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0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 1

INTRODUCTION TO THE KEY CONCEPTS

MODULE OVERVIEW

Module Outline:

A. The Need to Study Ethics and the Importance of Rules to Social Beings
B. Moral versus Non-moral Standards
C. What are Dilemmas?
D. What are the Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas?
E. Foundation of Morality

Introduction

What is morality? Morality is “a system of beliefs about what is right behavior and wrong
behavior” (Rubin, 2015). Morality refers to “the principles of right and wrong behavior or rightness
and wrongness (that is, goodness and badness) of human actions” (philonotes.com, 2018). In his
book, Elements of Moral Philosophy, author and university professor Dr. James Rachels – a
philosopher who specialized in Ethics – asserted that “at the very least morality is the effort to guide
one’s conduct by reason, to act based on the best reasons for doing, while giving equal weight to
the interests of each individual affected by one’s decision” (Gallinero, 2018).

In this Module, you will learn how to distinguish a moral standard from non-moral standards
and likewise distinguish a moral dilemma from any other types of dilemmas. You will also learn in
this Module how to identify and classify moral experiences as they happen in different levels of
human existence.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the importance of following various rules (home, community, school rules and
regulations)
2. Differentiate between moral and non-moral standards
3. Differentiate between dilemma and moral dilemma
4. Identify a moral dilemma in a given situation
5. Classify moral dilemmas according to the three levels of moral dilemmas
6. Explain why only human beings can be ethical

LEARNING CONTENTS (The Need to Study Ethics and The Importance of Rules…)

Topic 1. The Need to Study Ethics and the Importance of Rules to Social Beings

What is Ethics?

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) defines that “ethics deals with principles of
ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person, society, and in interaction with the

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Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

environment and other shared resources” (CMO 20 series of 2013).

Alternatively, ethics which is also called “Moral Philosophy” is a branch of philosophy that
studies the morality of human conduct using moral frameworks, theories, principles and standards.

In our course, “ethics” and “morality” can be used interchangeably, like using the term
“unethical” instead of the term “immoral” or vice-versa. However, philosophically speaking, there is a
very thin dividing line between the terms ethics and morality. Ethics is the specific branch of
philosophy that studies morality, while morality refers to the system of beliefs or principles of
rightness or wrongness of actions. In other words, “ethics is the science of “morals”, while morality
is the practice of ethics” (philonotes.com, 2018).

Relevance of Studying Ethics

College students already have developed a set of moral standards by which they use to
understand the world and a moral compass to navigate it. The end goal of studying Ethics is for the
student to become a person who makes sound judgments, sensitive to the common good
(Gallinero, 2018).

The Importance of Rules to Social Beings

“Rules are necessary to protect the greater good. Even the freest societies ought to have
rules in order to avoid exploitations and tyranny while upholding the common welfare” (De Guzman,
2018). Human societies have rules to guarantee that rights of everyone is protected by regulating
behavior and produce a sense of justice in the society.

Required Reading: To learn more about the lesson, please read “The Importance of
Rules to Social Beings” by J.M. De Guzman (2018) uploaded or linked in your MS Teams.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

“Gear-up” Activity

Recall / review all the rules that you have to follow at home, at the church, in the community and in
Pangasinan State University.

Consider the following study questions after recalling the rules:

 Among the rules (i.e. rules at home, in the community, at PSU), which rule do you find
constricting?
 What do you think are the reasons behind these rules?
 What would your home be without these rules? Your community? PSU?

Recitation: Online Sharing

Prepare for an online sharing on why we need to study ethics and the importance of rules to
social beings, specifically by answering the study questions listed under “Gear-up” Activity.

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Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

LEARNING CONTENTS (Moral versus Non-Moral Standards)

Topic 2. Moral versus Non-moral Standards

As explained under Topic 1, we may infer that morality refer to the norms that an individual,
a group or community has regarding what is right or wrong (moral or immoral).

Moral standards are those that “individuals or groups have about the kinds of actions
believed to be morally right or wrong, as well as the values placed on what we believed to be
morally good or morally bad” (philonotes.com, 2018). On the other hand, Non-Moral standards
refer to rules “by which we judge what is good or bad and right or wrong in a non-moral way”
(philonotes.com, 2018).

Required Reading: To learn more about the lesson, please read “Moral and Non-Moral
Standards” by philonotes.com uploaded or linked in your MS Teams.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Self-Reflection:

Read “Moral and Non-Moral Standards” uploaded/linked in MS Teams. Consider the following
study questions after reading:
 Differentiate between standards and moral standards
 What features should a moral standard have?

LEARNING CONTENTS (What are Dilemmas?)

Topic 3. What are Dilemmas?

Dilemma refers to a situation in which a tough choice has to be made between two or more
options, especially more or less equally undesirable ones (dictionary.com, 2017).

Not all dilemmas are moral dilemmas. Moral dilemmas (ethical dilemmas) are “situations
where persons are forced to choose between two or more conflicting options, neither of which resolves
the situation in a morally acceptable manner” (philonotes.com, 2018).

Required Reading: To learn more about the lesson, please read “Moral Dilemmas” by
philonotes.com uploaded in your MS Teams.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

Self-Reflection:

Read “Moral Dilemmas” by philonotes.com uploaded in MS Teams. Consider the following study
questions after reading:
 What is the difference between a dilemma and a moral dilemma?

