GE Ethics Module - John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University

JOHN B. LACSON FOUNDATION MARITIME UNIVERSITY-MOLO, INC. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Bachelor of Science in Cruise Ship Management LEARNING MODULE GENERAL EDUCATION ETHICS Name: ______________________________________ Year & Section: ___________________...

JOHN B. LACSON FOUNDATION MARITIME UNIVERSITY-MOLO, INC. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Bachelor of Science in Cruise Ship Management LEARNING MODULE GENERAL EDUCATION ETHICS Name: ______________________________________ Year & Section: ______________________________________ Contact Number: ______________________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Instructor: ______________________________________ Authored by: RONALD S, BAYNOS, BTH, BSC, MBA, DM (CANDIDATE ) HOW TO USE THIS MODULE Welcome! Ethics deals with principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society, and in interaction with the environment and other shared resources (CMO 20 s 2013) Morality pertains to the standards of right and wrong that an individual originally picks up from the community. The course discusses the context and principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of individual, society, and in interaction with the environment and other shared resources. The course also teaches students to make moral decisions by using dominant moral frameworks and by applying a seven-step moral reasoning model to analyze and solve moral dilemmas. The course is organized according to the three (3) main elements of the moral experience: (a) agent, including context – cultural, communal, and environmental; (b) the act, and (c) reason or framework (for the act). This Ethics module is a self-contained and self-sufficient unit of instruction for a learner to achieve the set of systematically organized learning opportunities and well defined objectives per unit. There are units with compact detailed information and some where the learner has to conduct further research through guided assessments to further his insights on the given topics. After successfully completing each unit of this Ethics module, you should be able to comprehend and analyze the introduced concepts and discussions devoted to the respective topics. Assessment tools given at the end of every unit should be diligently accomplished to build learner competencies and measure knowledge. Additional resources at the end of each unit provide further definitions of key terms and information for further reading. Outputs shall be submitted to the instructor/facilitator for checking, evaluation and recording. Outputs shall serve as the learner’s proof for grading. You should always review the information sheets and be ready for duly scheduled unit quizzes and periodic examinations. Should you need further assistance, do not hesitate to communicate your concerns to the class instructor. 7 COURSE CODE & TITLE: GE ETHICS PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES After four years, graduates should be able to: 1. Effectively manage/own a travel agency, tour operations firm, airlines/shipping company, hotel or any tourism related establishment or be a successful tourism professional who can help in the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry; 2. Spontaneously communicate thoughts and emotions to others as individuals and as members of a team; 3. Reach out to alma mater and community as socially responsible individuals; 4. Initiate correct and ethical solutions to problems at work and accept consequences of actions as travel and tourism professionals and productive leaders of the organization by promoting professionalism in the tourism and hospitality industry; and 5. Courageously face the continuous process of lifelong learning. Course Intended Learning Outcomes At the end of the course, the students shall be able to: 1. Differentiated between moral and non-moral problems 2. Described what a moral experience is as it happens in different levels of human existence 3. Explained the influence of Filipino culture on the way students look at moral experiences and solve moral dilemmas 4. Described the elements of moral development and moral experience 5. Used ethical frameworks or principles to analyze moral experiences 6. Made sound ethical judgments based on principles, facts, and the stakeholders affected 8 7. Developed sensitivity to the common good 8. Understood and internalized the principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society, and in interaction with the environment and other shared resources Introduction A man without Ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world ( Camus ) Etymologically, Ethics is derived from the Greek “ethos” which means “characteristic way of acting”, “habit”, or “custom”. The Latin equivalent is mos/mores, from which the word moral and morality. Ethics studies the characteristics behavior of man as endowed with reason and freewill. It is a system of moral principles and their application to particular problems of conduct. It is often called moral philosophy, a study that deals with the principles and laws governing The morality of the human act. Morality of human acts means the goodness and the badness, the rightness and wrongness or the acceptability or unacceptability of human acts. Since you’ll be spending much of your learning time with your module, I will be guiding you through your lessons. See you in the next pages!! 