POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Santa Maria Bulacan Campus

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL FOR

ETHICS GEED 10093

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

 VISION
PUP: The National Polytechnic University

MISSION

Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities
through a re-engineered polytechnic university by committing to:

 provide democratized access to educational opportunities for the holistic development of

individuals with global perspective
 offer industry-oriented curricula that produce highly-skilled professionals with managerial
and technical capabilities and a strong sense of public service for nation building
 embed a culture of research and innovation
 continuously develop faculty and employees with the highest level of professionalism
 engage public and private institutions and other stakeholders for the attainment of social
development goal
 establish a strong presence and impact in the international academic community

The PUP Philosophy

As a state university, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines believes that:
 Education is an instrument for the development of the citizenry and for the enhancement of
nation building; and
 That meaningful growth and transformation of the country are best achieved in an atmosphere
of brotherhood, peace, freedom, justice and nationalist-oriented education imbued with the
spirit of humanist internationalism.

Goals and Objectives

General

To develop globally competitive students who will play proactive roles in national and international
development.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

Specific

1. Quality Instruction- To provide quality instruction responsive to global needs and

expectations.

2. Wider Accessibility- To democratize access to graduate education to all qualified Filipinos

and foreigners.

3. Research Excellence- To foster a culture of research excellence in graduate

education.

4. Resilient Industry-Academe Partnerships- To develop and establish mutually

beneficial partnerships with relevant industry sectors.

5. Stakeholder Empowerment- To intensify capacity-building programs among stakeholders.

6. Strong Commitment to Community Service- To provide adequate programs for the

improvement of quality of life and to encourage acts of volunteerism to serve the needs of
the marginalized sectors.

7. Efficient Resource Generation- To vigorously pursue efforts of increasing resources to

sustain key programs of graduate education.

8. Responsive Extension Services- To share expertise with those who are in need most and
ensure the same as a source of empowerment.

9. Quality and Extensive Production- To publish/produce quality instructional materials,

modules, technical packages, and interactive multimedia software - To produce innovations,
inventions, research and development outputs.

10. Effective Local and International Linkages- To establish, expand and strengthen
opportunities for local and international linkages.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

 Ten Pillars
Pillar 1: Dynamic, Transformational, and Responsible Leadership

Pillar 2: Responsive and Innovative Curricula and Instruction

Pillar 3: Enabling and Productive Learning Environment

Pillar 4: Holistic Student Development and Engagement

Pillar 5: Empowered Faculty Members and Employees

Pillar 6: Vigorous Research Production and Utilization

Pillar 7: Global Academic Standards and Excellence

Pillar 8: Synergistic, Productive, Strategic Networks and Partnerships

Pillar 9: Active and Sustained Stakeholders’ Engagement

Pillar 10: Sustainable Social Development Programs and Projects

https://youtu.be/i7qQVvI8fOI

Shared Values and Principles

(Bahaginang Pagpapahalaga at Prinsipyo)

 Integrity and Accountability  Integridad at Pananagutan

 Nationalism  Makabayan
 Spirituality  Espiritwalidad
 Passion for Learning and Innovation  Masidhing Hangarin para sa Pagkatuto
 Inclusivity at Inobasyon
 Respect for Human Rights and The  Mapagbuo
Environment  Paggalang sa Karapatang Pantao at
 Excellence Kalikasan
 Democracy  Kahusayan
 Kalayaan

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of Ethics 1

Meaning of Ethics 1

Assumption of Ethics 1

Meaning of Morality 1

Two General forms of acts 1

Classification of Human acts 1

Components of Moral acts 2

Form of Ethical analysis 2

Form of Ethics 6

Special Ethics 6

Assessment 8

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

ETHICS

The course will introduce and justify in the learner’s necessity of moral thinking and the
choosing of meaningful moral positions and manners of acting and behaving in the face of
various situations requiring such in a working environment or profession. For the sake of
flexibility, it should encourage the learner to draw out and analyze the correctness or wrongness
of behavior from acquired communal values/culture, from one’s situation at the level of person,
society, environment, and later from the standpoint of classic ethical principles.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of Ethics

Ethics – from Greek word “Ethos” means characteristics way of acting.

As a philosophical discipline of study, ethics is a systematic approach to understanding,

analyzing, and distinguishing matters of right and wrong, good and bad, and admirable and
deplorable as they relate to the well-being of and the relationships among emotional beings.
According to Plato, one of the greatest philosophers, ethics is concerned with the attainment of
life’s greatest good and goal—HAPPINESS. And to Socrates, the unexamined life is not worth
living for man.

Assumption of Ethics according to Philosophy

Assumptions are fundamental beliefs or statement that are accepted to be true without the
burden of proving or of proof.

1. Human is a rational being

2. Human is free

3. Human is a passionate being

Morality – The quality of human acts by which we call them right, wrong or indifferent;
good, evil or neutral.

