Activity 1: Recognizing Ethical Problems
Name five events in past months, weeks, or days that can be qualified as ethical problems.
Give your reasons. You can use stories or events published in newspapers or aired on televisions.
Please give proper acknowledgment of the source. You don’t need to get the whole story. This
activity is meant to assess whether you can recognize ethical problems. It will be graded and
categorized as a performance outcome.
1. Birthday big salu-salo for NCRPO chief Debold Sinas amid ECQ on May 8, 2020
(Rappler.com, May 12, 2020) – despite of the restriction to the social gathering, one of the
highest official of the one who enforce the law violates it, this is purely unethical.
2. The pardon given by President Rodrigo Duterte to the mañanita celebrant Debold Sinasbut rather promoting Debold Sinas; this shows that the president is tolerating the act faceto-face to the society showing that law doesn’t enforce big name personalities.
3. The bubble-like resignation of Ricardo Morales due missing funds of PhilHealth which is
about Php 147 billion. The former Chief Morales resigned without any such acceptable
cause, and not dealing the cases filled against him.
4. Duterte Jokes About Rape, Again. Philippine Women Aren’t Laughing (Nytimes.com,
August 31, 2018). President Duterte must promote human right especially to women but
in the other hand the President romanticizing the act, making it fun with the wicked turn,
being a president it is unethical.
5. “Pagmumura ni Duterte kay Obma, OKS lang kay Obama. (Newsnow.ph, September 10,
2016)- disrespecting one of the most prominent President of United States, considering
it’s a joke as a escape, crediting as mental gymnast; this is unethical wherein disrespecting
one’s leader.
Quiz 1: Keywords to remember and contrast.
1. Define ethics.
Ethical reasoning could be a department of logic that "includes systematizing,
protecting, and suggesting concepts of right and wrong behavior". The field of morals,
beside aesthetics, concerns things of esteem, and hence comprises the department of
logic called axiology.
2. What is the difference between ethics and morals?
Morals also identify the specific principles of what is right and what is wrong.
Although ethics may apply generally to moral values, within a relatively limited field of
practice, one mostly sees it applied to questions of proper conduct. Moreover, morality
typically connotes an aspect of individual choice, whereas ethics tends to imply elements
of fundamental justice and the question of whether an action is responsible or not.
3. Differentiate ethics from aesthetics, etiquette, and technique.
There is another way we can value judgment on the goodness and badness of
behavior in addition to aesthetics, and that is what we call etiquette. This tells us what is
right to do in particular circumstances. Etiquette is the collection of traditional personal
conduct rules in a polite society, typically in the form of an ethical code that delineates
social behaviors that are required and accepted in accordance with the conventions and
norms that a society, a social class, or a social group observes. While methodology or
technique A way to carry out a specific task, in particular the execution or presentation in
a more technical manner of an artistic work or a scientific method.
Activity 2: Analyzing Case
Last June 11, 2020, the Lucban Municipal Police Station (LMPS) posted on their Facebook
page: “Mahalin natin ang mga kababaihan at huwag nyo abusuhin ang kanilang kabaitan. Kayo
naman mga ghErlsz, wag kayo magsuot ng pagkaikli-ikling damit at pag naman nabastos ay
magsusumbong din sa amin. Isipin nyo rin!” This post became viral on the worldwide-web.
Comments on this post flooded the different social media platforms. This particular post tells
women to avoid wearing certain clothes.
You need to analyze this case. There are conflicting thoughts on the post of LMPS. Are
clothes just a matter of aesthetic? or Can clothes become an ethical problem? Explain your
answers. Explain it in 7 to 10 sentences.
There is a just a light-year distance associating clothes in cat-calling and in worst rape.
Psychological responses in terms of the level of exposure of skin in women makes the deal with
this argument. The mere fact is that being more attracted to the expose skin of women is only to
the perception of the who sees it and it cannot be in terms of clothes. Citing that, thus a child sees
lust as a young boy sees breast? No, he sees milk as a source of food. Having a conclusion that
experiencing cat-calling because of wearing uneven clothes is not because of the one who wears
it, it is because to the one who sees it. Women must have the chance or even a rights to express
their selves to the society that women doesn’t feel uncomfortableness because they think that
they would be maltreated due to their clothes.
Activity 1: Recalling Terms
Define the following concepts in virtue ethics:
1. Telos - Similar to the notion of an end goal, to the maximum potential or intrinsic intent or goal
of a person or object. In addition, it can be understood as the supreme end of the endeavour
of man." The word telos means end, goal, or purpose
2. Eudaimonia- Generally translated as 'happiness' or 'welfare'; however it has been suggested
to be 'human wellbeing' and 'blessedness' with more detailed interpretations.
