GenEd

2020-2021

GLOBAL RECIPROCAL COLLEGES

GENERAL EDUCATION
ETHICS

ETHICS

Prepared by:

Gabriel A.
Palada
 GLOBAL RECIPROCAL COLLEGES

WEEK #3
(The Morality of Human Acts)

I. LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Discuss the different determinants of morality.

2. Distinguish the basis and standard of morality.

II. DISCUSSION

The Norms of Morality

1. Eternal Law of God – Ultimate norm of morality.

2. Conscience – proximate norm of morality.

The Determinants of Morality – Factors that links human act with their norms.

1. Object
2. End
3. Circumstances

 Object of morality – refers to the object of the will-act

 The object of morality is the essence of the act.

MORALITY
Objective Intrinsic
 If an object is good or evil.  When it resides in the act
 Determine whether the act is good or independently of positive law
evil. prescribing or forbidding the act.

 End of morality – Intrinsically good, evil and indifferent acts are by their very nature
independent of any law, regulation, or command.
 Human acts whether they are good or evil, are always conditioned by the intention of the
agent in performing such acts. (Why the act is done?)

Principles of Intentionality of Human Act.

1. An indifferent act can become morally good or morally evil depending upon the
intention of the agent.
2. An objectively good act can become morally evil.

ETHICS
GENERAL EDUCATION
2020-2021
 GLOBAL RECIPROCAL COLLEGES

3. An intrinsically good act can receive added goodness.

 An intrinsically evil act can never become good even when it is done with good
intentions.
“The end does not justify the mean”

 Circumstances – conditions that affect human acts by increasing or decreasing the

responsibility of the agent.

Kinds of circumstances

1. Who
 Refers to the person or the one whom the act is ascribed.
2. What
 Refers to the quality or quantity of the object of the act.
3. Where
 Circumstance of the place where the act is performed.
4. By what means
 Circumstances of the means employed by the agent.
5. How
 Circumstance of the manner or mode when the act is done.
 Modifiers: consent, voluntariness, fear, ignorance, and violence.
6. When
 Circumstance of time
7. Why
 Circumstance of end or intention.

Principles Involved in Circumstances

 An indifferent act can become good or evil through circumstances

 A good act can become evil through circumstances.
 An intrinsically good act can become better or an intrinsically evil act can
become worse through circumstances.
 An evil act can never become good through circumstance.
 A good act done with evil means destroy the entire objective goodness of the act.

III. ACTIVITIES

I. Explain the quotation “The end does not justify the mean”

ETHICS
GENERAL EDUCATION
2020-2021
 GLOBAL RECIPROCAL COLLEGES

Answer: The phrase “The end does not justify the means” infer that, good outcome does
not justify the evil mean. In other word, it is just like revenge, you are making decision on your
own, and it’s greedy it’s selfish. For example, you torment someone to save the lives of others.
Technically speaking, only the torturing has worked. We are humans and humans are gifted
with brain for cognitive thinking. Killing is an animal instinct and you don’t think like an
animal right? We also do follow certain moral rules, norms, human law and the eternal law of
God. Basically it means that a good outcome does not excuse any wrongs committed to attain it.

II. Why do we need to study morality?

Answer: Studying morality becomes a tool in making up decision. It expresses our
awareness to our self and to others also. Morality maximizes your well-being. You also think in
the most rational way as an individual. Maximizing your well-being gives you a long term
benefit for yourself. In studying morality it makes us see the decisions that we make and the
underlying benefits we come up of what we thought. Because humans think morally and in
studying morality it improves our morality.

IV. SUMMARY

The Norms of Morality

1. Eternal Law of God

2. Conscience

The Determinants of Morality

1. Object
2. End
3. Circumstances

V. ASSIGNMENT

1. What is Oriental or Eastern Ethics about?

Answer: Eastern ethics are the ethics came from the eastern and southern part of the world like
China, Middle East, India and Japan. Oriental ethics features ethics with the mind-body dualism, denial
of a creative and omnipotent God, karma, an eternal and uncreated universe, non-violence, the theory of
the multiple facets of truth, and morality based on liberation of the soul.

ETHICS
GENERAL EDUCATION
2020-2021
 GLOBAL RECIPROCAL COLLEGES

2. What are the teachings of Hinduism?

Answer: Hindus most common approach to teaching is the belief to the Supreme Being. And
they are committed to certain concepts such as Truth, dharma, and karma. And belief in the authority of
the Vedas, the sacred scriptures. This serves to a large extent, as the very definition of a Hindu, even
though how the Vedas are interpreted may vary greatly. Some of the key beliefs of the Hindus are Truth
is eternal, Brahman is Truth and Reality, The Vedas are the ultimate authority, Everyone should strive to
achieve dharma, Individual souls are immortal, The goal of the individual soul is moksha.

VI. REFERENCES

Van Zyl, L. L. (2019). Virtue Ethics : A Contemporary Introduction . Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Ariola, M. M. (2018). Ethics . Unlimited Books .

Buenaflor, L. E. (2018). Unraveling the Absolute Principle : Ethics for Filipino Students . Books Atbp.
Publishing Corp. .

Cariño, J. V. (2018). Fundamentals of Ethics . C & E Publiching, Inc.

Leaño, R. D. (2018). Ethics for College Students : CHED Curriculum - Compliant . Mindshapers Co., Inc.

Pasco, M. O. (2018). Ethics . C & E Publiching, Inc.

Saidali, M. A. (2015). Values and Work Ethics . Mindshapers Co., Inc.

Cebreros, N. (2015). Universal Ethics and Contemporary Values . Mindshapers Co., Inc.

ETHICS
GENERAL EDUCATION
2020-2021