ETHICS 10-11

• Norms of morality


  Criteria for judgment about the sorts of persons we ought to be and the sorts of actions we ought to perform
• Moral norms


  Criteria for judging the quality of character and the quality of acts
• The quality of character takes precedence over the quality of actions, because actions are only the product of one's character
• The kind of person we are, determines the kind of actions we do
• Action reflects character
• Basis of moral judgment

  • Eternal law
  • Natural law
  • Reason (conscience)
• Eternal law


  The divine wisdom directing all actions and movements of all created beings
• Natural law


  The operational tendencies of human nature
• Conscience (reason)


  The practical judgment of reason telling a person what they ought to do because it is good, or what should be avoided because it is evil
• Conscience has two functions: before the commission of an act, it directs towards what is good; after the commission of an act, it either approves or reproves the act
• Values


  Anything that satisfies human needs and contributes to man's development, comfort, and well-being
• Kinds of values


  • Biological
  • Psychological
  • Intellectual
  • Moral
• Moral values are held as more important than the other values in the hierarchy
• Hierarchy of values


  • Moral values
  • Intellectual values
  • Psychological values
  • Biological values
• The authenticity of values consists in their being shared with others
• The higher a value goes up the ranking, the more it becomes altruistic
• Moral values are even more meaningful because they allow man to live with others in peace and harmony
• Moral values


  Those related to our spiritual growth, involving the intellect and will in choices, decisions, actions, and habits
• Moral values have intrinsic worth, are universally accepted, and are obligatory
• Moral habits


  The sum of man's good habits, either entitative (predisposing to a certain nature or quality) or operative (predisposing to act readily towards a purpose)
• Permanent or lasting values must be preferred over temporary or perishable ones
• Values favored by the majority must be preferred over those appealing only to a few
• Habit


  Comes from the Latin word "habere" which means "to have or to possess"
• Types of habits


  • Entitative habits
  • Operative habits
• Entitative habits


  Predispose a man to acquire a certain nature or quality, like being healthy, being beautiful, being intelligent, or being rich
• Operative habits


  Predispose a man to act readily towards a purpose, like singing, dancing, playing basketball, or helping others
• Virtue


  The operative habit of doing well
• Vice


  The operative habit of doing evil
• Intellectual virtues


  • Understanding
  • Science
  • Art
  • Wisdom
• Understanding


  The habit or intuition of the first principles, such as "the whole is greater than the sum of any of its parts"
• Science


  The habit of proximate cause, why things are such because of their nature or natural properties
• Art


  The habit of making beautiful things, such as in literature, architecture, and fine arts
• Wisdom


  The habit of the ultimate cause, such as the interdependence of created things in the eco-system; or how the negative emotions of man - like hatred, anger, or sadness are not signs of weakness but are instincts for self-preservation and growth
• Moral virtues


  • Prudence
  • Justice
  • Fortitude
  • Temperance
• Prudence


  Enables a person to know the best means to employ in attaining a purpose. A prudent person weighs the pros and cons of the situation and acts with reasonable caution
• Justice


  Inclines a person to give to everyone what is due. A just person pays his legal debts, honors his elders, observes the laws of society, and worships God
• Fortitude


  Gives a person the strength of the will to face dangers and problems in life. A person of fortitude is not easily discouraged and is ready to stand by what is right
• Temperance


  Moderates a person's instincts and emotions. A temperate person is not given to inordinate anger, jealousy, desire or love
• Filipino values are our cultural values. They sum up our response to the meaning of human life in the context on cultural settings. They show our strengths and weaknesses as people
• Filipino cultural values


  Our distinctive way of becoming human in this particular place and time (Vitaliano Gorospe, Filipino Values Revisited, 104). The concept of "becoming human" means "pagpapakatao" (good character) (an acts that fits to human nature) (inherent and essential)