INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

PRELIM TERM
Prepared by Corinne Reniva 😊

Topic: Moral Development : the study of the self and all its components – emotions,
intelligence, aptitude, stress level, and mental health are among
its main concern.
UNDERSTANDING THE AGENT: FORMATION AND Birth of modern sciences: empirical and experimental study of the
TRANSFORMATION OF SELF self as embodies by the human mind
Why ethical consciousness always begins with self-awareness?
“Know thyself” – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle SIGMUND FREUD
: introduced Psychoanalysis
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” - Aristotle
To others, the self is something that can be controlled,
SELF CULTIVATION but it turns out that this is a bubble.
: essence of being human
: ability of human effort to shape its own destiny What appears to be as self is but a tip of the iceberg (the
: human beings are teachable, improvable, and perfectible rest remains isolated).
through personal and communal endeavor
: LEARNING is not merely as the acquisition of knowledge but
also as CHARACTER BUILDING

Confucius: believed that all human beings could benefit from self-
cultivation.

Education: is a means; transformation; discovery of human

nature; cultivation of character

What does this tell you?

“When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate
him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner
self.” – Confucius

Self
Greeks: Psuche The unconscious may manifest itself through instincts,
Medieval Thinkers: anima or soul impulses, mannerisms, random expressions, or the proverbial slip
Modern Thinkers: mind of tongue.

Understanding the Self in the past… What people always thought of as self might not be what
it is. Human behavior, emotions, and thoughts that comprise the
Philosophers self are but masks of that part of the human person which always
remain hidden and unknown. – Sigmund Freud
Task Approach
- To examine and explain - Abstract and limited in JEAN PIAGET
the structure, activity, understanding complex : focused on human subject’s cognitive development or the
and complexity of the human nature development of his or her ability to know.
self • Theory of Cognitive Development

PSYCHOLOGY : explained how a child constructs a mental model of the world.

: the scientific study of the mind and behavior – APA
: disagreed with the idea that intelligence was a fixed trait, and
: the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group
: regarded cognitive development as a process which occurs due
to biological maturation and interaction with the environment.
This reviewer is based solely on the lecture PDF given by the professor.
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
PRELIM TERM
Prepared by Corinne Reniva 😊

: human ability to know evolves in stages and has distinct

peculiarities appropriate for each particular stage.
: Piaget’s theory of self-knowledge happens as a process and is
integral to the history of a person. MORAL REASONING
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG : moral reasoning can be shaped by education.
: concentrated on person’s moral development. : there can be balanced between nature and nurture, between
: a person proceeds to moral maturity in gradual stages. reality and possibility.

Stages of Moral Development GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

Social experience: central to the development of the self.
• The self does not mature on its own.
: requires an environment where interactions with other selves
are possible, particularly, interactions that allow shared
meanings, for the self to create itself.

SELF AND PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS

: main interest of philosophy on the formation transformation of
the self is essentially ETHICAL.
does not treat the self as an isolated entity and not as an
object of scientific study.

KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT • self is not a static specimen but a potential
PRE-CONVENTIONAL agent capable of self-creation and recreation.
Stage 1: Punishment, Avoidance and Obedience • the self as an individual is a RESPONSIBLE
- Makes moral decisions strictly on the basis of self-interests. PARTICIPANT who can shape his or her world
- Disobeys rules if one can do so without getting caught. into a place conducive for life.
Stage 2: Exchange of Favors Axel Honneth: Theory of Recognition
- Recognize that others have needs – but makes satisfaction
of own needs a higher priority. Recognition: essential requirement of self-realization. An
individual can develop into the person he or she wants to be only
CONVENTIONAL in
Stage 3: Good boy/ Good girl • an atmosphere that allows him or her to experience self-
- Makes decision on the basis of what will please others. confidence, self-respect, and self-esteem.
- Concerned about maintaining interpersonal relations.
Stage 4: Law and Order
- Looks to the society as a whole for guidelines about
behavior. AXEL HONNETH
- Thinks of the rules as inflexible and unchangeable. Sphere of Love
This refers to an individual’s relationships to his family,
POST CONVENTIONAL OR PRINCIPLED LEVEL friends, and romantic connections. Self confidence is developed
Stage 5: Social Contract within this sphere when physical as well as emotional needs are
• Recognizes that rules are social agreements that can be met.
changed when necessary.
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle Sphere of Rights
- Adheres to a small number of abstract principles that
transcend specific, concrete rules. In this sphere recognition can be achieved if everyone
- Answers to an inner conscience. who bears the same rights are perceived and treated as equals.
This reviewer is based solely on the lecture PDF given by the professor.
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
PRELIM TERM
Prepared by Corinne Reniva 😊

Self-respect is cultivated when a person experiences recognition

within the sphere of rights.
Sphere of Solidarity
Recognition happens when the skills and abilities of the
individuals are acknowledged. The result of recognition in this
sphere is self-esteem.
CONCLUSION
• Honneth’s theory of recognition, shows what formation and
transformation of the self-entail.
• The formation of self is never a handiwork of only a single
person much less by the same person.
• He underscored the role of social relations in formation and
transformation, which is initiated by the act of recognition.

This reviewer is based solely on the lecture PDF given by the professor.