Concept Notes:

Day 1:

Philosophy – It is a science that deals with the investigation of all things in their ultimate causes and

principles through the use of human mind.

Ethics – a practical philosophy that consists of the fundamental issues of practical decision making, and

its major concerns include the nature of ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can be

judged as right or wrong.

Day 2:

Dilemmas - A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially

ones that are equally undesirable.

Moral Dilemmas – it is a conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and have moral

reasons each action. Its crucial feature is:

The agent is required to do each of two or more actions, but cannot do both actions. Thus the agent seems

condemned to moral failure, no matter what she does, she will do something wrong.

Day 3:

Man: the Moral Agent

A moral agent is a being that is “capable of acting with reference right and wrong.” It is the moral

agent who has choices and the power to choose, thus, it is only the moral agent that can be held responsible for

behavior or decision.

“For men do not create truth; they discover it. And freedom is the obedience to truth. ”

- Cardinal Stafford’s interpretation of St. Thomas’ Freedom

Day 4:

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is the view that no culture is superior to any other when comparing in terms of morality, law,

politics, etc. It‟s the philosophical notion that all cultural beliefs are equally valid and the truth itself is relative,

depending on the cultural environment.

Day 5:

Belief and Morality Part1

o Taoism maintains three things

Tao is the way of ultimate reality.

Tao is the way of the universe.

 Tao is the way of human existence.

o Buddhism’s four Noble Truths

Life is permeated by suffering.

The origin of suffering is craving.

Suffering can be eliminated by eliminating craving.

The elimination of suffering is possible through the Eightfold Path

Day 6:

Belief and Morality Part 2

o Hinduism

The moral injunction of Hinduism lies right in the heart of the teachings in the Upanishads. As a whole,

Upanishads teach that the individual soul (Atman) on earth is in the state of suffering because of its attachment

to the senses or to the pleasure of the flesh.

o Islam

Islam derives their name from the word “salam” which means peace or surrender. So literally, Islam means the

perfect peace out of total surrender to Allah (God).

Day 7:

As morality is shaped and influenced by culture, the morality in the Philippines is a unique blend of culture and

ethics.

The Filipino Culture and Values: Strengths and weaknesses

Mano Po

Hospitality

Bayanihan

Serenade

Superstition

Day 8:

Universal Values

Values are the object of the human desire and striving; they are also subjective assessment of particular objects

insofar as it is good. Values are our beliefs, those beliefs which we hold to be true. Thus, values inspire us to

struggle towards our proximate and ultimate end.

Dignity means worthiness. Dignity implies tha each person is worthy of honor and respect for who they are, and

not just for what they can do.

Kartilya ng Katipunan says:

 “Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay:

mangyayaring ang isa'y higtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda..., ngunit di

mahihigtan sa pagkatao”

Day 9:

Relationship between individual acts and moral character

Moral character is formed by one's actions. The habits, actions, and emotional responses of the person of good

character all are united and directed toward the moral and the good. Because human beings are body/soul unities,

actions of the body are actions of the self, that is, human beings are self-possessing, self-governing, and self-

determining.

Day 10:

Stages of Moral Development by Lawrence Kohlberg

1. Pre-Conventional Level

- Stage 1: Punishment/ Obedience Orientation – behavior driven by avoiding punishment

- Stage 2: Instrumental Purpose Orientation – behavior driven by self-interest and rewards

2. Conventional Level

- Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation – behavior driven by social approval

- Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation – behavior driven by obeying authority and conforming

social order

3. Post-Conventional Level

- Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation – behavior driven by balance of social order and

individual rights

- Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle Orientation – behavior driven by internal moral principles