9 10 COURSE OUTLINE FOR PRELIM TERM Unit 1 INTRODUCTION OF ETHICS Topic 1 Ethics as a Science Topic 2 Ethical Management Unit 2 MORAL ISSUES Topic 1 Moral vs. Immoral Topic 2 Moral Dilemmas Topic 3 Freedom as foundation for moral acts Unit 3 CULTURE AND MORAL VALUES Topic 1 Definition of Culture Topic 2 Moral Behavior Topic 3 Cultural Relativism Unit 4 FILIPINO VALUES Topic 1 The Filipino Way Topic 2 Universal Values Topic 3 Moral Character and Development Topic 4 Requirements for Ethics 11  LEARNING OUTCOMES In this unit, you should be able to: learn about Ethics is considered as a science understand ethics as a way of life recognize the importance of ethical management to business Unit 1: INTRODUCTION OF ETHICS 12  Introduction of Ethics Ethics is a science and a way of life. To teach the science with the hope that it will lead to a better appreciation of what life truly should mean to us. Ethics does not seem too important until we realize that society and big business continue to look for men and women who are not only intellectually competent but, above all, morally upright. It is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. Moral education is necessary to the individual and to society. The study of Ethics started with the Greek philosophers, notably Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates is regarded as the father of moral philosophy. However, it is Aristotle who has greatly influenced ethical thinking with three important treatises – the Nicomachean Ethics, the Eudemian Ethics, and the Magna Moralia (Great Ethics). Why is ethical management important to business? Ethical management is practically considered by all business leaders as relevant to business survival and corporate reputation. Ethics is the science of the morality of human acts. Human acts are reactions done intentionally and freely, like walking, reading, working, playing, shopping, joining a contest, or signing a contract. Ethics is the study of man as moral being, one who is rationally able to distinguish between right and wrong. It examines how man is accountable for his actions and its consequences. It proposes how man ought to live his life – meaningfully. Ethics is concerned with morality, the quality which makes an act good or evil, correct or wrong. Ethics examines and explains the rational basis why actions are moral or immoral. In other words, Ethics is concerned with the norms of human behavior. Now that you have learned why ethics is considered as a science and way of life. I want you to watch a video in youtube: Introduction to Ethics ( Academy of Ideas ) or you can check with online resources below the last page of this unit. After watching the video, in the space provided below, write your reaction paper about the Introduction to Ethics. Note: your reaction paper should be not less than 5 and not more than 10 sentences. 13 14 UNIT ONE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT Key Wordss: Discuss / Explain the meanings of the following words. 1. ETHICS 4. BUSINESS 2. PHILOSOPHERS 5. SCIENCE 3. ETHICAL MANAGEMENT 6. MORALIT Review/Assessment Questions Write your answers on the space provided below the questions. 1. Why do you think the practice of Ethics is important to our society? ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 15  2. What are advantages of an individual who possesses a set of moral standard and those who have none. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ References and Online Resources Ethics and The Filipino: A Manual on Morals for Students and Educators Second Edition: Agapay, R. Ethics: Standard of Human Conduct. Corpuz, R. Internet Sources An Introduction to Ethics by John Deigh - http://amzn.to/2496GKz ( www,youtube.com ) (affiliate link) Human Happiness and Morality: A Brief Introduction to Ethics by Robert Almeder (www.youtube.com.com) 35  LEARNING OUTCOMES In this unit, you should be able to: Differentiated between moral and non- moral Recognized and recalled a moral experience Detected moral dilemmas Identified the three levels of moral dilemmas INTRODUCTION Ethics, as a normative philosophical science, is a Theoretical science of good and bad or right and wrong action. It is the philosophical discipline that provides the principles on the morality of human acts. It equips man with a theoretical knowledge of the morality of human acts. Ethics, however, does not guarantee that the human person will be actually living an amoral or Unit 2: good life. Simply put, one must be able to apply the theories of ethics for one to actually living an MORAL ISSUES amoral or good life. In this regard, morality, then, should be properly called Applied Introduction to Cruising Ethics. A cruise is a vacation trip by ship. 36  Moral vs. Immoral Hence, ethics provides the theories and principles of right or wrong and good or bad actions, morality actualizes these theories and principles. It is the domain of ethics to outline those theories and principles of right or wrong and good or bad actions, and it is the function of morality to apply these theories and principles. Between Moral and non- moral, we simply ask what are ethical and what are not ethical? What is right and what is wrong? What is acceptable and what is unacceptable? Example # 1: honest or dishonest, to be faithful to your spouse or unfaithful, to perform your duty or neglect your duty. Example # 2: Muslim person who had several wife. Moral Dilemmas What is dilemmas? It derived from Greek word di ( two ) and lemma (horn ), is a two horned situation or condition. It puts the an individual in