ETHICS

ETHICS: FOUNDATIONS OF
MORAL VALUATION
DR. HAROLD B. PANGILINAN

Professor
COURSE ORIENTATION
 Subject Code: ETHN01G

 No. of Units: 3 Units
 Schedule: MMA 203 (Friday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

SED/ECED (Saturday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
 AFFECTIVE
1.1. Inculcate in the students minds and
hearts the essence and value of having a good
understanding of oneself and the standards of right
and wrong.
1.2. Realize the importance of knowing the

complexity of every individual and to be able to
come up with better decisions in the future for
oneself and the society.
 AFFECTIVE
 COGNITIVE
2.1. Make the students understand how
the present society was shaped by the
diverse perceptions, beliefs, ideas of
different people – as individuals and in
groups.
 COGNITIVE
“Tech Ethics Issues We Should
All Be Thinking About…”
 COGNITIVE
“Tech Ethics Issues We Should
All Be Thinking About…”
 COGNITIVE
“Tech Ethics Issues We Should All Be
Thinking About…”
Euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke

 Psychomotor
3.1. To write journal/articles based on

their own understanding about human
nature, behavior, and actions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
 CAP (Creative Academic Performance) 60%
Activities (Seat Works/ Quizzes) – 10 %
Project (Journal/Reaction Paper) – 20%
Recitation/Class Participation – 20%
Attendance – 10 %
Major Examinations 40%

Prelim
Midterm
Final
CLASSROOM POLICIES
 No Project (Journal/reaction Paper) 0 mark.
 Attendance and Punctuality - A student

must attend more than 80% of the total class
hours. Otherwise absences of more than
20% of the total class hours for the term
shall be given a grade of FDA.
Three (3) late/tardy marks are
equivalent to one (1) absence
CLASSROOM POLICIES
 Cheating / Plagiarizing (refer to student
handbook)
 Uniform guidelines
 Completion / Consultation Hours – Saturday

(11:00 am to 1:00 pm.)
 Classroom Decorum
ETHICS: FOUNDATIONS OF
MORAL VALUATION
PRELIMINARY TERM
KEY CONCEPTS:
 What are moral standards and how do they
differ from others rules of lives?
 What is foundational moral principles?
 Whyfreedom crucial in our ability to make

moral decisions?
 What is the advantage of owning moral

standards (morality and ethics) over merely
abiding by moral standards.
INTRODUCTION
“Know thyself….
The unexamined life is not worth
living.”
-Socrates
“gnothi seauton, nosce te ipsum”

INTRODUCTION
“Human beings is endowed with the ability to
think and search for reasons for our actions
led to the birth of philosophical thoughts.”
INTRODUCTION
Philosophy (Big Questions
PHILOSOPHY
- a discipline attempt to answer the

deepest, basic questions about subject matters
of our lives and about the significant aspects
of our existence.
Mackinon, 2013
Subfield:
Logic (the study of correct reasoning)
Metaphysics (the study of the fundamental nature of reality)
Epistemology (the study of knowledge)
Ethics (the study of Morality)
ETHICS
- (Etymologically), is derived from Greek

word ethos which means “a characteristics
way of acting”
Ethos would refer to the characteristics belonging to

man as a thinking and rational animal, gifted with
intellect and freewill.
ETHICS
Ethos of man (rational being) may be characterized by
the following:
1. That within us the feeling that tells us that we must

do what is good and avoid evil.
2. That within us is the ability to distinguish between

good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral.
3. That within us is the feeling that whatever we do, we

are accountable and responsible for, irrespective
of whether the consequence of our action is a reward
or a punishment.
ETHICS
ETHICS
Is this right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-2DJK2041k
ETHICS
 Also known as Moral Philosophy (Study of

Morality)
Morality
 Beliefs about right or wrong, good and evil.
 “The quality of human acts by which we call

them right or wrong, good or evil.”
- Panizo, 1964
ETHICS
 Human Acts is right, when it conforms with

NORM
RULE
LAW OF MORALITY
Otherwise it is said to be wrong.

