ETHICS

FOR COLLEGE
-REV. FR. ANTHONY
STUDENTS
GEORGE BERGONIO
CHAPTER 2
FREEDOM
AND MORALITY
LESSON 1
FREEDOM
AND MORAL ACTS
 FREEDOM AND MORAL ACTS
• In Kant Philosophy, freedom is defined as a concept
which is involved in the moral domain, at the question:
what should I do?
• Kant says that the moral law is only that I know
myself as a free person. Kantian freedom is
closely linked to the notion of autonomy, which
means law itself: thus, freedom falls obedience
to a law that I created myself. It is therefore,
respect its commitment to compliance with
oneself.
 FREEDOM AND MORAL ACTS
• Practical reasons legislates (make laws and
requirements) of free being, or more precisely
the causality of free beings. Thus, practical
reason is based on freedom, it is freedom.
• Kant Ethics is mainly based on the concepts of
free will and autonomy.
KANTS MORALITY AND FREEDOM
• To act freely is to act autonomously. To act
autonomously is to act according to a law I give
myself.
• Whenever I act according to the laws of nature,
demands of social convention, when I pursue
pleasure and comfort, I am not acting freely. To
act freely is to choose the end itself, for its own
sake.
• For Kant, acting freely (autonomously) and acting
morally are one and the same thing.
To arrive at a proper understanding of
Kant’s notion of moral law and the
connection between morality, freedom
and reason, let’s examine these
contrasts:
 DUTY VS INCLINATION (MORALITY)
- only the motive of duty, acting
according the law I gave myself
confers moral worth to an action. Any
other motive, while possibly
commendable, cannot give an action
moral worth.
AUTONOMY VS HETERONOMY (FREEDOM)
-I am only free when my will is determined
autonomously, governed by the law I give myself.
Being part of nature, I am not exempt from its laws
and I’m inclined or compelled to act according to
those laws (act heteronomously). My capacity for
reason opens another possibility. That of acting
according to the laws other than the laws of nature: the
laws I give myself. this reason, “pure practical
reason”, legislatives a priori -regardless of all
empirical ends.
CATEGORICAL VS HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVES (REASON)
– Kant acknowledges two ways in which reason
can command the will, two imperatives.
Hypothetical Imperatives uses instrumental
reason: if I want X, I must do Y. (If I want to stay
out of jail, I must be a good citizen and not rob
banks). Hypothetical imperatives is always
conditional.
 TWO MAIN
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE:
FORMULATIONS OF
Act only on that maxim whereby you can
at the same time will that it should
become a universal law.
-Immanuel Kant
•“MAXIM” is a rule, a principle that gives
reason to action.
•This is a “UNIVERSALIZING TEST” that checks
whether my action puts my interests and
circumstances ahead of everyone else’s. My
action will fail the test if it results in a
contradiction.
 “Act in such a way that you always treat
humanity, whether in your own person or in the
person of any other, never simply as a means,
but always at the same time as an end.
-Immanuel Kant
•For Kant, HUMAN EXISTENCE has in
itself an absolute value -it is an end
in itself and the only ground of
possible categorical imperative.
THE ROLE OF
FREEDOM IN
MORALITY
• The Personal Aspect of Morality -which might
more properly be called ethics – is about the
cultivation of virtue: The development of
character traits so that choosing the good
becomes a matter of habit.
• Virtue can be guided by cultural traditions and
social institutions, but it cannot be coerced. A
virtuous man must also be a free man.
The interpersonal aspect of
morality is more about rule
following. RULES prevent us
from colliding with each
other. They permit us to live
together in harmony, and
they also make us recognize
from the mere consequences
to ourselves, the rights of
others.
 FREEDOM: THE FOUNDATION OF
MORAL ACT
• Freedom is human’s greatest quality and it is
a reflection of our creator.
• Freedom is the power rooted in reason and
will, to act or not to act, to do this or that
and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s
own responsibility. Having Freedom means
having Responsibility.
WHAT SEPARATES HUMAN FROM
ANIMALS?
• REASON (intellect) and WILL (moral action).
