The Two Moral
Agent
Presented by Group 1
Culture as Source of
Ethical Belief
Fr. Angel N. Lagdameo
• who became the Archbishop of Jaro Iloilo in 2020,
emphasizing that ethical beliefs stem from a handful
of values. Fr. discussed the sources of values as
experience, culture, science, and technology, and
religion with enough passion to make us
mesmerized with his wisdom as an intellectual and
spiritual moral theologian.
General Understanding
of Culture
• Culture refers to the patterned ways of
thinking, feelings, and acting that people
share and communicate to one another.
General Understanding of
Culture
• Marcus Tullius Cicero, one of Rome’s
greatest orators, described culture in
Tusculanae Disputationes (circa 45 BCE) as
the "cultivation of the soul" (cultura animi).
• He used an agricultural metaphor to explain
how developing the soul was the highest
form of human growth.
General Understanding
of Culture
• Edward Burnett Tylor (1832-1917), a pioneer in cultural anthropology,
coined the term "culture" in his work Primitive Culture (2016).
• He believed that understanding culture is essential to studying society,
as they are interconnected.
• Tylor defined culture as a complex whole encompassing knowledge,
beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and other habits acquired by
individuals in society.
Cultural Relativism
• The concept of cultural relativism as we know and use it in
contemporary times was established as an analytic tool by the
German-American anthropologist Franz Boas (1848-1942)in the
early 20th century.In the study of Geography, Boas first articulated
the idea in 1887: “civilization is not something absolute, but is
relative, and our ideas and conception are true only so far as our
civilization goes”
Basic Concepts relating to Cultural Relativism
1.Cultural relativism is the view that all beliefs, customs, ad ethics are relative
to individual within his own social context.
2.Cultural relativism is the idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and practices
should be understood based on that person’s own culture, rather than
judged against the criteria of another.
3.Cultural relativism refers to the idea that the values, knowledge, and
behavior of people must be understood within their own cultural context.
• Ethnocentrism is the practice of viewing and judging someone else’s
culture based on the values and beliefs of one’s own.
Culture and Moral Behaviour
• Each of us has unique values and beliefs shaped by the core values of
our culture. Philosophers and social scientists suggest that these core
values reflect a culture's approach to fundamental aspects of human
nature.
• For example, Mencius (c. 371–c. 289 BCE) believed humans are
inherently good, while Li Si (c. 280–c. 208 BCE) argued that human
nature is essentially evil. Similarly, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)
also claimed that humans are naturally good.
• When I studied Leadership and Management at De La Salle University in
the early '90s, we discussed these ideas, which were also explored in
theories like Douglas McGregor's "Theories X and Y" in his book The
Asian and Filipino Morality
• Chris Patten, the last British Governor of Hong Kong, once discussed with Lee
Kwan Yew the idea of imprisoning critics. Lee’s response, “There is nothing wrong
with that”, reflects differing views on Asian authority.
• Southeast Asia includes diverse countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam,
Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Despite these differences, respect for
elders is a shared value.
Scripture Passages on Respect for Parents:
1. Deuteronomy 5:16 - "Honor your father and mother… that you may have a long life."
2. Ephesians 6:1-3 - "Children, obey your parents… that it may go well with you."
3. Exodus 21:17 - "Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death."
4. Colossians 3:20 - "Obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."
In *Buddhism*, respect for parents is tied to filial piety, including caring for parents’
needs and honoring them
Asian and Filipino Morality
Confucian Philosophy* outlines filial piety as:
1. Being good to parents.
2. Caring for them.
3.Upholding family honor
4.Performing duties well.
5.Not being rebellious.
6.Showing love, respect, and support.
7.Display courtesy.
8.Ensuring male heirs.
9.Advising parents wissely
10.Mourning their sickness and death.
11.Performing rituals after their death.
CARING FOR THE ELDER: TODAY
• In the United States and many developed countries, most
people are touched by a paid caregiver, a nurse, an aide, or
a doctor at the end of their lives, rather than by family.
• As a Filipino, I believe children should personally care for
their elderly parents. While professional care is important,
family involvement ensures both proper care and emotional
support.
FAMILY OBLIGATIONS
• Family obligations to parents often outweigh those to spouses
and children. Even if parents can support themselves, caring
for them remains a strong, voluntary duty. Generally, family life
and community care are preferable to institutional living.
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
• Character reflects one's moral qualities, linking closely with virtue. A
certification of good moral character indicates that I have embraced the
values of love and service. In philosophy, character often refers to moral
dimensions, with Aristotle linking it to ethics and morality. Excellence in
character, or "human excellence," is seen as a defining feature of a virtuous
person.
• Growing up Catholic in Candelaria, Quezon, I learned early about the
importance of honesty and the consequences of dishonesty. These lessons
shaped my understanding of morality and its impact on family and
relationships. Manuel Velazquez and Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral
development outlines three levels:
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Pre-Moral
Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience - Decisions based on avoiding
punishment.
Stage 2: Self-Gratification - Focus on personal needs.
2. Conventional
Stage 3: Approval of Others - Decisions based on others' values. –
Stage 4: Law and Order - Adherence to authority and rules.
3. Principled:
Stage 5: Social Contract - Recognition of mutual agreements and social
contracts.
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles - Adherence to universal moral principles.
Thank
You!