ETHICS
Speaking to police officials and personnel gathered for the

celebration of the 118th police service anniversary at Camp
Crame the other day, Duterte explained he does not
consider “as bribery” the act of giving monetary
reward or gifts to public servants, including
policemen.
Pcoo.gov.ph
ETHICS
Under Section 7 (d) of the law, “Public officials and

employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or
indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment,
loan or anything of monetary value from any
person in the course of their official duties or in
connection with any operation being regulated by,
or any transaction which may be affected by the
functions of their office.”
R.A. 6713
ETHICS
 CSC on Duterte remark on cops receiving gifts: There

are laws that should be followed
Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen

Lizada on Sunday said there are laws that should be
followed, after President Rodrigo Duterte said it is okay
for cops to receive gifts.
“Meron ho tayong mekanismo na kailangan sundin

in the form ng batas. Ito po ay ang Republic Act 6713
which is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and Employees, as well as Republic Act
3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Lizada
told GMA News Online.
ETHICS
For Instance,
When Juan gets the pencil of Pedro without the

latter’s permission, Juan’s action is wrong because it is
not adherent to the norm, “stealing is wrong”
Another example:
It is not natural for man to behave like a beast

because he is not a beast.
He is a man, He has intellect and free will.

Foundational Moral Principle
A principle is that on which something is
based, founded, originated, initiated.
A foundational moral principle is, therefore
the universal norm upon which all other
principles on the rightness or wrongness of
an action are based.
“DO GOOD AND

AVOID EVIL.”
ETHICS
Foundational moral principle is contained in

the Natural Law.
- What is natural law?
- The law “written in the hearts of men.” (Romans
2:15)
- For theists, it is “man’s share in the Eternal Law
of God.”
- “The light of natural reason, whereby we discern
what is good and what is evil…an imprint on us
of the divine light…” (St. Thomas
ETHICS
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING:
1. Is morality for persons and animal?
2. Is an animalistic act of man moral?
3. Is the foundational moral principle sensed only by

believers?
4. Is the foundational moral principle very specific?
5. Is foundational moral principle known by our

predecessors?
Do you remember a time when you had to
make a choice and each option was equally
pleasant?
• Uncertainty about which job offer to take

• Wondering whether or not to make the move to
a new city
DILEMMA
What is a Dilemma?
A choice between two or more

alternatives, in which the outcomes are
equally undesirable, or equally favorable.
The dilemma does not typically involve a moral

or ethical crisis, but the person or character’s
life may change as a result of their decision.
DILEMMA
What is a Dilemma?
A dilemma is a situation where

person is forced to choose between two
or more conflicting options, neither of
which is acceptable.
LET’S THINK ABOUT IT
Is this a mere Dilemma or Moral Dilemma?

MORAL DILEMMAS
- are situations where persons, who

are called “moral agents” in ethics, are
forced to choose between two or more
conflicting options, neither of which
resolves the situation in a morally
acceptable manner.
MORAL DILEMMAS
Sample Scenario
- A military Doctor is attending to the
needs of the wounded soldiers in the middle of
the war. Unfortunately, two soldiers urgently
need a blood transfusion. However, only one
bag of blood is available at the moment.
To whom shall
the doctor
administer the
Blood transfusion?
MORAL DILEMMAS
Sample Scenario
- Lindsay is a deeply religious person;
hence, she considers killing humans
absolutely wrong. Unfortunately, it is found
out that Lindsay is having an ectopic
pregnancy.
MORAL DILEMMAS
In moral dilemma, 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. In
other words, by choosing one of the
possible moral requirements, the
person also fails on other.”
Benjiemen Labastin
THREE LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMAS
Systematic/Structural Level (Macro)
- at this level involve social, political,

legal, and economic systems that are in place
at a given time.
- Choices made at this level are affected

by political pressures, economic conditions
and societal atmospheres and attitude.
Systematic/Structural Level
(Macro)
Moral Issues abound:

 Mining Laws
 Transport Modernization
It is never easy for people in power to

make moral choices and be burdened with
irreparable consequences.
Systematic/Structural Level
(Macro)
Systematic/Structural Level (Macro)
Certain events in the

