Prepared by: Mykko G.

Guerrero, MA
 Special Topics
in Ethics
• Environmental Ethics
• Feminist Ethics
• Biomedical Ethics
Environmental Ethics
Ethical Treatment
of Animals
Singer advocates equal treatment
for all sentient beings.

Hey human! Be good to us…

Meow. Meow. Meow.
 Hey too non-human! you
are just a cat or just an
animal. Go away!

Speciesism – the unjustifiable

privileging of one‘s own
species over another.
Singer’s arguments…

Intelligence should not be use as a criterion for

being unjust to other non-humans.
Singer’s arguments…

VS.

At least these
animals can…
Singer’s arguments…

What‘s up???
VS.
 MORAL SPHERE

Ouch! Your action

is immoral! I‘ll call
a lawyer.

Singer‘s doctrine: The

happiness of all beings
that can feel pleasure and
pain has equal weight in
moral matters (a Utilitarian
perspective).
Singer advocates…
One must…

 Come up with ways of lessening the suffering of the

animals…

 View them as beings that have inherent value…

According to Doctors and Nutritionists
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485

AN ACT TO PROMOTE ANIMAL WELFARE IN

THE PHILIPPINES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
“THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998”
SECTION 1. It is the purpose of this Act to protect and
promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines by
supervising end regulating the establishment and operations
of all facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping,
treating or training of all animals either as objects of trade or
as household pets. For purposes of this Act, pet animals
shall include birds.
SECTION 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture
any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance
or shelter, or maltreat any animals or to subject any dog or
horse to dogfights or horse fights, kill or cause or procure to
be tortured or deprived of adequate care sustenance or
shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or
experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on
Animal welfare.
The killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats,
sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabao, horse, deer and crocodiles is
likewise hereby declared unlawful except in the following
instances:

1. When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an

established religion or sect or ritual required by ethnic
custom of indigenous cultural communities: however,
leaders shall keep records in cooperation with the
Committee on Animal Welfare; ……
3. When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the
misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified
by a duly licensed veterinarian;
4. When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life
or limb of a human being; and ……

In all the above mentioned cases, including those of cattle,

pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabao, hones, deer and
crocodiles, the killing of the animals shall be done through
humane procedures at all times.
For this purpose, humane procedures shall means the use of
the most scientific methods available as may be determined
and approved by the Committee.

Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be

used in killing of animals.
SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of every person to protect
the natural habitat of the wildlife. The destruction of said
habitat shall be considered as a form of cruelty to animals
and its preservation is a way of protecting the animals.
SECTION 8. Any person who violate, any of the provisions
of this Act shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be
punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months
nor more than two (2) years or a fine of not less than One
thousand pesos (P1,000) nor more than Five thousand pesos
(P5,000) or both at the discretion of the court. ……
Biocentrism
Biocentrism
Ethical perspective holding that all
life deserves equal moral
consideration or has equal moral
standing.
Plants and
microorganisms are
included.
These violate the
rights of the plant for
nourishment.
 My interest is to
further my
existence.

All living things or organisms have

welfare interests (good of their own).
Taylor condemns a series of practices as being "exploitative.“

Examples:
1) Picking rare wildflowers, such
as orchids and cactuses, for
one's private collection.
2) Trapping and killing reptiles...
to be used in making
expensive shoes, handbags,
and other "fashion" products.
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8048

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION OF

THE CUTTING OF COCONUT TREES, ITS
REPLENISHMENT, PROVIDING PENALTIES
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Considering the
importance of the coconut industry in nation building being
one of the principal industries and one of the largest income
earners of the country, it becomes mandatory for the
Government to step-in and regulate the unabated and
indiscriminate cutting of the coconut trees. For reasons of
national interest, it is hereby declared the policy of the State
to provide for the growth of the industry by embarking on a
sustainable and efficient replanting program.
Sec. 4. Prohibition. — No coconut tree shall be cut except
in the following cases and only after a permit had been
issued therefor:
(a) When the tree is sixty (60) years old; ……
(c) When the tree is disease-infested;
(d) When the tree is damaged by typhoon or lightning; ……

No other causes other than those abovementioned shall be

considered as a valid ground for cutting.
Sec. 8. Penalties. — Those found guilty of violating this Act
or any rules and regulations issued pursuant hereto shall,
upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less
than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or a fine of
not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) but not more
than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000), or both in the
discretion of the court. ……
Land Ethic
For Leopold,
everyone deserves
moral consideration.
Leopold holds that ―a thing is right when it tends to
preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the
biotic community. It is wrong when it tends
otherwise.‖
The land ethic permits the most humane way of
extinguishing the rat population …… for the good of the
community.
ECOLOGICAL CONSCIENCE

• Human beings are not conquerors but as members of a

life-giving system.
• One must not develop only his/her rational but also their
emotional intelligence.
• Humans must respect and admire the beauty and
complexity of the biotic community
We need each other…

Human as Dweller
The importance of CULTURE…

Erazim Kohak thinks it is the

forgotten meaning of ‗culture‘ that
is at the root of the human being‘s
alienation from his/her
environment.
 CULTURE

Latin: cultus

Meaning: ―the yielding of

respect, honoring the sacredness
of all that is.‖

To be a person of culture is to be
someone who recognizes the
nobility of being.
A dweller is someone who
resides in a particular place and
call this place his/her HOME.