• GOOD AND EVIL are rooted are forged in freedom. To that
degree that a person reaches higher level of freedom, he
becomes capable of higher levels of morality. The sinful
person becomes slave.
• The existence of freedom is a central premise in Catholic
morality. Our secular culture greatly exalts freedom. Yet
it also questions whether freedom really exists.
FREEDOM AND FREE WILL.
• There are many possible limits to our freedom: both
external and internal.
• EXTERNAL FREEDOM is a freedom from factors
outside ourselves that limit or destroy our free will.
• INTERNAL FREEDOM is a freedom from interior
factors that limit our free will.
Requirement of True Freedom
• True freedom is dependent upon truth, “You will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free (JN
8:32). True freedom is oriented toward the good.
• Evil enslaves us and diminishes our ability to be free.
• True freedom requires responsibility. There is no
such things as irresponsible freedom
Human act vs Acts of Humans.
• Human acts make use of his knowledge
and free will. Ex. Love your enemy, pray to
God, sacrifice for others.
• Acts of Human do not make use of his
intellect or will knowledge. His action is
natural. Ex. Breathing, blinking, and
sneezing.
• Man is created by God as a human person who can
begin and control his own actions. He is meant to seek
God and gain perfection by clinging to him. By
freedom (rooted form his intellect and will) man has
the power to act or not to act.
• By constantly doing good, man grows in freedom.
Doing evil leads man into a “slavery of sin” (Rom 6:17).
A person is responsible for directly willed
act. God confronted Eve, “What is this
that you have done?” (Gen 3:13). He also
confronted Cain, “what have you done?”
(Gen 4:10). A person is not responsible
for an evil act if he did not will it and did
not intend it as a means to an end.
• Human history attests that the problems of man come
from man’s abuse of freedom.
• An act is good when the object, the intention, and the
circumstances are all good. Some acts are evil in
themselves as fornication and are always wrong to
choose.
• Therefore, the person’s intention and circumstances, such
as pressure or duress, cannot change a morally evil act,
such as murder, blasphemy, or adultery, into a morally
good act. We cannot do evil so good will come from it.
LESSON 2
Culture and Morality
WHAT IS CULTURE?
• Culture is derived from the Latin Word “cultura” or “cultus”
which means care or cultivation. Culture as cultivation implies
that every human being is a potential member of his own social
group.
• He is endowed with certain innate qualities to make use.
However, he cannot develop these inborn talents without the
other people. He needs other people who can provide him with
the needed opportunities so he can translate these potentialities
into realities called achievement.
• “Culture is that complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, law art, moral, custom, and other
capabilities and habits acquired as a member of
society” (Anthropologist Edward B. Taylor).
• On the other hand, sociologists defined culture as the
entire way of life followed by people, and everything
learned and shared by people in society. Culture is a
complex set of learned and shared beliefs, customs
skills, habits, traditions, and knowledge common to
members of society.
 THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Culture has been with us since the dawn of human existence.
Significant as it is, culture considerably shapes its members on
how they live and relate within themselves and with other
cultures.
• Culture is a social environment in which a person is born and
wherein he or she lives together with other persons.
• Hence, culture has a great impact in the development of the
human person in varied ways; may it be in physical, knowledge,
thought, relationship, religious or moral development.
• Culture is a person’s heritage that has been passed
from one generation to the next basically through the
relationship that binds the society together.
• Culture is rooted form the “collective human
experience”. Culture is always transmitted, shared or
acquired through learning.
 How culture influences the moral development of the people.

1. Culture is always social and communal by which the relationship of the

people towards one another and their experience as people are the
culture’s meadow.
2. The culture defines the normative principles and behaviors of the society.
3. Culture, as best exemplified in the experience of the people, develops
restrictions and sets boundaries and limitations as they live and relate
with one another.
4. As culture helps in generating the character identity of its people, it also
includes their moral character.
5. The culture identifies the authorities or the governing individuals or
groups.
LESSON 3
DYNAMICS OF CULTURE
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM
• CulturalRelativism is the ability to understand a culture on
its own terms and not to make judgements using the
standards of one’s own culture.
• The goal of this is to promote understanding of cultural
practices that are not typically part of one’s own culture.
