Ethics

Introduction

"Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality." -
Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965), German-French Philosopher.

Ethics has widely understood as a systematic set of standards of moral principles govern by
an external source recognized in a particular class of human actions, groups, and culture. I learned that it
also the branch of philosophy which deals with the purpose to determine the principles by which people
should guide their actions and decide what is right and wrong. I think Moral Philosophy considered the
individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong based on the morality it believes. Ethics and Moral
Philosophy interchangeably gives meaningful importance to study the complex ethical rules or norms of a
moral or non-moral standards on a concurrent dilemma in relation between ethics social system and moral
agents beliefs, the distinction between moral agency eligibly for moral consideration with cultural norms
shaping moral behavior, and analyzing Filipinos understanding of Right and Wrong that contributes the
Cultural Revolution to fully study the Strength and Weaknesses of Cultural Relativism and appreciate the
Qualities of Filipino Moral Identity to ultimately concluded the ethical Universal Values. These related
content of Ethics and Moral Philosophy would develop and widen further my studies in the field of
academics of its significance connection to humanity.

Body

How should I live? Shall I aim at happiness or at knowledge, virtue, or the creation of
beautiful objects? If I choose happiness, will it be my own or the happiness of all? And what of the more
particular questions that face it right to be dishonest in a good cause? Can I justify living in opulence while
elsewhere in the world people are starving? Is going to war justified in cases where it is likely that innocent
people will be killed? What is my obligations, if any, to the generations of human who will come after us and
to the non-human animals with whom we share the planet? After realizing that Ethics deals with such
questions at all levels. As it would consists of the fundamental issues of practical decision making which I
felt the major concerns include the nature of ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can
be judged right or wrong. The terms ethics and morality are closely related which I considered to ethical
judgments or to ethical principles where it once would have been more accurate to speak of moral
judgments or moral principles. In earlier usage, the term referred not to morality itself but to the field of
study, or branch of inquiry, that has morality as its subject matter. In this sense, ethics is equivalent to
moral philosophy. As, our studies continued in the long term of understanding and eliciting the
fundamental structures of an Ethics. I found out that ethics defined in various philosophical description. As
a result, I had made an extensive researched and resolved the confusion. Ethics discussed entirely about
the human behavior between morally good and bad conduct and its moral principles to humanity.

According to Leano Jr. & Gunta-on (2018), the study of ethics should consider making it
possible for an individual to fully understand what his conscience is, how he has gained it, how far he is
willing and able to respect his outward manifestations with protection, and how well he can strengthen it
and make it even smarter. Added to it, a person can gain a better insight into his claims to society as well
as the obligations he owes to society. He must learn to distinguish between the respects in which all
persons are highly dependent and those who are responsible for his or her own life and will focus on
freedom of initiative. Eventually, it will at least allow certain observations, for understanding, self-sacrifice,
and obligation, which will enable us to make these decisions.
 From the standpoints of the authors mentioned above, I realized that several views on the
importance of ethics were profounded that through ethics I can determine :(1)the difference between right
from wrong, good and bad; (2) there's action I could eliminate which do not conform to what is right; (3) I
will be very careful to the actions and decisions to make; (4) I will not be disturbed of the internal and
external factors of not doing the right thing; (5) establishing my personal good habits of characters (6)I
would come up to rational decisions in facing an ethical dilemma; (7) and I would be a role model to
makes a person responsible in the family, school and society; (8) a person becomes sensitive to the needs
of others more than himself or herself; and (9) reminds a person to fully need conscience in decision
making and a person can acknowledge the actions made. As I get thorough understanding of the
importance of an Ethics, I discovered that moral philosophy concerned primarily on individual owns
decision and choice that does not contradict to the will it would be making out and the accountability act
done by some invidual is held liable by their own. Also, I learned that Ethics is the core of all behaviors
conformity and this becomes the brilliant standard of maintaining the orderliness and peace to any rules in
a diversified society.