Two general forms of acts

1. Acts of Man

a. Involuntary natural acts (heartbeat, blinking of eye)

b. Voluntary natural acts – usually part of our daily life (eating,, sleeping, and drinking)

2. Human Acts – include actions that are conscious, deliberate, intentional, voluntary and
are within the preview of human value judgment.

Classification of Human Acts

1. Moral or ethical acts – are specific beliefs, behaviors, and ways of being derived from doing
ethics.

2. Immoral or unethical acts – which means that a person’s behavior is in opposition to

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

 accepted societal, religious, cultural, or professional ethical standards and principles;
examples include dishonesty, fraud, murder, and sexually abusive acts.

3. Amoral or neural acts – is a term used to refer to actions that can normally be judged as
moral or immoral but are done with a lack of concern for good behavior.

Components of Moral Acts

1. The Intention or motive

2. The means of the act

3. The end of the act

Form of Ethical analysis

Ethical Theories are devices which a person may use to analyze and determine the moral
goodness of his decisions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcMnRH9gCag&t=4s (Prof. Viray)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr7U49RPpTs

Three Major Ethical Theories

1. Utilitarianism

2. Categorical Imperialism

3. Situational Ethics

1. Utilitarianism-- theory in ethics by which actions are judged to be right or wrong solely
according to their causal consequences. Under the utilitarian theory of morality, an individual
should seek only those things that tend to produce "The greatest happiness of the greatest
number of people."

The Utilitarian Precepts of Pleasure Regarding:

Physical Pleasure - are sensual indulgences or bodily

gratification Mental Pleasure - refers to intellectual, spiritual, and

moral pleasures.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

Utilitarian Rules of Morality

1. If the end of the act promotes unhappiness, even if it has intended to promote the greatest
happiness, the act can be considered morally wrong.

2. If the end of an act has promoted the greatest amount of happiness of the greatest
number of people, whatever means the act employs is morally justified.

3. If an act unintentionally produces the greatest amount of happiness, the act is still morally
good.

Utilitarianism and the Workplace

1. One of its significant contributions is its capability to rationalize or justify the various
important demands of the workers, like the demands for higher wages, more benefits,
healthy working conditions, and fair treatment.

2. The utilitarian theory provides the idea that it is perfectly moral and just for the workers to
make such important demands, and for the employers to satisfy these demands since that
would lead to the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people.

3. The sheer number of common workers which is far greater than the number of the
capitalists can be a basis of moral justifications for the pursuit of their common interests. It
heightens the sensitivity and vigilance of workers to ensure that actions, decisions or policies
do not benefit only the selfish few but the many.

Problems of Utilitarian Morality

1. The utilitarian theory treats everything as conditional and subservient to utility.

2. Violations of human rights and other unethical acts become morally justifiable, as long as
they promote the utilitarian ideologies of the greatest happiness of the greatest number of
people.

3. It is difficult to imagine discrimination or corruption as morally good simply because it

made the greatest number of person happy. Utilitarian calculation: the happiness of fifty
persons justifies the denial of the happiness, or even the life of one person.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

Categorical Imperative

The name given by Immanuel Kant to the unconditional and unyielding principle of
morality, a law by which reason unconditionally binds itself. The categorical imperative,
unlike hypothetical imperatives, does not rest on some interest; thus, it binds unconditionally
and morally. This theory focuses on the motive of an act and the means employed by an act.
According to Kant, we must do good because we must. IT IS OUR DUTY TO DO
GOOD. It is GOOD WILL OR SENSE OF DUTY that turns thoughts and actions to Gold.

For Immanuel Kant, the moral worth of an act proceeds from two things:

1. The Motive or intention of the act

2. The Nature of the means employed by the act.

The Two formulation of Categorical Imperative

1. Universalizability - The formula of universalizability commands: act only on maxims that

you can, and at the same time, will become a universal law.

First Test: Ask yourself, "Is this what I want others to do?" Second Test: Think of a
hypothetical situation and imagine what happens when all people do the act all at the same
time.

2. Respect for Person - A major moral implication of the formula of universalizability is the
respect for person. It is expressed as follows: Act always so as to treat humanity, in your
own person or in that of another as an end in itself, never merely as a means.

Categorical Imperative and the Workplace

Some philosophers claim that Kant's theory of morality is but an attempt to summarize the
Ten Commandments and to restate the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you want others
do unto you.

Problem of Categorical Imperative

1. Categorical Imperative unrealistically set very high standards of conduct attainable only
by “angels and saints”.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

2. The issue that Categorical Imperative sets to high a standard of morality

3. People tend to attract categorical imperative, because of their unwillingness to abandon

their selfishness.