a situation where he is to choose between two options both of which are disadvantageous to him as whatever he chooses will put him in the losing end. A dilemma is an is an argument meant to put an opponent in a position in which he has no way out but to make a choice however damaging it would be. Example of moral dilemma: The president will either allow the rapist to be executed or pardon him. If he will allow him to be executed, he will get into trouble with the people who were against the death penalty; If he will pardon him, he will get ire of the people who wanted the rapist to be executed. Therefore, he will either get into trouble with the people who were against death penalty or get ire of the people who were for execution. The Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas Individual/Organizational ( business, medical, and public sector ) Structural ( network of institutions ) Operative theoretical paradigms ( universal health care ) Freedom as Foundational for Moral Acts Man As Person Man has an intellect that separates him from all brute creation. Man has the ability to think before doing a particular action. Man may foresee the consequences of his actions. He has the capacity to know what is right and what is wrong. 37  Ethics is the study of man as a moral being. What goals we assign to ourselves, what actions we choose to do, and how we treat others – depend on how we understand ourselves as a human being. Socrates is wise indeed for proposing that the starting point of wisdom is “to know oneself”. Man as a Rational Being Man’s actions are in accordance with reason. Every action of his has purpose and meaning. It is the duty of man to be moral. Man as a rational being means his actions are diligently and intelligently made. He carefully examines and analyze the consequences of his actions Human nature is made up of man’s biological, psychological, and rational powers. The biological powers are nutrition, locomotion, growth, and reproduction. The psychological powers include those of the senses, such as smelling, tasting, seeing, hearing, perceiving, touching, imagining and remembering; and those acts of emotions, such as love, hatred, desire, disgust, joy, sorrow, fear, despair, and courage. The rational powers are those of the intellect and the will – comprehension and volition, respectively. A Moral Being Three characteristics reveal man’s moral nature: Man by natural insight is able to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral. Man feels himself obliged to do what is good and to avoid what is evil. Man feels himself accountable for his actions so that his good deeds merit reward, while his evil deeds deserve punishment. Man as Person Man is born as an individual, or Person. Person is human nature actualized and manifested in the history of place and time. Person is defined as “an individual, existing separately and independently from others, capable of knowing and loving in an intellectual way, and of deciding for himself the purpose or end of his actions”. We also refer to person as “self” or “ego”. The person is an individual human being. Personality is the sum of those physical attributes and tendencies which define a person’s distinctive behavior. Personality is the sum of a person’s physical constitution, talents, abilities, and habits which define characteristic behavior. In layman’s terms, personality consists of the physical qualities and mannerisms of an aesthetically refined person. As persons, all men are equal regardless of race. However, one person may have more personality than another. 38  "The person does not grow in stature, but personality develops and enlarges itself according to the pattern of his actions, the mature use of his powers, and the scheme of his habits. There is no such thing as cultivating a person, but we speak of cultivation of personality. Hence, personality is the result of one's achievement". After you have learned about moral issues. I want you to watch a video about moral dilemma and after watching write your reaction about this short film on the space provided below. Kindly read the detail. Note: Your reaction paper should not less than 5 and not more than 10 sentences. ACTIVITY: WACTH VIDEO TITLE: BLESSED ME FATHER – OMELETO ( A priest has a moral dilemma when a man confesses a secret that affects his life) ONLINE SOURCE: www.youtube,com Search: Moral Dilemma short film 39 UNIT TWO REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT Key Words: Find the meaning of the following terms and memorize them. 1. Dilemmas 4. Moral Dilemmas 2. Human acts 5. Moral acts 3. Personality 6. Moral Issues Review/Assessment Questions: 1. What is your own personal understanding of morals/morality and write them on the space provided. Then, sight your personal own personal experiences. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 40 2. Sight your own personal experiences where you are in a situation which you considered it as a moral dilemma? Explain. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ References and Online Resources Ethics and The Filipino: A Manual on Morals for Students and Educators Second Edition ( 2008 ): Agapay, R. Ethics: Standard of Human Conduct ( 2007 ). Corpuz, R. Internet source: www.youtube.com/ moral dilemma short film/ Bless me father/ OMELET 41 42  LEARNING OUTCOMES In this unit, you should be able to Articulates what culture means Recognized differences in moral behavior of different cultures Appreciated the differences Evaluated the strength and weaknesses of cultural relativism INTRODUCTION Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.... The word "culture" derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and Unit 3: nurture. CULTURE AND MORAL BEHAVIOR STYLES OF PASSENGER LEISURE SHIPS 43  Welcome to Unit 3 of your learning module. Our first topic for this unit are the different elements of culture that affect the moral behavior of the society and individual. CULTURE AND MORAL BEHAVIOR Culture are those that shared in a community such as ideals, laws, customs, beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies. Some values are described as religious, economic, or aes- thetic. CULTURAL RELATIVISM -- is the idea that a person’s belief, values and practices should be understood based on that person’s own culture rather than be judged against the criteria of another. Cultural differences in moral judgment and behavior, across and within societies Cultures vary substantially in both moral judgments and moral behaviors. Cultural variations in morality within societies can vary as much as cultural variations in morality between societies. Cultural factors contributing to this variation include religion, social ecology (weather, crop conditions, population density, pathogen prevalence, residential mobility), and regulatory social institutions such as kinship structures and economic markets. This variability raises questions for normative theories of morality, but also holds promise for future descriptive work on moral thought and behavior. We review contemporary work on cultural factors affecting moral judgments and values, and those affecting moral behaviors. In both cases, we highlight examples of within-societal cultural differences in morality, to show that these can be as substantial and important as cross-societal differences. Whether between or within nations and societies, cultures vary substantially in their promotion and transmission of a multitude of moral judgments and behaviors. Cultural factors contributing to this variation include religion, social ecology (weather, crop conditions, population density, pathogen prevalence, residential mobility), and regulatory social institutions such as kinship structures and economic markets. This variability raises questions for normative theories of morality, but also holds promise for future descriptive work on moral thought and behavior. 44 Cultural Relativism: Strength and Weaknesses People change. Cultures change. Humanity is constantly evolving, developing, and adapting. When cultural relativism is implemented, then the ability to evolve and adapt is encouraged because the definitions of ethical and moral “right” and “wrong” can change as people change. Cultural relativism eliminates the rigidity that societies have in place regarding ethics, conduct, and reasoning. It also means that there are no actual definitions that are in place for a society. Cultural relativism promotes an individualistic perspective which governs how a person acts, thinks, and responds. Each person can set their own moralistic codes which they follow. There are additional cultural relativism advantages and disadvantages to consider when looking at this theory. Here are some of the key points to consider. What are the Advantages of Cultural Relativism? 1. It is a system which promotes cooperation. For the most part, humanity is strong because of the differences we all have. Every individual has a different perspective that is based on their upbringing, experiences, and personal thoughts. By embracing the many differences we have, the cooperation creates the potential for a stronger society. Each individual definition of success allows us to pursue stronger bonds with one another and potentially achieve more because there are no limitations from a group level and what can or cannot be accomplished. 2. It creates a society where equality is possible. In any society, people rise by climbing on top of other people. It is a socially acceptable way of creating discrimination. We see this today in the wage gap that women face, the educational opportunities that minority groups face, and the violence we see because of political oppression. Cultural relativism allows the individual to define their moral code without defining the moral code of others. Each person is separate in such a society. That separation creates equality because each person can set their own definition of success. 3. People can pursue a genuine interest. In the modern society, people are funneled toward certain career options because of their circumstances. If you can’t afford to go to college, then you pursue a vocational career or some sort of entrepreneurship instead of a career that requires a graduate degree. If you can’t afford to buy a house, you go rent an apartment. In cultural relativism, you get to pursue your own interests without restriction. You set the 45 definitions of what you can have and what you cannot have. When implemented successfully, each person would get to focus on their strengths instead of their weaknesses. 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 a natural level of respect built into the process. Each person is naturally given the right to pursue life through their own specific perspective and then learn from their experiences in a way that works best for them. 5. It preserves human cultures. Humanity is a very diverse set of thoughts, traditions, ideas, and practices. Many times, the traditions of humanity are set aside so that a group set of standards can be appeased. Native and First Nations tribes in North America did this by signing treaties which would help them to preserve some lands, but limit their rights by being subject to a new governmental authority. They were forced to trade some of their culture. Under the theory of cultural relativism, such a trade would not be necessary. It wouldn’t even be a consideration. 