Principles of Ethical Behavior
in Modern Society
(Ethics)
MR. RENEE B. CAGAS
INSTRUCTOR
Objectives:
-To understand the relevance of studying
Ethics & importance of rules.
-To know the relation of Moral vs. Non-
Moral Standards.
-To find moral action when you are in a
Moral Dilemma.
-To exercise true Freedom.
Why do you need to study Ethics and the
Importance of Rules
*Every day, person encounters moral experience
wherein the values he or she believes to be
important are either realized or thwarted.
*Taking an action is based on his or her moral
standards.
e.g. Giving money to the poor & feeding the
hungry are the right thing to do. These are moral
experiences.
What if, we face different situation that our moral standards need to be considered.
pp. 30-32 ( talks about different situation on how to be a moral being)
THE NEED TO STUDY ETHICS:
Commision on Higher Education states “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 series 2013)
Aim for studying Ethics: To have a moral compass
in order to develop better judgment.
*College students already have developed a
set of moral standards by which they use to
understand the world and a moral compass to
navigate in it (Billett, 2006; Campbell, 2009).
*This reality makes it important for students to
study, explore, understand, and critically reflect
on their personal value system.
End goal for studying Ethics: Student
becomes a person who makes sound judgment
and sensitive to the common good.
Relevance of studying Ethics in your Chosen Profession:
*Empowers professionals to foster moral values through their work.
*Gives a sense of justification in one’s judgment
*Helps ensure that desicions at work are not made based on
purely subjective factors.
*Without the study of ethics, the practice of one’s profession will
fall prey to vastly conflicting individual’s interpretations.
Importance of Rules to Social Beings
Rules - “a statement that tells you what is or is
not llowed in a particular situation”
(Merriam-Webster, 2017)
e.g. traffic rules, sports rules
* rules are in place
-to manage harmful behaviors
-to prevent chaos
-to encourage stability
MORAL AND NON-
MORAL STANDARDS
Moral standards are norms that an individual or group has about the types of
behavior that determine what is morally right or wrong, and the values that
determine what is morally good or bad. Basically, moral norms promote the 'good',
such as the well-being of people, animals, and the environment. Therefore, it
prescribes what people should do in terms of rights and obligations.
MORAL CODES
Moral codes specifically deal with issues that can seriously harm or benefit people.
The validity of moral standards derives from the set of inferences used to justify or
uphold them and is therefore not shaped or altered by any particular authority.
Moral - principles, norms, models of what is right & wrong.
SOURCE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/ethics-and-morality
MORAL STANDARDS
NORMS
- General rules about
action and behavior.
MORAL
VALUES = STANDARDS
-Enduring beliefs
about what is good
and desirable, or not
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/chumce02/lesson-1-topic-1-moral-
nonmoral-standards
MORAL STANDARDS
Characteristics Of Moral Standards
Moral Standards deal with matters that the person thinks
have serious consequences. However, these standards are not
hinge on external authority or rules, but based on good
reason and impartial considerations overriding self-interest.
(Mandal, 2010; Velasques, 2012)
One definition of A CODE OF WHAT IS
Moral Standards is
RIGHT OR WRONG
WITHOUT REFERENCE
TO SPECIFIC
BEHAVIORS OR BELIEF
SOURCE: ETHICS 2022 EDITION, PAGE 34 (O’Connor, Lynn, 1997)
MORAL STANDARDS
Principles Of Moral Standards
1. promote human welfare or well being
2. promote good
3. prescribed what ought to be done
- rights
- obligations)
6 CHARACTERISTICS THAT DIFFERENTIATE MORAL AND
NON-MORAL STADARDS
1. Moral standards involve behaviors that seriously 4. Moral standards are believed
affect other people’s well being. to be universal.
2. M o r a l s t a n d a r d s t a k e a m o r e i m p o r t a n t
5. Moral standards are based on
considerations than other standards including objectivity.
self-interest.
3. Moral standards do not depend on any external
6. Moral standards are
associated with vocabulary that
authority but in how the person perceive the depicts emotion or feelings.
reasonableness of the action.
Learn More
SOURCE: ETHICS 2022 EDITION, PAGE 34-35
Non-moral standards are rules that have nothing to do with
moral or ethical considerations. These standards are either
MORAL VS
unrelated to morality or, by definition, lack ethical sense.
Etiquette rules, fashion standards, game rules, and various
NON-MORAL house rules are all examples of non-moral standards.
MORAL NON-MORAL
“Do not harm “Don't text while
innocent people” driving” or “Don't
or “Don't steal” talk while the mouth
is full”
SOURCE: https://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/glossary/moral-standard/
CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-MORAL STANDARDS
WELFARE OF RELIES ON LIMITS EMOTIONS
NON BEINGS AUTHORITY HEGEMONY AND
LAW VOCABULARY
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/chumce02/lesson-1-topic-1-moral-
nonmoral-standards
Sample of Non-Moral Standards
Etiquette Law
set of rules on how ruled created &
individual should enforced by the
responsibly behave government and its
in the society agencies to maintain
order, resolve
disputes, and
protect.