Knowing the importance of Ethics in every day living, it helps me show how obliged I am as
a person engaged in different perspective in socializing with others. These moral principles had given me
the appropriate guidance as to how should I understand myself which in reality it just become a piece of
junked words as conceptualize by some individuals. Why should study ethics then? Today, more than ever,
the importance of ethics is felt at every sphere of human living. As I discovered in learning the study of
moral philosophy or ethics can deepen our reflection on the ultimate questions of life. The study of ethics
helps a person to look at his own life critically and to evaluate his actions, choices, decisions. It assists a
person in knowing what he/she really is and what is best for him/her and what he/she has to do in order to
attain it. When I took a close of understanding the study of moral philosophy can help us to think better
about morality. Moral philosophy had helped me clarify our moral positions when we make judgements. It
improves out perspective, and makes it more reflective and better thought out. It can also improve our
thinking about specific moral issues. In our every day life we are confronted with situations in which we
have to decide what is the correct course of action and what is to be avoided. Whether we choose to act or
to refrain from acting, we are in either case making a choice. Every decision or choice we make we do so
for reasons. However, we should agree that some of these reasons are better than the others in judging the
rightness of the decision or choice. However, there seems to be a common agreement that we should all
strive to do the right thing, to do what is morally acceptable in a given situation or circumstance. However,
the issue of disagreement is over the question of what exactly is the right thing to do. As I take time
studying of moral philosophy, it had helped me sharpen the general thinking processes. It trains my mind
to think logically and reasonably and to handle moral issues with greater clarity.

Ethics becomes inevitable as by nature human being is a social being; being living in
relationship with other fellow beings and with the nature around. All actions, whether one is aware of it or
not, someway or another affects the others. In order to make a decision/judgement I should make some
bases on a standard of right and wrong even though the measure may not be the same at all times. Thus,
ethical problems confront everybody. Nobody can really get through life without ethics, even I may not be
aware of the ethical principles. Consciously or unconsciously all of us are every day making moral
decisions. Whether we are aware of it or not, the fact is that we do have ethical attitudes and are taking
moral stances every day of our lives. Some question aroused in my mind how should I fully understand to
study ethics? In every day learning of the academics being thought in school, the ethics has always be the
all time guidelines to finalize with a decision on each of the obligation to fulfill the required task without
affecting the behavioral approach in completing the course requirements.
 As I would predicted that ethics and moral can be studied by looking into the purpose of
someone's character and accountability towards obligated actions align in their situation. Ethics and moral
does not entirely focus on a person's behavior and actions between what is right and wrong. After reading
the contents of an ethical standards moral principles, I learned that every individuals should also be govern
by rules in attaining certain limitations. Ethics subject had taught me that human behavior must not forget
the rules that directed the actions limitation. Indeed, without the rules and appreciating its existence to the
society; the world will surely be miserable. Why are rules important to social being? In my Ethics academic
studies, I believe rules is considered as a guideline to people. It is essential to social being because it can
lead us on doing what is right and enables us to achieve a safe and peaceful environment. I had realized
that if there are no rules in our society there would be in chaos. As mentioned above, rules are guidelines
that people are supposed to follow as it indicates as the moral principles. If there are no guidelines to
follow, people will do anything that they want according to their will because there's no such rules imposed
saying that they should not. Then the society will be a whole mess. Violence will dominate us because
there's no legal recourse to inscribe for injustice acts. As I have understood, the importance of the rules in
ethical society and the understanding of the moral rules in diversified ethnicity could help the vast
relationship of the varietal condition united as one.

Ethics as a subject matter in my field of academics studies, I found out that ethics come
up with a difference set of moral standard and non-moral standard. After reading the Moral standards in
Ethics studies discussion, I have learned that the norms of 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. I felt that Moral standards prescribe what humans ought to do in terms of
rights and obligations. On the other hand, Non-moral standards as I learned further it made a rules that are
unrelated to moral or ethical considerations. Either these standards are not necessarily linked to morality
or by nature lack ethical sense. Moral standards normally promote the common good, that is, the welfare
and well-being of human beings, animals, and the environment. Moral standards are a blending of norms
and values. Therefore, norms plus values pertain to moral standards. Norms as standards are basic
guidelines regarding human acts. Values, though, are universal convictions as to what is acceptable,
desirable, and beneficial or not.