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Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

 What features should a moral dilemma have?

Written Homework on Moral vs Non-Moral Standards (Topic 2) and Dilemmas (Topic 3):

Respond to the following guide questions as a Written Homework to be submitted in your MS

Teams. Follow the given format below.
 “Not all rules are moral rules or standard”. Give three differences between moral standards
and non-moral standards.
 Enumerate 5 examples of moral standards and 5 examples of non-moral standards.
 Recall a past experience that you consider as a moral dilemma. Briefly explain why it is a
moral dilemma and not just any other dilemmas.

GE 9 - Ethics
Name: ________________________
Course: _______________________

Moral versus Non-Moral Standards

1. “Not all rules are moral rules or standard”. Give three differences between moral standards and
non-moral standards.

2. Enumerate 5 examples of moral standards and 5 examples of non-moral standards.

Moral Standards: Non-Moral Standards:

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.

3. Recall a past experience that you consider as a moral dilemma. Briefly explain why it is a moral
dilemma and not just any other dilemmas.

LEARNING CONTENTS (What are the Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas?)

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Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

Topic 4. What are the Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas?

The three levels of moral dilemmas are, 1) Personal dilemmas, 2) Organizational dilemmas,
and 3) Structural dilemmas.

Personal dilemmas are those that are encountered and resolved personally by the
individual. Personal dilemmas may be caused by the individual him/herself, by another person, or
by a group.

Organizational dilemmas are those “encountered and resolved by social organizations. This
include moral dilemmas in business, medical field and public sector” (De Guzman, 2018).

Structural dilemmas are dilemmas encountered and resolved by network of organizations.

Structural dilemmas are multi-sectoral and larger in scope than organizational dilemmas (De
Guzman, 2018).

LEARNING ACTIVITY 4

Recitation: Online Sharing

After the short lecture, there will be a recitation. You will participate by classifying moral dilemmas
which I will provide according to the three levels.

LEARNING CONTENTS (Foundations of Morality)

Topic 5. Foundation of Morality

Freedom: Responsibility for One’s Act and to Others

Only human beings can be ethical because, 1) only human beings are rational, autonomous
(free) and self-conscious, 2) only human beings can act morally or immorally, and 3) only human
beings are part of the moral community.

Morality involves CHOICE. It is choosing ethical codes, values or standards to guide us in

our lives. Choosing is impossible without freedom. Everyone who wishes to function morally in a
society has to make choices every minute of the day (De Guzman, 2018).

Furthermore, freedom demands responsibility. According to Sartre, even though individuals

must make their own choices because they are free, these choices also have consequences to it –
these consequences are something that the person must endure (Gallinero, 2018).

Required Reading: To learn more about the lesson, please read “Freedom” by Gallinero
uploaded in your MS Teams.

Minimum Requirement for Morality

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Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

Since freedom demands responsibility, according to James Rachels, moral judgments must
be backed by sound reasoning and that morality requires the impartial consideration of all
parties involved (Rachels, 2004).

LEARNING ACTIVITY 5

Advance Reading:

Before the discussion on Topic 5, you should read in advance “Freedom” by Gallinero uploaded in
your MS Teams. Consider the following guide questions after reading:
 Why is it that only human can be ethical? How about the animals?
 Why is freedom regarded as the foundation of ethics?

Online Sharing

Respond to the following questions. I will randomly select 3-5 “lucky” students among you to share
their answers to the guide questions above in our official MS Teams or messenger group chat.
Good luck!
Questions for Online Sharing:
1. What will happen when: (a) freedom is unlimited, (b) freedom is absent?
2. What is the role of reason and importance of impartiality to ethics?

Quiz:

Review all the lessons in this module and prepare for a quiz. The schedule and mode of the quiz
will be posted in your MS Teams or Messenger Group Chat. Good luck!

SUMMARY

 Rules are important because they protect social beings by regulating behavior; they help to
guarantee each person certain rights and freedom; they produce sense of justice among social
beings; and they are essential for a healthy economic system.

 There are different kinds of standards, i.e. etiquette, policy, law, and commandment. In ethics, a
moral standard is a code of what is right or wrong without reference to specific behaviors or
beliefs.

 A moral dilemma is a situation where: there are two or more actions that you can possibly do;
there is a moral reason(s) for doing such actions; and you cannot do all the possible actions
presented to you, you only need to choose one.

 There are three levels of moral dilemmas. These are personal moral dilemma, organizational
moral dilemma, and structural moral dilemma.

 Only human beings can be ethical because of freedom and reason. Morality is a question of
“choice”. Philosophically, choosing is impossible without freedom. Likewise, moral decisions
must be backed by sound reason and ought to be based on impartial and objective criteria.

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Study Guide in GE 9 - Ethics Module No. 1

REFERENCES

De Guzman, J. M., et.al. 2018. Ethics: Principles of Ethical Behavior in Modern Society. Malabon
City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.

Gallinero, W.B., et.al. 2018. Ethics. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.

PHILO-notes: Learn Philosophy Online. www.philonotes.com/index.php

Rachels, J. 2004. The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 4th ed. New York: McGRaw-Hill College.

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