This is my HOME…

The place has

value to that
person.
How should we treat
the earth…

This is my HOME…
Because it has value.
The challenge now…
A person of culture is a
virtuous dweller by
respecting the environment.
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8749

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL POLICY AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Section 2. Declaration of Principles. - …… The State
recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based.

The State also recognizes the principle that "polluters must

pay".

Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy

environment is for the good of all and should, therefore, be
the concern of all.
Section 4. Recognition of Rights. - Pursuant to the above-
declared principles, the following rights of citizens are
hereby sought to be recognized and the State shall seek to
guarantee their enjoyment:

(a) The right to breathe clean air; ……

(c) The right to participate in the formulation, planning,
implementation and monitoring of environmental
policies and programs and in the decision-making
process; ……
(g) The right to bring action in court or quasi-judicial bodies
to enjoin all activities in violation of environmental laws
and regulations, to compel the rehabilitation and cleanup
of affected area, and to seek the imposition of penal
sanctions against violators of environmental laws; and
……
Section 24. Pollution from smoking. - Smoking inside a
public building or an enclosed public place including public
vehicles and other means of transport or in any enclosed
area outside of one's private residence, private place of work
or any duly designated smoking area is hereby prohibited
under this Act. This provision shall be implemented by the
LGUs.
Feminist Ethics
 The Roots of Women’s Discrimination
In early human history
until about 1500 BC…

Womb Worship

• People revered the earth as

mysterious bearer of life.
• The womb of the earth brought
forth life and the source of food.
The Roots of Women’s Discrimination
In human history at
about 1500 BC…

Penis Worship

Men began to believe that they were

active source of life while women
were the passive receivers.
GENDER EQUALITY
To Protect the Rights of Women

• The right to life

• The right to the means of survival
• The right to education
• The right to bodily integrity
• The right to access health care
Violation on the right to education…

In India…

• Virginity and purity are

more important
• Poor economic condition
Violation on the right to bodily integrity…

In Thailand…

Rampant of women
prostitution
Recognizing Women’s Role

Ex-Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Marcela Marino de Agoncillo,
Lorenza Agoncillo, and
Delfina Herbosa de Natividad
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262

"THE ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND

THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004"
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared
that the State values the dignity of women and children and
guarantees full respect for human rights. The State also
recognizes the need to protect the family and its members
particularly women and children, from violence and threats
to their personal safety and security. ……
SECTION 5. Acts of Violence Against Women and Their
Children.- The crime of violence against women and their
children is committed through any of the following acts:

(a) Causing physical harm to the woman or her child;

(b) Threatening to cause the woman or her child physical
harm; ……
(i) Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or
humiliation to the woman or her child, including, but not
limited to, repeated verbal and emotional abuse, and
denial of financial support or custody of minor children
of access to the woman's child/children.
SECTION 6. Penalties.- …… In addition to imprisonment,
the perpetrator shall (a) pay a fine in the amount of not less
than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not
more than three hundred thousand pesos (300,000.00); (b)
undergo mandatory psychological counseling or psychiatric
treatment and shall report compliance to the court.
Biomedical Ethics
In the Philippines,
abortion is illegal and
punishable by law.
The natural law says the
―right to life‖.
If the fetus is said to be where it
should not be in the case of ectopic
pregnancy (i.e. outside the womb)
and is threatening the life of the
mother, is the abortion of fetus
acceptable?
The Principle of
Double Effect
Four conditions for the application of this principle:
1. The act itself must be morally good or at least indifferent.
2. The agent may not positively will the bad effect but may
permit it. If he could attain the good effect without the
bad effect he should do so. The bad effect is sometimes
said to be indirectly voluntary.
3. The good effect must be produced directly by the
action, not by the bad effect. Otherwise the agent would
be using a bad means to a good end, which is never
allowed.
4. The good effect must be sufficiently desirable to
compensate for the allowing of the bad effect―.
Thus…

It is unacceptable that the medical professional directly

aborts the fetus; hence, his/her action of surgically cutting
the fallopian tube that is clogged is a more tolerable option.
Euthanasia or mercy killing is
unacceptable in the Philippines
because it is a direct murder of another
human being.
The natural law says the
―right to life‖.
A person is brain dead; and the
respirator extends his/her life. But
his/her family can no longer pay for
this artificial mean. Is it ethical to
take away the respirator and to let
the patient die?
Extraordinary means are
additional or artificial ways
that extend the life of a
person, e.g., respirator.
For a person who is brain dead…

Termination of extraordinary
means is permitted if there is only
small chance of recovery and if the
patient‘s family can no longer pay Doc, no more
respirator.
for these means.
REFERENCES

Books
• Ethics by Marc Oliver D. Pasco et al.
• With Respect for Nature: Living as Part of the Natural World by J. Claude Evans

Website
• http://www.paws.org.ph/animal-welfare-act-ra-8485.html
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/biocentrism
• http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8048.htm#.W1XtM9JKh0s
• https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1999/ra_8749_1999.html
• http://pcw.gov.ph/law/republic-act-9262
• http://peaceandhumanrights.org/education/4-countries-dont-allow-women-right-
education/
• https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/double-effect/
• https://www.slideshare.net/viviandabu/corporate-moral-development