In my Ethics studies, I have learned and reflected another content an ethics is the
Dilemma. As I read it and found its significance factor as a situation where a person forced to choose
between two or more conflicting options, neither of which is acceptable. In Moral dilemmas I felt people
face difficulties in making choices or choosing an alternative from at least two or several possibilities that
may be bad or evil. Making a choice is not always easy especially when alternatives are either
disadvantageous or evil. Indeed, it is important for me as a students to be aware that becoming a part of a
larger community or institution will require participation in a more complex moral situation or dilemma.
Getting involved in some complicated situations does not come from nowhere. My understanding on moral
dilemma and moral analysis could make me wiser and better decision maker. It si always my decision to
think twice before engaging in any gray area. When dilemmas involve human actions which have moral
implications, I felt that they are called ethical where they are also called “moral agents”. As I found that in
ethics situation are forced to choose between two or more conflicting options, neither of which resolves
the situation in a morally acceptable manner.
 As results of my Ethics studies, I have learned that ethics come up with Moral Agent which
I considered this individual has the power to distinguish right from wrong and to be held accountable for
his or her own actions. Moral agents have an ethical responsibility just for an instance as a student, would
make a cause unreasonable harm. Indeed, a pre-human became "human", which I began to observe and
form an understanding of myself. Intuitively, we have a tendency to regard this effort at self-observation
and self-understanding as intrinsic to what we tend to mean by being human. In my Ethics studies, I also
learned that philosophers Immanuel Kant, view morality as a transaction among rational moral agents. The
Philosopher Immanuel Kant viewed to exclude other animals from natural considerations which I think he
argued that the key to inclusion in the moral community is not rationality–for if it were, we might have
exclude some disabled people and infants and might also have to distinguish between the degrees of
rationality of healthy adults-but the real object of moral action is the avoidance of suffering. It is useful to
compare the idea of moral agency with the legal doctrine of men’s real, it means guilty mind, and states
that a person is legally responsible for what he does as long as he should know what he is doing and his
choices are deliberate.

Moreover, in my Ethics studies, I observed that Culture definitely has been a huge effect in
shaping moral behavior and our ideas of what we should be judged morally. Culture shapes a person's
behavior and morals, which I would be set an example to carry it for the rest of my life and we don't know if
it will change or not. Our beliefs, morals and things we experience around us are shaped by the society and
culture that we live in every day. It had shaped me into the person I am now and influences who or what
should I choose to associate with. In addition, there is a Filipino understanding of right and wrong. I have
realized that they are based on our values, behavior and influences of the people around us. An action is
right if it would result in more happiness for a large number of people and an action is bad when many
people are affected by wrong-doings. For example, most of us Filipinos believe in karma, the good and bad
karma. They understand that if they do something right, it will be returned to them rightfully, meaning that
they may expecting good things that will happen to them. However, if they do anything wrong, terrible
things are going to happen to them. In my Ethics studies, I discovered that Cultural relativism beliefs on
moral or ethical systems that differ from culture to culture are all equally correct and that no one system is
truly better than anyone else. This is based on the belief that there is no ultimate standard of good or bad,
thus every judgment regarding right and wrong is a product of society. It is not tenable in ethics because
cultural relativism imply that there is no moral code to govern human behavior. Rather, it implies that each
civilization has its own moral code to guide its people, but these principles are valuable to those who live
by them, even if they differ from our own.

