tangible objects, places, things that we describe as “My” or “Mine”. Two subclasses: Body self and Extra-corporeal Self = Extended self. Spiritual Self - Refers to the real, true or authentic YOU. It is the least explored. It is a system that stresses the idea that a person does not need formal religion to live a life of faith. It includes a sense of connection to something bigger than us, it typically involves a search for meaning in life. Religion - is the set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas, and practices that define the relations between people and sacred beings or divinity. Political Self - Is the aspect of the self that helps an individual to understand and function effectively in society. National Identity - It boosts one’s sense of duty as a citizen of a particular country. It has 3 Dimensions: Self-categorization, Affect, and Normative Contents. Filipino Values and Traits - Virgilio Enriquez (Father of Philippine Psychology) known for his Kapwa Model Value and it includes 4 Categories and 12 Filipino Values. Digital Self – is an aspect of the self that we present online. Trolling, cyber bullying, bashing and shaming are modern terminologies referring to how seemingly unimportant people including strangers have the capacity to create damage to their victims. Self-Presentation – refers to the act of creating a favorable impression or the desired image to an external and internal audience. Learning to be a better Learner Information-Processing Model – is a simple way to visualize how we acquire information and store and retrieve it. Metacognition - Thinking about thinking, learning to learn. Being aware of your own thinking and learning process. 11  1. Person – how you see yourself as a learner. 2. Task – refers to what you need to accomplish 3. Strategy – includes effective ways of tackling learning tasks PQ4R METHOD 1. Preview Get a general picture of material before you begin 2. Question Change headings into questions 3. Read Look for the answers to your question as you read. 4. Reflect Try to relate the material to past learning or to personal experience. 5. Recite Speak the answers to your questions aloud to solidify the info in your mind. 6. Review Review the material regularly Self-Regulation 1. Adherence – a young child will do one thing because he/she is told to do so. 2. Identification – A child will do one thing because he/she likes the person asking him to do. 3. Internalization – An individual will do something because he/she values it. Setting Goals for Success Goals should be what you want your life to be all about. Connect your goals to what are the most important things to you. Your purpose and your goal should be the driving forces in your life. Albert Bandura’s Self-efficacy - Is the belief in one’s ability or capacity. 4 ways to develop it: 1. Mastery Experience - Set a goal and persist. We learn when we continue against difficult challenges, we strengthen our belief that we can succeed and become better. 2. Social Modeling - Be inspired by people who have overcome and succeeded. Reading and watching about their lives can lead to vicarious modeling. 3. Social Persuasion - Have a mentor and cheerleader. Surround your life with people that will lift you up. 4. State of Physiology - Reflect and learn more about your emotions and moods. Through reflection and education, you can learn to remain positive even in trying times. Dr. Carol Dweck Growth Mindset Framework – Two mindsets: 1. Fixed Mindset – makes a person avoid challenges. 2. Growth Mindset – enables a person to embrace challenges. Locke and Latham Goal-Setting Theory – Five Goal Setting Principles: 1. Clarity 2. Challenge 3. Commitment 4. Feedback 5. Task Complexity Taking Charge of One’s Health and Well-being Stress is the inability to cope with a perceived (real or imagined) threat to someone’s mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, which results in a series of physiological responses and adaptation (Seaward, 2017). Three types of stress: Acute, Episodic and Chronic. 