6. Cultural relativism creates a society without judgment. We are so trained to judge others in today’s world that we don’t even give it a second thought. Looking at someone and saying, “Glad that isn’t me,” is a judgment. Under the theory of cultural relativism, judgment goes away. The only person that judges you is yourself. People who might disagree with you are able to set their own codes and standards for their own individualistic bubble. Instead of worrying about others, you only worry about yourself. 7. Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativism. Each culture can be treated as an individual under the theory of cultural relativism. This means the moral codes of a culture can be defined and an expectation implemented that people follow it. Although other cultures may not setup such a restriction, and others might say such a restriction isn’t a true form of cultural relativism, people in such a system can do what makes the most sense for them. You’re focusing on the customs of a culture, not the morality that is imposed upon those customs. 8. We can create personal moral codes based on societal standards with ease. To determine if a decision would be “right” or “wrong,” cultural relativism allows individuals to consult with the standards of their society or culture. It is a simple test to determine the course that a person should take in such a circumstance. By consulting with the moral code of the culture, one question must be asked: does the action conform to the cultural moral code? If it does, then the action is permitted. Although this process can allow for disturbing results, most cultures are based on inclusion 46 instead of exclusion. It is only in structures where apartheid, segregation, or purging where disturbing outcomes are typically present. 9. It stops cultural conditioning. People tend to adapt their attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs to the people they are with on a regular basis. This is cultural conditioning and it prevents people from having an individualistic perspective. Cultural relativism stops this. What Are the Disadvantages of Cultural Relativism? 1. It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias. Every society has a certain natural bias to it because of how humanity operates. People tend to prefer to be with others who have similar thoughts and feelings, so they segregate themselves into neighborhoods, communities, and social groups that share specific perspectives. When people are given the power to define their own moral code, then they will do so based on their own personal bias. There is no longer a group perspective. People follow their own code at the expense of others. 2. It would create chaos. People who can follow their own moral code because there is no “wrong” or “right” would be allowed to pursue any life they preferred under the theory of cultural relativism. If you’re upset with your neighbor, then you can kill that person without consequence if your moral code allows for murder. Instead of purchasing something, you could steal it if you see stealing as “right” to do. There is no real way to protect people in such a society, so each person becomes responsible to protect themselves. It creates a system that is Darwinian in practicality, where only the strongest can survive. 3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity. Many people strive to do good every day. Most want to see everyone have the chance to pursue happiness in some way. That is why the idea of cultural relativism often seems to be inviting. The only problem is that people are not perfect. We can be forgetful. We can lie. We can become aggressive when a driver cuts you off while driving and puts your family at risk. Without a group moral code in place to govern decisions, anything could happen when we experience these moments of imperfection. 4. It could promote a lack of diversity. Cultural relativism promotes an individualistic point of view, so although it seems to promote diversity, it actually removes it from a society. Cultural relativism would allow slavery to return to the US South. It would allow men to exclude women from voting once again. It would stop employers from paying someone a fair wage – or even paying them a wage at all. The only standards that are in place are those which are set by the individual involved, which means everyone is pursuing their own position of strength. We cannot create diversity when the emphasis of a society is individualistic gain that can come at the expense of others. 47 5. It draws people away from one another. Although cultural relativism can promote people coming together to share their strengths, it can also encourage people to draw apart from one another. C.S. Lewis, in his description of Hell from The Screwtape Letters, envisions a place where people are constantly going away from each other to avoid the demons that each person has. Because each person is uncertain of what codes and standards another is following, the natural inclination for self-preservation causes people to draw away. You might develop a close-knit community at first, but as Lewis describes, each demon causes people to back away from one another instead of coming closer. 