Furthermore, Filipinos are collectivists who determine what is right and wrong based on
their relationships with their families, religion, and peer groups. This has been our usual treats with
Hospitality to the family which can be seen how good the manners as Filipinos. The family's interaction
with each other has a strong influence on the personality as a moral person and moral standards. One of
the strength is being a family oriented. A genuine and deep love for family because eventually when we
have a problem, they are the only ones you can run to and help you at the end. One of the weaknesses of
the Filipinos is having a kanya-kanya syndrome. Some Filipinos have a selfish, self-serving mindset that
breeds jealousy and rivalry toward others, and causes the family quarrel. After reading and discovering all
the related contents of our Ethics studies, I have learned that Ethics belong to some extent of a Universal
Values existence. I believed that value is said to be universal if it applies to all and holds a value that is the
same to everyone. I would claimed that Universal Values could be something that has a universal value
when everybody finds it valuable. Something can have universal value if all people have reason to believe
that it has value. Every individual will value certain things, conditions of mind, or behavior as these relate to
his or her background and social perspective. Every community will honor certain things, states, and
behavior as a result of its environmental location which I would claimed that universal values exist means
seeking to uncover something that applies across all persons and communities as a result of their
humanity.
Conclusion

In conclusion, as I have studied my Ethics subject matter on the different subtopics. I

have learned that Ethics applies significance moral principles which govern my actions and decisions
towards a specific guidelines of morality adhere to the ethical standard of my academic studies.
Furthermore, Ethics and Moral Philosophy had widen my comprehension even further about Morality and
Ethics interchangeably discription in determining the human behavior or actions on a purposive decsiony.
As a result, to achieve and succeed the moral principles on a personal life, I had realized further that ethics
does not just about observations of one's moral actions own doing but instead the importance behind the
ethical foundation for humanity those includes the studies of ethics as to further understand its function
and effects to social behavior as well as how we should conduct appropriate approach to some
unidentified or confusing behavioral manifestation. Moreover, as I went through my Ethics studies, I had
understood the significance connection of Rules in ethics to every day living and it had made me feel to
extent the necessary discussion in a depth analyzation of the Moral Standard disctintion to Non-Moral
Standard of vast ethical situation. Additionally, in my Ethics studies, I have learned that A moral dilemma or
ethical dilemma applies a challenging decisions my personal life. It is often happend to any decision, that
must be analyze every aspect, scrutinize the choices given and makes an individual more mature in
handling obstinate situations.

Furthermore, ethics often misunderstood and slightly contradicts with the moral beliefs.
Though, as I moral philosopher, I find it difficult to conform with the ethical standard given in some aspect
of a situations since I got a usual instinct to follow the moral views which I conformable to utilize all the
time. My beliefs on my personal moral principles often disregard as I have to apply the ethical standard of
the environment to meet the morality practice of the obligated organizations. As a result, my Ethics studies
had strengthen my personality to follow the common goods of the soceital practice. Moreover, I also
learned that having a moral agent personality contributes to my knowledge that this kind of actions is part
of ethics evaluation which behaviors has the power to cause harm to another on a decided desires to do
the actions. In addition, as I read my Ethics studies, I have learned that the distinction of moral agency and
eligibly for moral consideration had both morally responsibile for the decision and actions takes place. As
the actions did what makes us feel and think that less accountable for certain situation.

Moreover, my Ethics studies had given me a lot of relating experiences and knowledge
that Culture is also one of a factor for shaping moral behavior in a certain community or environment that
has different moral principles being followed and believed. I believed through that of culture collective way
of life, or way the sum of attitudes, values, goals, and practices shared by individuals in a group society. As
a result, Ethics studies allow me to support the ethical evidence of understanding that we are Filipinos are
morally responsibile for every actions we have done. Though, in some aspect of situations I have learned
and experienced that those characteristics we have as Filipinos there are strength and weaknesses too
which urged the moral actions to decide to rightful or wrongful decisions. Lastly, as moral philosopher, I
still believe on the qualities of a Filipinos whose moral identity and ethics towards the diversified society
were still known in their patiently hospitable hard-working esteemed respect to one another.
 Reflection Paper

On

GE 107- Ethics

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Date: January 3, 2023

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