World place us (Moral
Agents) in a situation
of moral conflict.
Organizational Level
This involves moral
dilemmas in relation to
particular groups of
organizations.
- It consists of the
policies of particular groups,
institutions, or professions
and its impact on the choices
and actions of its members.
Code of Ethics:
 Teachers
 Journalists
 Lawyers
 Doctors
 Nurses
 Business
Set of policies, Serve
as guide for decisions and
actions of its members.
MORAL DILEMMAS
How does a good-hearted lawyer

resolve moral dilemmas, e.g. when
he knows that his client is guilty,
or a professional criminal?
MORAL DILEMMAS
How do doctors deal with the possibility

that the person they are saving might
actually be a criminal?
Personal/Individual Level
This includes dilemmas concerning
individual decisions, behavior or character when
such is influenced by peer pressure, personal
financial position and socio-economic status.
This includes dilemmas concerning
individual decisions, behavior or character when
such is influenced by peer pressure, personal
financial position and socio-economic status.
Person’s Culture
Choices
Person’s Beliefs
Person’s Values
(Sample Scenario)
You are going to be late again for your class.
Your teacher warned you that if you will be late
again, she would be forced to give you a violation slip
which means that you will lose your chance for
scholarship for the semester. On the way to school,
you saw an old lady tripped and fell face-down on the
sidewalk and all the contents of her grocery bag rolled
everywhere. You were the only person around to help
her. You checked the time and realize that to help her
means that you will be late for class! What will you
do?
To be or not to be?
The responsibility of making choice

would cause the person to take neutral
ground, not do anything and just wait
for events to unfold.
To not do anything when we
have a chance, is to fail as a human
being.
ENRICHMENT TASK/ACTIVITY
Take A Stand: Give your position and Support with

Explanations/Examples.
1. The Death Penalty
2. Ending the Drug War
3. Legalizing Divorce

Flow of Debate
1. Introduction (Your Stand)
2. Statement of Facts
3. Confirmation of Facts (Example/Situations)
4. Conclusion
(Allotted time 3 minutes/Student)


1. Student-Teacher Mutual Attraction/Relationship
2. Imagine you were the principal of your school and had

to decide whether to use a limited set of funds to continue
either the honors program or the program for at-risk
students.
3. One of your students is unable to complete an

assignment regarding a religious figure due to a parent's
objection. Do you float the student on the grade, or fail
him for not completing his work?
SETTING THE MOOD:
Why do you think it is important to choose

a course of action in a moral dilemma than
to not make any choice at all? Explain and
support with an example.
FOUNDATION OF MORALITY: FREEDOM AND
RESPONSIBILITY
Vaugh (2008), to not exercise the freedom to

choose has the following drawbacks:
1. It deprives the person the right to make

choices. Being human means having the
freedom to make choices. To not be able to do
this, lowers the stature of man to that of a
beast and denies him the chance to fulfill his
destiny
RESPONSIBILITY

2. His responses to moral dilemmas will be

incomplete, confused or mistaken. He will be
deprived of the knowledge of the
consequences of his choices. Thus, he fails to
learn and grow as a mature human being.
RESPONSIBILITY

3. The person will be deprived of intellectual

moral growth. Maintaining neutrality or
blindly accepting moral beliefs may end up in
denying all morality.
SETTING THE MOOD:
SETTING THE MOOD:
Article III Bill of Rights

It is the charter of Liberties for the
individual and a limitation upon the power
of the state.
RESPONSIBILITY
Freedom
- Greatly valued
- Freedom is what makes us responsible
for our acts
- I have responsibility for those actions
(Imputability – moral responsibility for
one’s human actions)
- Complete freedom is an illusion and

would be detrimental, not only to ourselves, but
also to our fellow human beings.
RESPONSIBILITY
Freedom
- Greatly valued
RESPONSIBILITY
Man by nature is free. He
Freedom always seeks for freedom. He
- Greatly valued cannot be contented being
enslaved by any external
forces. He needs to express
himself according to his
nature. Any violation to this
right to freedom is a moment
of struggle. In the history of
mankind, there were several
instances when man
continuously fights for this
very right to freedom. He
allows no one to violate it.
By any means he tries to
sustain it.
RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility
- the state of being responsible or
accountable; that for which one is
answerable, for example, a duty or trust.
- it is the capacity to distinguish

between right and wrong – having ethical
discrimination.
- And of course, in the first place, it is

accepting full responsibility for one's own life
and all that it entails.
RESPONSIBILITY
Freedom
- it involves the will, the rational
appetite, and a faculty for the good.
- the power that's rooted in our intellect

and our will to act or not to act to do, this or
that and so to perform deliberate actions on
our own responsibility .
Thus, in the context of morality, actions and

choices undertaken must be supported by
good reasons.
RESPONSIBILITY
Reason
According to Merriam and Webster,
reason is a statement that explains why
something is the way it is, why someone
does, thinks, or says something or why
someone behaves in a certain way.
- it is also mind’s power to think and

understand in a logical way.
RESPONSIBILITY
Does Emotions Hinder Your Rational

Decision Making?
As individuals capable of emotions,

they are usually carried out in the heat of
the moment.
Chances are, the reasons for such
actions are flawed and cannot be accepted.
RESPONSIBILITY

