Ethics - Lecture 3

• Cultural Relativism adheres to the idea that ethical norms differ from one society or culture to another.
• CULTURAL RELATIVISM

  Moral norms are not permanent; they change according to time, place, and circumstances.
• Tolerance means people should try to understand and respect beliefs, traditions, practices of the culture of others. Respect and tolerance are highly encouraged in interacting with other cultures.
• If a cultural act causes pain and violence, it becomes a hindrance to human growth and welfare of the community.
• STRENGTHS OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM

  1. Cultural relativism helps avoid moral dictatorship.
  2. Cultural relativism respects the beliefs of different culture.
  3. Cultural relativism promotes unity and harmony among cultures.
• • Cultural relativism helps avoid moral dictatorship.

  - dictators control everything and do not respect the opinions or ideas of others.
• • Cultural relativism respects the beliefs of different culture.

  - it does not insult or question the ability of other cultures to make intelligent and sound moral judgement.
• • Cultural relativism promotes unity and harmony among cultures.

  - it counters attitude of intolerance, arrogance and dominance.
• PROBLEMS OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM

  1. Tolerance and acceptance of social injustices and in humane activities.
  2. Rejection of higher universal or common moral standards.
  3. Assumption that knowledge of other culture is impossible.
  4. Vulnerability to racial discrimination.
• IMMANUEL KANT’S VIEW OF FEELINGS

  Moral feeling - “the susceptibility to feel pleasure or displeasure merely from being aware that actions are consistent or contrary to the law of duty.”
• IMMANUEL KANT’S VIEW OF FEELINGS

  Moral feeling can be perceived to be the representation of moral law; it is not an incentive to act morally.
• Moral feelings can be priori and rational origin. Immanuel Kant believes that moral feeling is derived from moral law.
• Values determines behavior.
• Major influences in values formation are one’s family, peers, education, and the media.
• Axiology is the study of values. Values are beliefs that influence people’s behaviors and decision making.
• Theory of Values by Max Scheler, values are the intentional objects of feelings, qualities given originally in the “feeling of something. ”He also stresses the objectivity, immunatibility, and eternal characteristics of values that are “prioristic” in character.
• FILIPINO VALUES

  Filipinos strive to obtain fulfillment not only individually but also collectively, particularly for their families. Theorization on Filipino Values is developed by Thomas Quintin Donato Andres.
• HIERARCHY OF FILIPINO VALUES

  A) self-esteem

  B) social mobility

  C) social acceptance

  D) debt of gratitude

  E) closeness in the family