• Using the perspective of cultural relativism leads to the view
that no one culture is superior than other another culture
when compared to systems of morality, law, politics, etc.
• The concept of cultural relativism also means that any
opinion on ethics is subject to the perspective of each
person within their particular culture. There is no right or
wrong ethical system.
• In a holistic understanding, cultural relativism tries to
promote the understanding of practices that are unfamiliar
to other cultures such as eating insects, genocides or genital
cutting.
• Cultural relativism is considered to be more constructive
and positive conception as compared to ethnocentrism.
• Cultural relativism is a method or procedure
explaining and interpreting other people’s culture.
• Cultural relativism is widely accepted in modern
anthropology. Cultural relativists believe that all
cultures are worthy in their own right and are of
equal value.
• Cultural relativism sees nothing wrong inherently
wrong (and nothing inherently good) with any
cultural expression.
•Marriage practices of Muslims should
not be judged based on the culture of
the Roman Catholics is one example.
The celebration of fiesta in the
Philippines should not look into by
other nation as too much religiosity.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
of Cultural Relativism
Advantages of Cultural Relativism:
1. It is a system which promotes cooperation.
2. It creates a society where equality is possible.
3. People can pursue a genuine interest.
4. Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism.
5. It preserves human cultures.
6. 6.
7. Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativism.
8. We can create personal moral codes based on societal standard with ease.
9. It stops cultural conditioning.
 The disadvantages of Cultural Relativism:
1. It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias.
2. It would create chaos.
3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity.
4. It could promote a lack of diversity
5. It draws people away from one another.
6. It could limit moral progress.
7. It could limit humanity’s progress.
8. Cultural Relativism can turn perceptions into truth.
LESSON 4
THE FILIPINO WAY
The Filipino Customs and Traditions
• Our culture is a big reflection of our great and
complex history.
• It is influenced by most of the people we have
interacted with. A blend of the Malayo-
Polenesian and Hispanic Culture with the
influence from Chinese, Indian Arabs, and
other Asian Cultures really contribute to the
customs and traditions of the Filipinos.
1. Close Family Ties.
• It is one of the most outstanding cultural values that
Filipinos have.
• The Family takes care of each other and is taught to be
For Filipinos, to be able to serve others
loyal to family and elders by simply obeying their
gives
them honor of showing true friendship.
authorities.
• Having Fondness for family reunions during secular and
religious holidays is evidence that Filipino people value
not only our cultural tradition but the spirit of our family.
2. THE BAYANIHAN.
• It is the spirit of communal unity or effort to
achieve a particular object.
• People nowadays use it to describe an
outpouring of community spirit – as people
give their all to the common good without
expecting recognition or personal gain.
3. COURTSHIP.
• Serenading or harana in tagalog is one of the most
popular forms of courtship to show that a man is
very serious with his intentions to woman.
• A serenade would require the young man to sing a
love song in front of the young lady’s house
(normally he is accompanied by his male friends
who act as back-up singers.)
4. RELIGION
• The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman
Catholic nations in Asia-Pacific.
• Their habit of going to church and often praying reflects
that Filipinos have a deep faith and belief when it comes
to religion.
• Filipinos believe that having a strong devotion may lead
to a better life and their guidance to face everyday life.
 5. SUPERSTITION
• Superstitious beliefs have grown throughout the country
• These beliefs have come from the different sayings and beliefs
of our ancestors that aim to prevent danger from happening or
to make a person refrain from doing something in particular.
• These are part of our culture, for one derives his/ her own
beliefs from the influences of what his/her customs, traditions
and culture have dictated to explain certain phenomena or to
scare people
• Some are practiced primarily because Filipinos believe that
there is nothing to lose if they will comply with these beliefs.
6. MARRIAGE AND WEDDING CUSTOMS.
• Marriage is a scared union of man and woman after a
period of courtship and engagement.
• For many Filipinos, the eternal quality of dedication to
God pervades a truly sacred marriage.
• A scared marriage is a covenant between two who
love each other in God and with God, whose joining
becomes an expression of the desire of each other to
love and serve God together.
7. DEATH
• For many Filipinos, a death of a relative is an
opportunity to strengthen ties in the family.