12 Strategies for Good Health and Well-being 1. Embrace the positive perspective 6. Reach out to people 2. Laugh and enjoy wholesome humor 7. Listen to music 3. Establish limits and routine 8. Eat for a healthy immune system 4. Give time for hobbies 9. Exercise 5. Pray and Meditate 10. Be with nature ETHICS The word ethics came from the Greek word Ethos which means Custom or character. Studies the righteousness or wrongness of human action. How a human person ought to act. Two Views on Ethics Greek Tradition Judeo-Christian Tradition The main goal is to have a “Good Life” The main goal is “The ideas of righteousness before God” Being happy Doing what is right. Importance of rules - Rules are a set of guidelines that got created in communities and countries and get used all as a standard. These rules usually differ from one place to the other and the differences are often determined by factors such as social interactions, beliefs, policies, and the method of governance in place. Also, the violators of these rules are often handled by the penalties which the laws of the land for the violation. Types of Applied Ethics Bioethics - This concerns ethical issues about life, biomedical research, medicines, health care, and the medical profession. Business Ethics - It examines moral principles concerning the business environment, which involves issues about corporate practices and policies. Environmental Ethics - It deals with moral issues concerning nature, ecosystem, and its nonhuman contents. Sexual Ethics - It studies moral issues about sexuality and human sexual behavior. Moral - It is an adjective describing human act as either ethical right or wrong. Moral standards - Are norms that serve as the frameworks for determining what ought to be done. Moral standards CONSEQUENCE STANDARD NON-CONSEQUENCE STANDARD - Depends on result or outcome. - Based on the Natural Laws. - Greatest good of greatest numbers. - Law of God that is written in the hearts of men. - Based on goodwill - Sense of duty that you wish to apply to all human people. Non-Moral standards: Social Rules, Etiquette, and Good Manners 13  COMPLIANCE OR NON-COMPLIANCE MORAL STANDARD NON-MORAL STANDARD - Causes guilt. - May only cause shame and embarrassment. CLASSIFICATION OF THEORIES OF MORALS STANDARDS – GARNER AND ROSEN (1967) CONSEQUENCE STANDARD NOT-ONLY CONSEQUENCE STANDARD - Deontological - Teleological - The act is wrong depending on the - Right and wrong depends on the sense of consequences of the act. duty. - Natural Law WHAT MAKES STANDARD MORAL? THEIST NON-THEIST - Based on sages like Confucius and Kant - Don’t do unto others what you don’t want - Moral standards are commandments others to do unto you. – Confucius of God revealed to man through prophet - “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” – Immanuel Kant, Categorical Imperative. FREEDOM Exercising our capacity to make decisions, choose or life path and direct the course of our live through our own steering/ Humans have freedom. Dilemmas presuppose Freedom Without freedom it is impossible to make a moral choice Making moral choices is a necessary consequence for being free, a consequence of being a human person. FACTICITY - Refers to the “givens” of our situation. CULTURE Total way of life. Ralph Linton (1945) defined the culture of a society as 'the way of life of its members: the collection of ideas and habits which they learn, share and transmit from generation to generation' Culture is transmitted through: Enculturation Acculturation Assimilation CULTURAL RELATIVISM - The idea that a person’s beliefs, values and practices should be understood based on that person’s own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another. THE FILIPINO CHARACTER 14  POSITIVE TRAITS NEGATIVE TRAITS 1. Regards for other 1. Extreme personalism 2. Family centeredness 2. Extreme family centeredness 3. Hospitality 3. Mañana habit 4. Sense of humor 4. Ningas-Cogon 5. Faith and religiosity 5. Kanya-Kanya Syndrome 6. Creativity 6. Crab Mentality 7. Hard Work 7. Colonial Mentality 8. Ability to survive 8. Split Personality 9. Palusot Syndrome 10. Bahala na system Universal Values: Happiness Peace Love Freedom Safety Intelligence Human Respect Equality Justice Nature Health Character - refers to a set of moral and mental qualities and beliefs that makes a person different from others. Personality refers to the combination of qualities, attitude and behavior that makes a person distinct from others. Moral character – refers to having or lacking moral virtue Moral agent – It is the person who does a moral act. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS – Medieval Philosopher Summum Bonum - “Every human act is directed toward an end” THREE THOMISTIC PRINCIPLES: o According to Alfredo Panizo (1964): a. Every agent that performs an action acts for the sake of the end purpose to be attained. b. Every agent acts for an ultimate end. c. Every agent has the power of moving for an end which is suitable or good for him. According to 20th Century thinkers – there were NO Pre-fixed plans for man. Jean Paul Sartre - A human person is or becomes what he/she makes of him/herself by choice. Teilhard de Chardin (1948) and Alfred north whitehead (1946) – believers of Process Philosopher – For them, whatever a human person