6. It could limit moral progress. When we look at the idea of moral progress, we think of becoming more inclusionary instead of exclusionary. This inclusion is reflected in the laws and customs of the culture. The current debate on the transgender bathroom laws in North Carolina and Texas is a good example of this. In cultural relativism, everyone would be able to use their bathroom of choice OR a culture could state that everyone must use a specific bathroom without exception and there would be complete agreement in either choice. Within the society, either choice would be seen as moral progress, but in reality, it could hold people back. 7. It could limit humanity’s progress. We often think of the concept of cultural relativism as progression, but it isn’t necessarily that way. When you remove the ability to judge one standard from another, then the comparative process of placing a current society or culture against a past one is removed as well. No definition of success can be implemented because each is successful in its own way. We might consider the ability for women to vote as the “right” thing to do today, but in past societies, not allowing women to vote was also “right” from a cultural standpoint. Because both are “right,” there’s no way to judge progress. 8. Cultural relativism can turn perceptions into truths. It’s a dark night and it is warm outside. An African-American teen is walking down an alley wearing a hoodie and the hood is up. His hands are jammed into his pockets and there is a bulge in one of them. In this scenario, some people may automatically assume that the teen is up to “no good.” The bulge might even be a weapon under that assumption. In the world of cultural relativism, that bias becomes a truth that can be acted upon. It doesn’t matter if the bulge is a gun or a package of Skittles. The decision to act becomes a righteous one because of the individual truth that the culture allowed through the bias it perpetrates. The cultural relativism advantages and disadvantages which are discussed are based on the theoretical implementation of such a system. Originally proposed by Franz Boas in 1887, it is an idea that has never been implemented on a large scale. Moral standards make sense in a person’s culture. By creating individualized cultures, on singular or 48 larger scales, it does become easier to keep and embrace the traditions that humanity has developed over the millennia. References and Internet resources: Ethics and The Filipino: A Manual on Morals for Students and Educators Second Edition ( 2008 ): Agapay, R. Ethics: Standard of Human Conduct ( 2007 ). Corpuz, R. Internet sources: Elsevier ( current opinion in psychology ) https://doi.org/j.copsyc.2015.09.007 vittana,org/17-cutural-relativism-advantages-and-disadvantages UNIT THREE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT Key Words: Find the meaning of the following terms and memorize them. 1. Culture 4. Cultural variations 2. Cultural Relativism 5. Society 3. Moral Behavior Review/Assessment Questions: 1. What are the cultures in our society that affect our moral behavior and how it affects your own personal life as an individual? Write your answers on the space provided. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 49 ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What is your personal idea or insight about cultural relativism in the Philippines ( e.g. between Ilocano and Ilonggo ) Cite an example that you know and experience. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 50 51  LEARNING OUTCOMES In this unit, you should be able to Analyzed crucial qualities of the Filipino moral identity in their own moral experiences Identify universal values and why they are important for human survival _______________________________________________________________________ Recalled defining moments in their moral formation Identified and articulated each stage of moral development Filipino Values Checked their personal growth Filipino values are our cultural values. They sum up our responses Recalledtoimmediate responses the meaning of to human life in the context of the cultural setting. They showmoral dilemmas our strengths and weaknesses as a people. Differentiated responses based on reason and those based on feelings Filipino Cultural Values INTRODUCTION Cultural values are "our distinctive way of becoming human on this particular place and time. Filipino values spring from our peculiar way of viewing life—its origin, Filipinoits values meaning,areandour cultural values. its purpose. Unit 4: Foremost among our values is pananalig sa Maykapal. The Filipino hand. He believes that his destiny, or suwerte, depends on God putssum They his trust entirely up our in God's to the responses meaning of human life in the context of FILIPINO VALUES 's wishes. the cultural setting. They show our strengths The Filipino expresses concern for others through pakikipag- and kapwa, weaknesses pagmamahal sa as a people. familia, and pagmamahal sa bayan. He believes in himself and in his abilities. The Filipino way: Filipino Moral Ideal The Filipino believes moral integrity is the essentiality of "becoming human". It is above the desire for material enrichment. This moral expectation is similar, though with much lesser significance, with such 52  Filipino Values Filipino Cultural Values Cultural values are "our distinctive way of becoming human on this particular place and time. Filipino values spring from our peculiar way of viewing