• To pay respect and honor the relationship to the
deceased, long lost relatives, friends and even
relatives working abroad are reunited.
• The Philippines is the home of some unique death
rituals that are partly religious and mostly
superstitious.
8. SOCIETY
• The primary ancestors of Filipinos are Malays who came
from the southeastern Asian country.
• The Philippines is a combined society, both singular and
plural in form. It is singular as one nation, but plural in
that it is fragmented geographically and culturally.
• The nation is divided between Christians, Muslims, and
other religious-ethno-linguistic groups; between urban
and rural people; between upland and lowland people;
between the rich and the poor.
9. CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
• It is considered as one of the biggest holidays in the
archipelago.
• We earned the distinction of celebrating the world’s
longest Christmas season with Christmas carols heard as
early as September and lasting until Epiphany, the feast of
the Black Nazarene on January 9 or the Feast of the Santo
Niño de Cebu on the third Sunday of January.
• For many Filipinos, the true essence of Christmas is not
giving but sharing this special holy day with family.
 10. FIESTAS
• It is held in the Philippines to celebrate a patron saint. It is part and parcel
of Filipino culture through good times and bad times, it must go on.
• For individual Filipinos, it can be a way of supplicating the heavens or to
make amends for past wrongs. It is a way to celebrate their blessings
commemorate their past and observe solemn religious rituals.
• Celebrations may take form of music, dancing, feasting, beauty contests,
balls, processions, sports challenges or a host of other events.
• Spanish influence is evident in the elaborate masks, makeup, headdresses
and costumes worn by revellers; outfits which often take months of
preparation.
11. LIVING WITH PARENTS.
• Filipinos highly value the presence of family more than
anything. Adult children living with their parents are
another Filipino traditional that make them
exceptional.
• Unlike in the United States where children leave the
home after finishing high school or college, many
Filipinos continue living with parents until they get
married.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FILIPINO CULTURE
1. The Filipino people are very Resilient.
2. Filipinos take pride in their families
3. Filipinos are very religious
4. Filipinos are very respectful
5. Filipinos help one another
6. Filipinos value traditions and Culture
7. Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebrations
8. Filipinos love art and architecture
9. The Filipinos are hospitable people
Filipino Family Values
• The Family is the center of the social structure and
includes the nuclear family, aunts, uncles, grandparents,
cousins and honorary relations such as godparents,
sponsors, and close family friends. People get strength
and stability from their family. As such, many children
have several godparents.
• The Filipino Family consists of many traditional values that
have been treasured and passed on for many generations
already.
Hereunder are the following traditional values:
1. Paggalang (Respect)
• Filipinos are accustomed to using the words
“po,” “opo,” and “ho” when they are
conversing with older people or,
sometimes, with those who are in a high
role or a prestigious member of society.
• Paggalang cam also be shown toward your
elders by kissing their hands before
leaving/ to say goodbye upon arrival/ to
greet them.
2. Pakikisama (Helping others)
•It has the connotation of getting
along with people in general.
•This trait usually fosters general
cooperation and performing good or
helpful deeds, which can lead to
others viewing you in a favorable
light.
3. UTANG NA LOOB (DEBT OF GRATITUDE)
• It means to pay your debt with
gratitude.
• There is usually a system of
obligation. When this value is
applied, it imparts a sense of duty
and responsibility on the younger
siblings to serve and repay the favors
done to them by their elders.
4. PAGPAPAHALAGA SA PAMILYA
(PRIORITIZING FAMILY)
•This implies that a person
will place a high regard on
his/her family and prioritize
that before anything else.
5. Hiya (Shame)
• This controls the social behaviors and interactions
of Filipino.
• It is the value that drives a Filipino to be obedient
and respectful to their parents, older siblings, and
other authorities.
• This is also a key ingredient in the loyalty of
one’s Family.
6. DAMAYAN SYSTEM
• Extending sympathy for people who lost their loved
ones.
• In case of death of a certain member of the community,
the whole community sympathizes with the bereaved
family.
• Neighbors, friends, and relatives of the deceased usually
give certain amount of money as their way of showing
sympathy.
