Ethics

1
Morality and Conscience

Module 8 Morality and Conscience

At the end of this module, you are expected t0:

1. To understand the development of values
2. To learn the importance of conscience
3. To answer the question of the “greatest good”

Morality – a review
Morality according to Perry is man’s effort to harmonize conflicting human interests. As
mentioned in the past modules morality of a person is different from another person. One example
is the case of public execution. There are some sectors in the Philippine society that consider this
evil for taking life ran contrary to their belief that taking human life is against the laws of God. On
the other hand public execution especially the most humane type that is lethal injection is a
necessity to curb men from committing evil deeds, a necessary evil so to speak. Morality is the
goodness or evilness of the act that may be justifiable. People mistook that anything that we find
good is moral because man’s pursuit of happiness is the primary reason why we live in this world.
This is not true, for man’s desire to be good is innate in him and may prevent his pursuit of such
act. A married man might entertain extra-marital affairs, especially to a lovely woman that also
implied interest in him and for him that is “good” for that is a means to his pursuit of happiness.
But then again he might neglect this passion once he recalled his marital vows which is the greater
good.
Values
Values are anything that satisfies human needs. Aristotle once said that the ultimate good is
to find things that will give us happiness and that is where happiness comes in, he further added
that value is a “fitting function” –anything that is important or significant to us. Anything that
enriched our life or at least made it meaningful such as a special someone, a friend, our laptop, our
birthdays or anything that is special are values. Even our beliefs and principles are values that we
even shared to our offspring that will guide them to their adulthood. Values may also come as
actions of our own or of others that we classify good acts are values while evil acts are not because
they result to unhappiness. Morally good values are genuine for their goodness are evident
whereas evil are called apparent values for they are evil things masquerading as good.
Kinds of Values
1. Biological values – they are important because they for the physical survival and
growth of man examples are food, shelter, work, pleasure, medicine and the likes.
2. Psychological values – this contributes to his psychological and social life examples are
companionship, friendship, marriage etc.
3. Intellectual values – this developed man’s mental fulfillment such as truth, science, art
and religion
4. Moral values – this is for the formation of one’s character. Examples are generosity,
kindness, charity and honesty
Course Module
Conscience
Is a feeling or inner voice that served as a guide to the correctness or error of one's
behavior. Some authors viewed it as the “inner law” or the “sixth sense” that gives premonitions to
acts we are to perform or acts we already did. Where did this come from? Moral conscience is
innate idea that simply follow God’s unwritten dictum of “follow good and obey evil”. Man is
basically good for man is a creation of God, being the source of goodness, He created man
endowed with free will but induced conscience to make sure His words are heard.
An upright conscience is a necessity for human dignity, because it knows moral principles
and practiced them in each circumstance. Only prudent judgments can recognize the truth.
Anyone who follows his conscience is prudent for he is guided not only by human reason but by
the voice of God. God is the source of the truth and through conscience man can grasp a semblance
of reason. Inasmuch as conscience is present in man he assumes responsibility. When an evil act
is performed, he realized his error by feeling remorse for his action then later regret it, which is a
manifestation of conscience. An act that is willfully done is appeared to be guided by conscience
thereby responsibility is undeniable.
The Greatest Good
Jeremy Bentham a British philosopher during the 19th Century answered that question
when he said that the “greatest good is for the greatest number”. He introduced Utilitarianism
that is simply states that the ends of an action must be good, if it is not then the action is
unjustified. Which is simply anything of use is good while useless are evil. But like a double-edged
sword it also has a good side, he implied the spirit of humanity where everyone lived in single
planet and their desire to be happy and goodness are innate in man. Everybody wants to be happy,
so the best thing is to follow happiness and goodness that is common to everyone. Being children
of God, we have identical aspirations, so whatever we find good might also be good to others.

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
1. Agapay, Ramon B.; Ethics and the Filipinos; Mandaluyong Metro Manila, National
Book Store Inc.
2. Babor, Eddie R.; Ethics – The Philosophical Discipline of Action; Manile, Rex Book
Store
3. Montemayor, Felix; Ethics the Philippines; Navotas Metro Manila; National Book
Store

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. Moral Conscience; https://catholicity.com/catechism/moral_conscience.html; 2018
Written by:
Christopher S. Espiritu
AMACC Caloocan Campus