3. Ergon- A human being is and believes that it consists of the logical part of the soul's operation
in accordance with virtue.
4. Arete- in its basic meaning, means excellence" of some sort. Moral virtue" can also mean the
word." This notion of excellence was essentially bound up with the notion of fulfillment of
intention or function in its earliest appearance in Greek: the act of living up to one's full potential.
5. Mesotes- A significant element in the concept of human virtues is the measure of the middle.
On the one hand, the Mesotes concept is sometimes represented as strong. Complex
structures are the sources of evolving and therefore fresh phenomena that the ongoing
research does not predict
Activity 2 Filipino Virtues
We have lists of Filipino Virtues on the table. The word virtue is translated as birtud. While
deficiency is pagkukulang and excess is pagmamalabis. What are you going to do is to list the
pagkukulang and pagmamalabis of each birtud.
Pagmamalabis
Birtud
Pagkukulang
Abusado
Pakikisama
Di napapaboran
Resposibilidad na suklian
ang ginawang kabaitan
Utang na loob
Hinayaan na lang at walang
pasasalamat
Walang modo
Hiya
Walang tiwala sa sarili
Tinuturing na ang sarili na
diyos
Relihiyoso
Atehista
Sobrang galang
Magalang sa Matanda
Bastos
Activity 3: Wait or Marry? You will analyze the case using virtue ethics. You will analyze a case
about the virtue of prudence. Don't use your feelings. Analyze it well. Read the rubric so that you
will be guided in answering the case.
A piece of news broke out that Juan, a soldier was killed in an encounter with the rebels. But the
news on the death of Juan was sketchy. There are no clear details about Juan's death. The
sketchy news reached Maria, Juan's wife. Due to this, there is uncertainty on the part of
Maria. Years had passed and there is no certain news about Juan. The long years of wait allowed
Pedro to court Maria. True enough Pedro's perseverance made Maria fall in love. Pedro had found
that it is the right time to propose to marry Maria. Now if you are Maria will you give in to Pedro's
proposal or wait for the confirmation on the death of Juan? What if you already married Pedro
and Juan was alive and ready to come home, what will you do?
With consideration to Maria’s state of relationship affairs she should marry Pedro, due to
the passage doesn’t declare that Maria and Juan has an offspring, and there is a chance that they
didn’t have offspring because Juan is a soldier and he was far enough to have a sexual affairs to
Maria, and in addition to the years pass by that Juan doesn’t come back. Pedro offer his love to
Maria that will fulfill the love that Juan leave after the sketchy death of his own. Using the claim
that if Juan is really dead, Maria will be a lonely old lady suffering to the sketchy death of Juan.
Furthermore, if Juan comes back because he was alive, and Maria is married to Pedro, Maria
should say “Go find another one, destinies and fate of our circumstances decide on what should
happen in our life, but we are the one who takes it to make it so.” So they will separately live ever
after.
LET’S READ
You must read Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas. You will find it in the readings
section of the module. After reading it, you must answer the following questions:
1. What is the law?
The law as an ordinance of law for general good, issued by the caretakers of the
community, and the declared law is an ordinance of reason, because it must be justified or based
on the will of the legislator. It is for the common good, because the purpose of the law is the good
of the community to which it binds, and not only the welfare of the legislator or special interest
group. This is done by a proper authority that "cares for the community" rather than being
arbitrarily imposed by outsiders. It is published so that you can learn about the law.
2. What is Eternal law?
God's purpose and rational plan for everything. And because the eternal law is part of
the mind of God, it is and always will be. The eternal law is not something that God has decided
to write in one point.
3. What is Divine law?
Divine law, discovered through revelation, human law (discovered through divine
reflection and created by man) should be considered divine, capable human law. God's laws are
those who God, by His grace, deems suitable give us, and these are the "mysteries", the principles
given by God to us that are found within the Scriptures.
4. What is Human law?
Law is directed to the common good, and human law is no exception. The promotion of
virtue is necessary for the common good, and human laws are instruments in the promotion of
virtue. Aristotle already pointed out that most people are kept from crime by fear of the law.Even
though laws are general, they are still adapted to the nature of the community, which is not
everywhere the same, and to the classes of individuals who make up the society. is not obliged
to repress all vices. It is framed for most people, who are far from perfect in virtue. It is aim ed at
the more grievous vices from which the majority can abstain, i.e., those which are to the hurt of
others, e.g., murder, theft, and the like.