 7. COMPASSIONATE
• A Filipino trait of being
sympathetic to others even
the person is a stranger. An
example of this is giving alms
to the beggars.
• This is observed when we
hear Filipino saying, “kawawa
naman or nakakaawa
naman”.
 8. Fun-Loving Trait
•A trait that makes them unique that
even in times of calamities and
other challenges in life, they always
have something to be happy about,
a reason to celebrate.
 SOCIAL VALUES
OF THE FILIPINOS
1.HIGH REGARD FOR AMOR PROPIO
(SELF-ESTEEM)
• Self-esteem reflects an individual’s overall subjective
emotional evaluation of his or her own worth
• It encompasses beliefs about oneself, as well as
emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and
shame.
• Filipinos are sensitive to attacks of their own self-
esteem and cultivate a sensitivity to the self-esteem of
others as well.
2. SMOOTH INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
• It is the nature of interaction that occurs between
two or more people.
• People in an interpersonal relationship may interact
overtly, covertly, face-to-face or even anonymously.
• It may occur with friends, family, co-workers,
strangers, chat room participants, doctors or clients.
 3. PERSONAL ALLIANCE SYSTEM
• This scheme is anchored on kinship, beginning
with the nuclear family.
• A Filipino loyalty goes first to the immediate
family; identity is deeply embedded in the web
of kinship.
• With respect to kin beyond this nuclear family,
closeness in relationship depends very much on
physical proximity.
4. THE COMPADRE SYSTEM
• Bonds or ritual kinship, sealed on any of three ceremonial
occasions; baptism, confirmation, and marriage, intensify
and extend personal alliances.
• This mutual kinship system, known as copadrazgo or
compadre, meaning god parenthood or sponsorship dates
back at least to the introduction of Christianity and
perhaps earlier.
• In asking a friend to become a godparent to a child, a
Filipino is also asking that person to become a closer
friend.
 5. UTANG-NA-LOOB
• It is expected that the debtor will attempt
repayment, it is widely recognized that the debt can
never be fully repaid and the obligation can last for
generations.
• Saving another’s life, providing employment, or
making it possible for another to become educated
are “gifts” that incur utang na loob.
6. SUKI RELATIONSHIP
• Suki relationships or market-exchange partnerships
may develop between to people who agree to
become regular customer and supplier.
• Suki does more that help develop economic
exchange relationships. Because trust is a vital
aspect, it creates a platform for personal
relationships that can blossom into genuine
friendship between individuals.
7. FRIENDSHIP
• It is often placed on at par with kinship as the
most central of Filipino Relationships.
• Certainly ties among those within one’s group of
friends are an important factor in the
development of personal alliance system.
• A willingness to help one another provides the
prime rationale for the relationship
 Weakness of
Filipino Character
1. Passivity and lack of Initiative -Acceptance of what
happens, without active response or resistance.
2. Colonial Mentality -more strictly refers to the attitude the
Filipinos feel that product coming from other countries
are more superior than the local products.
3. Kanya-kanya syndrome – Filipinos have a selfish, self-
serving attitude that generates a feeling of envy and
competitiveness towards others, particularly one’s peers
who seem to have gained some status or prestige.
4. Extreme Personalism -Filipinos view the world in terms of
personal relationships and the extent to which one is able to
personally relate things and people determines the
recognition of their existence and the value given to them.
5. Extreme Family Centeredness – Excessive concern for the
family creates an in-group to which the Filipino is fiercely loyal
to the detriment of concern for the larger community or for
the common good.
6. Lack of discipline- Procrastination is one reason of lack of
self-discipline, lack of willpower, motivation and ambition are
also causes for lack of self-discipline.
7. Lack of Self-analysis and reflection -In the face of
serious problems, both personal and social, there is lack of
analysis or reflection. We joke about the most serious
matters and this prevents looking deeply into the problem.
8. Ningas Cogon – A Filipino attitude of being enthusiastic
only during the start of new undertaking but ends dismally
in accomplishing nothing.
9. Gaya-Gaya Attitude – A Filipino Attitude of imitating or
copying other culture specifically in mode of dressing,
language, fashion, trend or even haircut.