Decision Making?
Watch this……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gApa
A1p09F8
RESPONSIBILITY

Decision Making?
RESPONSIBILITY

Decision Making?
The feelings may be irrational and may

have resulted because prejudice, selfishness
and cultural upbringing (Rachels,2009).
RESPONSIBILITY
Decisions should be guided by reasons and

morally right thing to do (Guided by Moral
Principles)
Characteristics of Moral Principles

(Percesepe,1998, Holmes, 1998)
 Prescriptivity
 Universalizability
 Overridingness
 Publicity
 Practicability
RESPONSIBILITY

 Prescriptivity
- the action-guiding principle of morality posed

as injunctions and imperatives.
Injunctions (one is required to do or refrain
from doing specified act)
RESPONSIBILITY

- What is right for one person is right also for

another in a relatively similar situation.
- a rule that forbids us from treating one
person differently from another when there is no
good reason to do so.
RESPONSIBILITY

RESPONSIBILITY

 Overridingness
- Moral Principles take precedence over other

kinds of considerations, including aesthetic,
prudential and legal ones.
Example: When so much injustice results from a bad

law, then this situation may call for not illegal but moral
defiance
RESPONSIBILITY

 Overridingness
RESPONSIBILITY

 Overridingness
RESPONSIBILITY

 Publicity
- Moral Principles must be made public. This

is the only way it can be known.
Example: Senate and Congressional hearings

are made public that the government is not tolerating
graft and corruption.
RESPONSIBILITY

 Practicability
- Moral system must be workable. Ethical

systems take human limitations into consideration.
Example: Work schedules should be made in

such a way as it considers the basic need of employees
for rest and nourishment. Shifting schedules should
benefits both employees and the organization.

ETHICS

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ETHICS: FOUNDATIONS OF

DR. HAROLD B. PANGILINAN

 Subject Code: ETHN01G

 Schedule: MMA 203 (Friday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

1.2. Realize the importance of knowing the

Euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke

3.1. To write journal/articles based on

Major Examinations 40%

 Attendance and Punctuality - A student

 Completion / Consultation Hours – Saturday

 What is foundational moral principles?

 Whyfreedom crucial in our ability to make

 What is the advantage of owning moral

“gnothi seauton, nosce te ipsum”

- a discipline attempt to answer the

- (Etymologically), is derived from Greek

Ethos would refer to the characteristics belonging to

1. That within us the feeling that tells us that we must

2. That within us is the ability to distinguish between

3. That within us is the feeling that whatever we do, we

 Also known as Moral Philosophy (Study of

 “The quality of human acts by which we call

 Human Acts is right, when it conforms with

Otherwise it is said to be wrong.

Speaking to police officials and personnel gathered for the

Under Section 7 (d) of the law, “Public officials and

 CSC on Duterte remark on cops receiving gifts: There

Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen

“Meron ho tayong mekanismo na kailangan sundin

When Juan gets the pencil of Pedro without the

It is not natural for man to behave like a beast

He is a man, He has intellect and free will.

“DO GOOD AND

Foundational moral principle is contained in

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING:

1. Is morality for persons and animal?

2. Is an animalistic act of man moral?

3. Is the foundational moral principle sensed only by

4. Is the foundational moral principle very specific?

5. Is foundational moral principle known by our

• Uncertainty about which job offer to take

A choice between two or more

The dilemma does not typically involve a moral

A dilemma is a situation where

Is this a mere Dilemma or Moral Dilemma?

- are situations where persons, who

Systematic/Structural Level (Macro)

- at this level involve social, political,

- Choices made at this level are affected

Moral Issues abound:

It is never easy for people in power to

Systematic/Structural Level (Macro)

Certain events in the

How does a good-hearted lawyer

How do doctors deal with the possibility

The responsibility of making choice

Take A Stand: Give your position and Support with

1. The Death Penalty

2. Ending the Drug War

Take A Stand: Give your position and Support with

3. Confirmation of Facts (Example/Situations)

(Allotted time 3 minutes/Student)

Take A Stand: Give your position and Support with