is or will be a result of creative process. Martin Heidegger, Gabriel Marcel and Martin Buber. - See themselves as being-with-others, inseparably related to their fellow man, The Development of Moral Character Of The Moral Agent 15 DEFINING MOMENTS - Refers to the life changing event or moment that reverberates throughout your career and personal life and so changes everything. Relationship between moral acts and character - “The person who has moral character does moral actions more readily” Stages of moral development: 1. Pre-Conventional 2. Conventional 3. Post-Conventional Human Act Act of Human Acts of moral agent. Actions merely happen in the body without Involves reasoning. the awareness of mind. Observing prescribed diet, tutoring the slow Breathing, blinking of the eyes, dilation of learners and preparing the board exam. pupil of the eye, perspiring and jerking of the knee. The determinants of the morality of human act: 1. The object of the act 2. The end, or purpose 3. Its circumstances For an act to be morally good, all three determinants must be without flaw. FEELINGS AND MORAL DECISION MAKING FEELINGS - Is an emotional state or reaction, experience of physical sensation like feeling of joy, feeling of warmth, love affection, tenderness, etc. FEELINGS as Instinctive response to moral dilemma - Several studies conclude that up to 90% of the decisions we made are based on emotion. They can be obstacles but they can also help in making right decisions. Ethical Subjectivism Moral statements cannot be objective because it is only people’s perception and attitudes that makes them right or wrong. It highlights the subjectivity of morality; it is always dependent on feelings. It allows us to see convicting intentions behind moral statements. People may get involved in an argument by ethical subjectivism to persuade the opponent to follow their point of view but not to disprove their objective truth. 2 Versions: 1. Simple subjectivism - One can only approve or disapprove of the things that he states to be good or bad in aspects of morality. 2. Emotivism - Moral Statements simply reflect preference. Moral Statements are neither used to state facts nor to convey information; instead it serves as means of affecting human behavior and expressing one’s feelings and emotion. Known as Boo-Hooray Theory. RULE OF REASON - When we make any kinds of judgment we must reinforce them for valid reasons. Feelings can help in making the right decision - Subjective feelings sometimes matter when deciding between right and wrong. Emotions, like our love for our friends and family, are a crucial part of what gives life meaning, and ought to play a guiding role in morality. 16 Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirement for Morality Reason – is the basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction. Impartiality – is a principle of justice holding that decisions ought to be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons. The 7-step model is as follows: 1. Gather the facts 2. Determine the ethical issues 3. Determine what virtues/principles have a bearing on the case 4. List the alternatives 5. Compare the alternatives with the virtues/principles 6. Consider the consequences 7. Make a decision Will – refers to that faculty of mind which chooses, at the moment of making a decision, the strongest desire from among the various present. Moral Courage – means doing the right thing even at the risk of inconvenience, ridicule, punishment or loss of job, security or social status. ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS Is a set of codes that an individual uses to guide his or her behavior Also known as “Moral Standard” It is what people use to distinguish right from wrong in the way they interact in the world. Dominant Mental Frames: 1. Virtue or Character Ethics 2. Natural Law or Commandment Ethics 3. Deontological and Duty Framework 4. Utilitarianist, Teleological and Consequentialist Approach 5. Love and Justice Framework 1. ARISTOTLE VIRTUE ETHICS This question focuses on the character traits one is supposed to have in order for that person to be considered as ethical. An ethical person is a virtuous person. Virtue ethics is Person-based Rather than action-based. Aristotle - A Philosopher from Stagira, he wrote a lot of ranging topics in various disciplines. “Good character is the indispensable condition and chief determinant of happiness, itself the goal of all humans. The end of all action, individual or collective, is the greatest happiness of the greatest number.” – Ethics, 350 BCE “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence” We must cultivate virtues because they are the qualities that will help the people to live well. Telos – End / Ultimate Goal: Happiness = Eudaimonia 17 2. ST. THOMAS NATURAL LAW ETHICS “Some truths about God exceed all the ability of human reason… but there are some truths which natural reason also is able to reach. Such as that God exists” -Summa contra Gentiles He was from a noble family in Naples and early in his life he decided to join the Dominican Order. “We call this man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world.”