Policy Commandment
simple & clear rule that is to be strictly
statement of how an observes because it was
organization plans said to be set by a
tohandle its services, divine entiry,
actions, or policies e.g.
Ten Commmandments
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/chumce02/lesson-1-topic-1-moral-
nonmoral-standards
“
LEARN DEEPER ABOUT MORAL AND
NON-MORAL STANDARDS
WATCH VIDEO
HERE:
https://youtu.be/zGGaHVoehE4
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/zGGaHVoehE4
MORALITY
01
Beliefs pertaining to the differences between
right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
The rules of morality are not mandates or
commands; they are beliefs.
LAW
Laws, on the other hand, are the rules a 02
country or community mandates its citizens
follow in order to regulate society. Laws are
not optional. They must be obeyed.
How Morality Differs from
RELIGION
Law & Religion 03
Religion is a structure of faith and worship.
It's a belief system based on faith in a
VIDEO EXPLAINATION: supernatural power.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-differences-between-morality-
and-law-
religion.html#:~:text=For%20starters%2C%20morality%20is%20defined,in%
20order%20to%20regulate%20society.
MORAL DILEMMA
Dilemma
It is a situation which difficult choice has to be made
between two or more alternatives, especially equally
undesirable ones. (Dictionary, 2017).
MORAL DILEMMA
Moral dilemmas are situations in which the decision-
maker must consider two or more moral values or
duties but can only honor one of them; thus, the
individual will violate at least one important moral
concern, regardless of the decision.
Moral dilemma situation
1.There are two or more actions that you
can possibly do.
2.There is a moral reason(s) for doing such
actions.
3.You cannot do all the possible actions
presented to you. You only need to
choose one.
Three levels of Moral dilemma
1. PERSONAL DILEMMA
2. ORGANIZATIONAL DILEMMA
3. STRUCTURAL MORAL DILEMMA
PERSONAL DILEMMA
Personal Moral Dilemma- is when your decision
in a situation where there is moral conflict is the
cause of either your own; that of another
person; or a group of people’s potential harm.
Example: Ana Vs. Jane
ORGANIZATIONAL DILEMMA
An Organizational dilemma-is when a member or members of
the organization is in situations where there is moral conflict,
and decision will potentially harm either some members of the
group or the entire organization itself.
EXAMPLE: A Factory is not hitting it’s target Profit. If the
company keeps on missing it’s target, the factory will also not
achieve it’s five years expansion plan.
Structural moral dilemma
Structural Moral Dilemma-is when a person or a group
who holds high-level positions in the society faces a
morally conflicting situation.
EXAMPLE: The SSS members have been asking for a two
thousand pesos SSS pension increase. Several lawmakers
supported the because they see that it will benefit the
senior citizens members.
REFERENCE
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url
=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-
15191-
1_2&ved=2ahUKEwjOpda96P35AhVqplYBHazkDJ8QFnoEC
GwQBQ&usg=AOvVaw2vKNtLb_LeozFB_6JjO8Pf
Freedom
Table of Objectives
Contents At the end of the lesson,the
students should be able to:
01.
Why Only Human Beings
can be Ethical
Formulate their own idea of
freedom
02. The Foundation of Morality
Knowthe role of freedom
03.
Why is Freedom Crucial in your
on one's life
Ability to make Moral Decisions?
04. The Human Person
as a Free Being
Identify the philosophers'
beliefs on Freedom
05. Philosophical insights
on Freedom
Why only Human Beings can be Ethical
There has been some claim that morality is not unique to human beings.
Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE,
reported that sometimes,
chimpanzees show a truly selfless
concern for the well being of
others (Goodall, 1990)
Dame Jane Morris Goodall , is a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of
Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her over
55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees since she first went to Gombe Stream
National Park, Tanzania in 1960. She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots
program, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues
Why only Human Beings can be Ethical
There has been some claim that morality is not unique to human beings.
Immanuel Kant, Rene
Descar tes, T homas
Aquinas, Peter
Carruthers, and various
other theories believe
that only human beings
can be ethical (Wilson,
2017)
Instinctive Behavior Rational Behavior
hard-wired, inborn, characteristic decision making-process where the
response to specific environmental person acts in ways that best achieve
stimuli one's needs in accordance with their
set preferences, priorities, & principles
an example is the altruistic behavior of social
tied to moral standards
animals
the human person in his or her decision-making
researchers found that the animal's intent of self-
process is free to decide what to do and free to
sacrifice is more on ensuring reproductive success
act on his or her decisions
(kin selection) rather than out of true selfless
motive
there is also reciprocal altruism where the animal Key Difference
willprovide for another animal's need because it
expects the similar act in a similar manner at a Only human beings can be ethical because
later time only humans have the capacity for free
moral judgement
Instinctive Behavior
Kin selection occurs when an
hard-wired, inborn, characteristic
response to specific environmental
animal engages in self-sacrificial
stimuli behavior that benefits the genetic
fitness of its relatives. The theory of
altruism, in ethics, a
kin selection is one of the
theory of conduct that foundations of the modern study of
regards the good of others social behavior.
as the end of moral action.