NATURAL LAW
There are different kinds of law. We have seen it in the readings and you have defined it clearly.
We now turn our attention to natural law. When we talk about natural, it brings more questions
rather than answers. How might one commonly define what is “natural” or “unnatural”? Persons
are having difficulty in differentiating what is natural and unnatural. Let us test your understanding
of what is natural and what is not. We have here some list and tell us whether it is natural or
unnatural. After finishing the module we go back to your answers and test it if you got it right.
Natural or Unnatural
UNNATURAL
eating insects
NATURAL
picking one’s nose (pangungulangot)
UNNATURAL
mixed martial arts (combat sports)
UNNATURAL
plastic surgery
NATURAL
eating raw beef
UNNATURAL
cross-dressing
UNNATURAL
IUD (intra-uterine device)
UNNATURAL
incest
UNNATURAL
male on male sex
UNNATURAL
male inf idelity (pambababae)
TIME TO THINK
You need to answer this problem using the principle of utilitarianism. Limit your answer
from 10 to 15 sentences.
Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and Iraq. Now Iraq has succeeded in smuggling an
atomic bomb into New York and exploding it. First reports indicate that over a million people are
dead and more will die from radiation. You are the president of the U.S., you have enough atomic
weapons presently aimed at Iraq to destroy every city in the country. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are
awaiting your decision. Can you ethically authorize a retaliatory strike and basically destroy Iraq?
Getting my fellowmen harmed, entrust their votes to me, giving such enormous
responsibilities for the lethal high-powered firearms, I will not allow to launch any such atomic
missile or bombs or initiate retaliatory strike to erase one or more cities or even Iraq. There are
more than million of civilians there which is not the enemy but rather affected by the dispute. I
would rather sacrifice millions of my people rather than starting another world war which is
dynamically devastating than the previous enlisted wars. My country is not he only country which
is equip with these high-powered atomic bombs. The nuclear-weapon states (NWS) are the five
states—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and we the United States—officially recognized
as possessing nuclear weapons by the NPT. The treaty recognizes these states’ nuclear arsenals,
we are not supposed to build and maintain such weapons in perpetuity. These treaties that
launching these bombs can cause sovereignty threats to ones country. Later in time these bomb
arsenals will be needed to protect our country and produce vitality of being dominant of a first
world country. These act we decided to explore how attitudes have changed towards nuclear
deterrence, the current state geopolitics and attached to nuclear weapons, and to consider what
would happen in the basically impossible scenario that an instantaneous and multilateral nuclear
war occurs by launching our nuclear bomb warheads straight towards in Iraq. As a strategic
offense I order to deploy battalions of armies and special action force to condemn and bring back
the damaged done by any other group or allies of terrorist, and deploy airstrike and heat-seeker
missile to devastate and destroy these terrorist and weapons that they have. Furthermore, this
action sacrifice millions of people and save billions of people, they only bring damage to New York
and bought twice back the damage to Iraq, and saving the six lands of Earth.
1.
rule: “When I ..., I shall ...”)
formulate the maxim (personal
2. test
for universalizability:
imagine the maxim as a
universal law, is there a selfcontradiction?
3.
conclude by articulating the duty
What we do here is we start with zero (0). It is where we identify the action to be tested. In one
(1) we formulate the maxim and it always have the template: “When I…, I shall…”. Two (2) is
where we imagine that it is universal law and test if there is a self-contradiction. Lastly, Three (3)
conclude by articulating duty. To clarify it further let us take an example of Kant, which we read
earlier. We will try to simplify using the universalizability test.
1.
borrow money without intending to pay [false
promises]
2.
“When I need money, I shall borrow it from someone without
intending to pay it back.”
3.
Suppose everyone were obligated to follow this
maxim, as if it were a universal law: Everyone ought to borrow
money without intending to pay, when they
need money.
No one will lend money, “who are you fooling, you
ought not pay it back”, money-lending loses its
meaning, self-contradictory
What then is the resulting duty?
4.
Therefore, do not borrow money without intending to pay.
REMINDERS
1. Consistency from step 0 to 3.
2. Kant provides a maxim that has a specific formulation: When [situation], I shall [action].
3. Universalized maxim is not imagined as done by everyone, but an obligation for
everyone.