- Albertus Magnus in defense of Aquinas “REASON” is the source of the moral law; it directs us towards the “GOOD” GOOD – is the ultimate GOAL of the person’s actions. The good is discoverable within the person’s nature. An act is morally right if it is done according to moral law. What is MORAL LAW? Do good and avoid evil How do we know that one is acting in accordance with good? An action is Good if it is done in accordance with CONSCIENCE. How do we know that one’s action obeys conscience? If it satisfies the three-fold natural inclination of the human person. THREE-FOLD NATURAL INCLINATION OF THE HUMAN PERSON 1. Self-preservation - Natural inclination to take care of one’s health or not to kill or to put one’s self in danger. 2. Just dealing with others - Treat others with the same respect that we accord ourselves 3. Propagation of human species - The reproductive organ is by nature designed to reproduce and propagate human species. o An act does not obey conscience; It is therefore immoral. o Circumstance - The CONDITIONS affecting the morality of an action. Classification: o Quality of person (Who) o Quality/Quantity of the moral object (What) o Circumstances of place (Where) o Circumstances of mean (By what means) o Circumstances of end (Why) o Manner in which the action is done (How) o Time Element (when 3. KANT’S DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS Born in 1724 in Konigsberg, Prussia. He is a Philosopher that published books entitled Critique of Pure Reason and Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics “I had to deny knowledge in order to make room for faith.” Deontological – means duty. It focuses on “duty, obligation and rights” instead of consequences or ends. The duty-based approach argues that doing what is right is not about the consequences of our action (something over which we ultimately have no control) but about having the proper intention in performing the action. THE ETHICAL ACTION IS ONE TAKEN FROM THE DUTY. How important is the intention in the analysis of one’s ethical behavior? 18  Whatever result may happen as consequence of the act is not included in this moral assessment. Thus, it is possible that though the consequence was not the desired result, or may result in something bad, still- the act can be considered good. A person should be morally judged only on things that are within his control, in short those that he willed. An action is legally right if it is the same in accordance with a universal law, that is , in accordance with the categorical imperative 4. UTILITARIANISM: THE CONSEQUENTIALIST ETHICAL FRAMEWORK An action is morally right if it maximizes overall well-being and happiness. “The said truth is that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong” -Jeremy Bentham Bentham studied law and wrote on ethics, politics, economics and the law. He is known as the founder of Utilitarianism. The primary motivation of human behavior is the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Hedonism – The pursuit of pleasure. “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them” -John Stuart Mill He continued Bentham’s legacy and is generally credited for having popularized it. As a utilitarian, he lived its tenet and found that one of the secrets of happiness is the limitation of desire. 5. JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS PROMOTING COMMON GOOD Social Justice is equal access to wealth, opportunities and privileges within society. Promotion of Social Justice is equivalent to promotion of the common good. Common Good – refers to those facilities that the members of a community provide to all members in order to fulfill a relational obligation they all have to care for certain interests that they have in common. When the government improves public property and services, and develops natural resources, it simultaneously promotes equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges within society. References: Corpuz, Brenda B., et. Al. 2020. “Understanding the Self”, Lorimar Publishing Inc, OBE- Based, pp 1 – 183 Corpuz, Ruben A., et. Al. 2020. “Ethics” Lorimar Publishing Inc, OBE & PPST- Based, pp 1 – 192 19