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Lesson 6 PDF

The document discusses the differences between moral standards and non-moral standards. Moral standards are norms and values regarding right and wrong actions that promote human and environmental welfare. They can vary between cultures but address issues like harm. Non-moral standards involve matters of taste or preference like etiquette or aesthetics. The document also defines moral dilemmas as situations where an agent must choose between two unacceptable options that both compromise moral principles.

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929 views

Lesson 6 PDF

The document discusses the differences between moral standards and non-moral standards. Moral standards are norms and values regarding right and wrong actions that promote human and environmental welfare. They can vary between cultures but address issues like harm. Non-moral standards involve matters of taste or preference like etiquette or aesthetics. The document also defines moral dilemmas as situations where an agent must choose between two unacceptable options that both compromise moral principles.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 6

MORAL STANDARDS VS. NON-MORAL


STANDARDS

* Different societies have different moral


beliefs and that these beliefs are primarily
influenced by one’s culture and context.
* This implies that some values have moral
implications and others don’t.
* Thus, different cultures have different
moral standards.
* What is a matter of moral indifference, that
is, a matter of taste (hence, non-moral
value) in one culture may be a matter of
moral significance in another.
* The danger here is when one culture will
impose its cultural standards on others,
thereby, resulting to a clash of cultural
values and beliefs.
* In order to avoid violence and crime, such
as religious violence and ethnic cleansing,
one needs to understand the difference
between moral standards and non-moral
ones.
* Once we have distinguished moral standards
from non-moral ones, of course, through the aid
of the principles and theories in ethics, we will
be able to identify fundamental ethical values
that may guide our actions.
Moral Standards
* They are norms (general rules about our
actions or behaviors) that individuals or
groups have about the kinds of actions
believed to be morally right or wrong, as
well as the values (enduring beliefs or
statements about what is good and
desirable or not) placed on what we
believed to be morally good or morally
bad.
* Moral standards normally promote “the
good”, that is, the welfare and well-being
of humans as well as animals and the
environment.
* Moral standards, therefore, prescribe what
humans ought to do in terms of rights and
obligations.
* Moral standards are the sum of combined
norms and values.
Characteristics
1. Moral standards deal with matters we
think can seriously injure or benefit
humans, animals, and the environment,
such as child abuse, rape, and murder.
2. Moral standards are not established or
changed by the decisions of
authoritative individuals or bodies.
3. Moral standards are overriding, that is,
they take precedence over other
standards and considerations, especially
of self-interest.
4. Moral standards are based on impartial
considerations, thus, they are fair and
just.
5. Moral standards are associated with
special emotions (such as guilt and
shame) and vocabulary (such as right,
wrong, good, and bad).
Non-Moral Standards
* They are standards by which we judge
what is good or bad and right or wrong in a
non-moral way.
* Examples of non-moral standards are the
standards of etiquette, standards of law,
and standards of aesthetics.
* Non-moral standards are matters of taste
and preference.
* Thus, a scrupulous observance of the said
standards does not actually make one a
moral person and violation of such
standards does not pose any threat to
human well-being.
MORAL DILEMMAS

Dilemma
* This refers to a situation where a person is
forced to choose between two or more
conflicting options, neither of which is
acceptable.
* This implies that the person has choices to
make that will all have results she does not
want.
* It must be noted, however, that if the agent
is in a difficult situation but is not forced to
choose two or more options, then she is not
in a dilemma.
* When dilemmas involve human actions
with moral implications, they are called
ethical or moral dilemmas.
Moral Dilemmas
* They refer to situations where moral agents
are forced to choose between two or more
conflicting options, neither of which
resolves the situation in a morally
acceptable manner.
* There are three conditions needed to be
present in a situation to be considered as a
moral dilemma.
1. The agent of a moral action is obliged to
make a decision about which course of
action is best. She must choose the best
option and act accordingly.
2. There must be different courses of action
to choose from.
3. No matter what course of action is taken,
some moral principles are always
compromised.
* There is no perfect solution to the problem.
* In moral dilemmas, the moral agent
“seems fated to commit something wrong
which implies that she is bound to morally
fail because in one way or another she will
fail to do something which she ought to
do.”

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