4. Test involves not consequences, but internal validity of the universalized maxim.
UNIVERSALIZABILITY TEST
You are going to perform universalizability test of the following:
1. stealing someone’s valuables
1) I really want this, I should get it and keep it
2) So if everyone will steal someone’s valuable or anything
No one will have to think to get a job
no one will have business because anyone will
initiated to steal to get what they want
3) Therefore do not steal, because everyone
makes time to get what they want in a good way
2. lying about credentials on curriculum vitae (CV)
1) I need to impress who will see my credentials, to introduce whose the boss
2) So if everyone over rated their credential on CV
the employer or the one who sees will enhance the requirement that they need,
no one will work harder to improve their self to write it in CV
And CV is going to be useless to describe one self
3) Therefore do not over rate or lie credentials;
credentials was earned to improve oneself not
to over rate self to impress anyone
3. refusing to give a bribe, taking a ticket
1) I should take this violation, this is my fault
2) So if everyone consider and know their fault in traffic regulations,
and will serve this ticket to do not commit it again,
traffic flow is gonna be fluent and steady, and road rage will be avoided
3) Therefore knowing own fault and taking this ticket will
benefit community for my fine payment,
no just only this traffic enforcer.
4. studying test leakage for aboard exam
1) I should pass this board exam; I take years to study it
2) So, if everyone taking the board exam has the leakage
more licensure passer will have this exam,
more students will have their license easily,
but it is also studying with additional key points,
but more professional generated by this exam will be under skilled.
3) Therefore studying hard with proper review material,
will benefit society for my works as contribution being a professional
and not taking the leakage for the board exam because it can be a bait.
ANALYZE IT
1. National Telecommunication Commission(NTC), a government regulatory office, handed
ABS-CBN company a cease and desist order stopping its broadcast. It is due to the
company's expired franchise. The company's franchise expired May 4, 2020. Many people
are saddened. ABS-CBN's top official contested the stoppage of their broadcast. They
would argue that it is wrong to hand down the order of stoppage because it will greatly
affect their eleven thousand employees (11,000). Arguments could go as far as saying
that the stoppage will be against the interest of the Filipino because of the pandemic we
are experiencing. They would even claim that it clear violation of press freedom.
Let us analyze this. Is it unethical for NTC to issue stoppage of ABS-CBN because of
their expired franchise to operate? or it is unethical for NTC to issue stoppage of ABSCBN
because of their expired franchise but it is pandemic and greatly affects 11,000
employees?
Analyze it using Kant's Universalizability Test.
1. Test the morality of the case using Kant's Universalizability Test.
2. Explain the morality of the cases. Explain it in 5 to 7 sentences.
3. Send your questions or feedback on atmaguyon@slsu.edu.ph or on 09189510456
1. Test the morality of the case using Kant's Universalizability Test.
0) NTC to issue stoppage of ABS-CBN broadcasting
1) It should be stop, the company violates law
2) So if anyone violates the law and give proper sanction for the violation that they done
If NTC know that they have a violation that last about years
and the said company doesn’t take it as a warning;
the NTC should take charge for the stagnant violation that ABS-CBN have
3) Therefore as NTC regulates and enforce the law ABS-CBN should stop their
operation broadcasting, due to even they are the empire of untouchable personalities
and they are not threaten by the warnings done in the past years to due to over
allotment of air-time because they are the empire of untouchable they pass it by, so
these time they should stop.
2. Explain the morality of the cases. Explain it in 5 to 7 sentences.
The issuance of the cease and desist order stopping ABS-CBN company is ethical,
because the law is applicable and can be enforce to anyone even a huge empire of
untouchable personalities. The ABS-CBN has over to the standard or mainly the regular
span of the issuance of the free-air time broadcasting, and some sort of technical
frequencies violation. Given the mere fact that ABS-CBN company last long to the different
administration that this issue is not opened the NTC only enforces the applicable law that
ABS-CBN company violates, issued more than a year but it recently bursts, because
broadcast sieving. It is not unethical for NTC to issue stoppage of ABSCBN because of
their expired franchise but it is pandemic and greatly affects 11,000 employees, it is
unethical for the ABS-CBN company due to that they not consider these employees at the
start of the violation, the violation is neglected because that they have the ability to twist
the law for their own good or the company’s good, so the mental gymnast plan doesn’t go
with the plan which is to twist the law because they are doing it for decades, so they are
using ad misericordiem for the 11, 000 workers because of their state of issue to gain
public sympathy to gain, to escape with the issue and have the permit already because of
the public. Wind blows in any direction, we didn’t know whose nest will fall next.