4. The path to moral goodness and holiness follows a narrow and difficult road.

Applying Categorical Imperative in Decision Making

It is very important for students, our future workers and employers to be trained in becoming
more sensitive and respectful of the rights of other people.

1. Problem

 Deliberation

What is the problem? What is the main issue?

 Identification

What are my alternatives?

 Evaluation

Will this alternatives violate my rights? The rights of other

people? Will this alternative violate any applicable laws?

Will this alternative violate policies of my firm?

 Discrimination

What is my best alternative?

 Implementation

2. Solution

 Deliberation - means knowing or understanding the problem.

 Identification - means determining all possible alternatives or courses of action

available to solve the problem.

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

  Evaluation - means assessing all alternatives previously identified.

 Discrimination - means judging or choosing from available alternatives.

 Implementation - once an ethical course of action was identified, it should be

performed regardless of its possible consequences.

Situational Ethics

Claims that morality of actions depends on the situation and not on the application of any law
or principle of morality. It upholds Freedom.

Situation Ethics in the Workplace

Situational ethics provides consideration in making moral judgment of others who may
sometimes fail to do what is right.

Problems of Situation Ethics

What a person honestly thinks and feels right in a particular case is presumed to be right
without qualification. What I think is right may not be true to you.

Form of Ethics

Care ethics
- Built on relationships
- Addresses a feminine view (but could be masculine)
- Asymmetric ethics
- May involve sacrifices (care for relatives etc.)
- Close to virtue ethics.
Wisdom
- Selecting actions that are beneficial long term
- Attempting to find deep principles
- Moderating selfish interest

Special Ethics
Ethics and Love
It is love and worthiness to love and be loved which forms the most distinctive

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

 feature of the human personality. Love does not merely aim at qualities; one does not
love qualities. Love aims at the deepest reality, the most substantial hidden existing
reality in the beloved—a metaphysical center, deeper than all the qualities and
essences which one can discover and enumerate in the beloved. That is why true love
never says, “I love you for your hair, your eyes, your sweet voice, your fame or money.”
It says, “I love you—you the embodiment of all the good, the noblest and the best.” It is
the person, the immortals in mortals, that is true, whole, and enduring.

If men really love, they will do no evil for evil is essentially the hatred, the
rejection, or the turning away from good. Nobody will do harm to anyone, to his body,
to his honor, to his belongings, for, obviously, such action implies hate or the lack of
love.

Ethics means the doing of good and the practice of virtue, to us these should all
be motivated by love. To the Christians, there are Ten Commandments which are
reducible to two: love of God and love of neighbor, or by further simplification, to only
one word—love. The whole of the moral order, the whole complexes of moral laws
and concepts can all be summed up in one simple formula—love.

Love of Self and Others

The first law of nature is self-preservation which means self-love. It is but natural
to love oneself. Any act, therefore, which does harm to the self, from the willful
exposition of one’s body, one’s health to grave danger without necessity, to suicide,
would be morally wrong. Suicide is a violation of the first law of nature. To Christians it
is likewise a violation of the law of God, Who alone has the supreme dominion over life
and death. Man is not the absolute owner of his life; he just borrowed it, so to say, and
so has no right to dispose of it as he wills.

The moral law commands us to love our neighbors because all men have the
same human nature; all have a common origin and destiny. All the creatures of God
and, therefore, all are equal before God.

Ethics and Justice

Justice is a moral virtue which comes as a fruit of the constant and proper
observance of rights and duties. Nominally, justice is defined as the constant will and
disposition to give to each one his due. It is properly defined as the principle of
rectitude and fairness in men’s relations with each other. Injustice, its opposite, is the

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

 imposition of wrong on another; it also means the violation of the rights of another or
others.

All legal maxims or principles, all laws, either human or divine, are reducible to
this universal principle of justice. For instance, the Ten Commandments are
specifications particularizations, or applications of the principle of justice; as may be
seen easily from the following considerations:

1) The first commandment, love God above all, is a dictate of plain justice. For
God is our Lord, Creator, and All, and to love Him fully is to give Him His due.

2) Respect and love of parents is likewise a precept of justice and the golden rule:
We obey and love our parents obviously because by our natural relation and
dependence on them they deserve our respect and love. Likewise, we
ourselves like our children to do the same with us later on.

3) Killing, lying, stealing, bearing false witness, adultery, and all their forms are
violations of the rule of justice: never to do any harm to anyone whether it be
against his life, his things, his reputation, his family, his bodily integrity (and also
obviously, from the golden rule, these are wrong because we do not like these
things to be done to us).

ASSESSMENT:

1) Based on your readings, define Ethics and Morality.

2) Give insights and theories relative to ethics and morality of the following
philosophers:
 Plato
 Kant
 Socrates

3) In what ways you can show your love and concern to:
 Yourself
 Parents
 Friends

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP

ETHICS COMPILED BY: MARILYN F. ISIP