life—its origin, its meaning, and its purpose. Foremost among our values is pananalig sa Maykapal. The Filipino puts his trust entirely in God's hand. He believes that his destiny, or suwerte, depends on God's wishes. The Filipino expresses concern for others through pakikipag- kapwa, pagmamahal sa familia, and pagmamahal sa bayan. He believes in himself and in his abilities. The Filipino way: Filipino Moral Ideal The Filipino believes moral integrity is the essentiality of "becoming human". It is above the desire for material enrichment. This moral expectation is similar, though with much lesser significance, with such concepts as "magpaka-lalaki", or "magpaka-babae", implying that man and woman have different traits and capabilities. Just as a man or a woman must act in accordance with the demands ol their respective gender, a person ought to live up to the demands of his humanity or "pagkatao"pagpapakatao. Man As Person ( Universal values ) Man has an intellect that separates him from all brute creation. Man has the ability to think before doing a particular action. Man may foresee the consequences of his actions. He has the capacity to know what is right and what is wrong. Ethics is the study of man as a moral being. What goals we assign to ourselves, what actions we choose to do, and how we treat others – depend on how we understand ourselves as a human being. Socrates is wise indeed for proposing that the starting point of wisdom is “to know oneself”. Character is often taken as synonymous with personality. This is correct if personality is taken as the sum-total of the psychological systems in an individual 53  which enable him to adjust to his environment. Character, however, refers the person's choice of values and his intelligent exercise of his freedom. Moral Character Character is the will of the person directing him towards a recognized ideal. This is how human actions are significant because they actualize man's potential to be what he truly is as a rational being. When a person falls short of the expectation, he is said to have bad character. On the other hand, a person who lives up to the ideals of his humanity is said to have good character, or moral integrity. Character is not the product of a moment's inspiration, but a disciplined tendency to choose the right thing in any given circumstance. It is adherence to what is true, beautiful, and good in us. Moral Distinctions On the basis of their conformity or non-conformity with the norm of morality, human acts are either moral, immoral, or amoral. Moral actions are those in conformity with the norm of morality. They are good and permissible actions, such as working, studying, paying debts, telling the truth, loving someone, etcetera. Immoral actions are those which are not in conformity with the norm of morality. They are evil and prohibited actions, such as cursing, cheating, stealing, lying, etcetera. Amoral actions are those which stand neutral or indifferent to the norm of morality. These acts are neither good nor evil, but they may become evil because of circumstances. Playing basketball becomes morally wrong when it causes a student to miss his class. Drinking wine is amoral, but excessive drinking is wrong. Sources of Morality The Morality of Human Acts depends on: The Object 54  The end of intention of the agent The Circumstances Moral Accountability A morally good act requires the goodness of the object, of the end and of the circumstances together. An evil end corrupts the action even if the object is good in itself such as praying and fasting in order to be seen by men. Human acts, they are voluntary, are accountable acts. Actions are imputed on the doer as its principal cause and, therefore, deserving of either reward or punishment. Human acts, because they are voluntary, are accountable acts. Actions are imputed on the doer as its principal cause and, therefore, deserving of either reward or punishment. ACTIVITY: Students are required to watch a documentary video about Filipino Values and after watching, you will going to write your reaction paper on space provided below. Internet Sources: www.youtube.com Title: Filipino Values – understanding culture by: Axxis Lorena ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________- ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 55 UNIT FOUR REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT Key Words: Find the meaning of the following terms and memorize them. 1. Filipino l values 4. Universal Values 2. Character 5. Human Acts 3. Moral character 6. Amoral Review/Assessment Questions: 1. What are the Filipino values in our society that make us unique from other races and how it affects your own personal life as an individual? Write your answers on the space provided. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 56  _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 2. What is your personal idea or insight about Filipino moral ideal in the Philippines? Can you discuss further the significant of our moral ideal? Write your answer on the space provided _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ References and Internet resources: Ethics and The Filipino: A Manual on Morals for Students and Educators Second Edition ( 2008 ): Agapay, R. Ethics: Standard of Human Conduct ( 2007 ). Corpuz, R. Internet Sources: www.youtube.com Title: Filipino Values – understanding culture by: Axxis Lorena 57  That’s it for the Prelim Grading Period! CONGRATULATIONS! Pat your shoulder and say, I did really well. Midterms, Here I come! 58