T h e t e r m ( F r e n c h
altruisme, derived from
Latin alter, “other”) was
coined in the 19th century
by Auguste Comte, the
founder of Positivism, and
adopted generally as a
The Foundation
of Morality
C.S.Lewis likened morality to a fleet of ships. According
to Lewis, though each ship must sail well on its own,
each must also coordinate with the other ships at all
times to stay in formation &avoid collisions. Finally, the
fleet must have a destination or purpose for the
journey because if the ship was just aimlessly sailing
then it has failed its ultimate purpose - that of getting
from one point to the next.
There isone crucial difference: a ship isunder the
command of a ship captain but a person is
someone who isfree to decide his or her course.
Why is freedom crucial in your ability to make moral
decisions?
Developingvirtuesothatthinkingmorally, performing moralacts,and
choosingto do whatisgood becomesa habit.
virtueisyourthoughtor behaviorguidedby anddisplayshighmoralstandards.
virtues become your characteristics
Avirtuouspersonnotonlydoeswhatisrightbuthisor her behavioralsobecomesastandardfor everyoneto follow.
Freedom, then, is the foundation of moral acts.
Thereisno virtuein self-restraint if,in the Thereisno virtuein givingif someone is
firstplace,youareprohibited from forcingyouto giveup your possessions.
indulging.
“The human person’s freedom is so
precious that God will not take over and
take control of the perosn’s life, even
when that person badly misuses his or
John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron
her freedom” (1967) Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli,
(10 January 1834 – 19 June 1902), better
known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic
historian, politician, and writer. He is best
remembered for the remark he wrote in a
letter to an Anglican bishop in 1887: [1]
The Human Person as a FreeBeing
HUMAN PERSON
In philosophy, a human being is
more than its biological
components.
The human being is a person
endowed with characteristics that
are m a t e r i a l , s p i r i t u a l ,
rational, and free.
Philosophical Insights on Freedom
Freedom Freedom
is a G ift is
Absolute
Freedom is Freedom
Com p lem ent a ry Demands
to Reason Resp onsib ilit y
Freedom is a Gift
- Freedom is the ability to act significantly.
- We are not free if everything that we chose Gabriel Marcel, in full Gabriel-Honoré Marcel, (born
is insiginificant choice. December 7, 1889, Paris, France—died October 8, 1973,
Paris), French philosopher, dramatist, and critic who was
associated with the phenomenological and existentialist
- Freedom is the ability to make significant movements in 20th-century European philosophy and
choices & it is a gift given to us by God. whose work and style are often characterized as theistic or
Christian existentialism (a term Marcel disliked, preferring
(Hernandez, 2009) the more neutral description “neo-Socratic” because it
captures the dialogical, probing, and sometimes inchoate
nature of his reflections).
Freedom is Complementary toReason
*InAristotle'sview,thehumanperson asamoralagentmust
exercisepractical rationalityin order todeterminehowto
pursue hisor her ultimateend (telos).
*Aristotle'sethicaldoctrinesassertedthatfreedom and
reason arecomplementary.
*Aristotleconsideredfreedom andreasonasnecessary
facultiesfor consciouslymakingsenseof thingslikeevents,
occurrencies,phenomenon,situations.
Freedom is Absolute
- Human person is “absolutely free”
- Human person sets apart from other
creatures.
21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a
French playwright, novelist,
s c r e e n w r i t e r, p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i s t ,
- His freedom is beyond from restriction.
biographer, and literary critic, as well
as a leading figure in 20th-century
French philosophy and Marxism. Contrast to animals:
Sartre was one of the key figures in -Animals are not tied down with
the philosophy of existentialism (and
phenomenology). His work has responsibilities.
influenced sociology, critical theory,
post-colonial theory, and literary
studies, and continues to do so.
Thefreedomofthehumanpersonisbeyondfreedom fromrestrictions
Heisfree to think, to change, and to becomea
better person. Aprisoner isfree to redefine himself.
Wearefree to usethisfreedom to attain
goals higher than satisfyingbasic needs.
Freedom DemandsResponsibility
Jean-Paul Sartre said“You are free” becausehe believedaperson alwayshas
a choice.
Healsoadded theconceptof responsibilityto freedom.
Accordingto Sartre,eventhough individualsmustmaketheir own
choicesbecausetheyarefree, thesechoicesalsohave
consequences to it.
• * Theseconsequencesto freedom aresomethingthatthe person
must
endure.
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu also discussed freedomand
responsibility.
Responsibility,as amoralqualityserves as a voluntary check
and balance of one's freedom.
Without proper balancelimitlessfreedom isasdangerous asanextremely
controllingsocial group.
