Module 4

WHAT IS CULTURE? HOW DOES IT DEFINE OUR MORAL BEHAVIOR?

CULTURE
According to Kohak (1984), culture is at the root of human alienation from the environment.
He added that culture is derived from the Latin word, “cultus”, which means giving respect to the
sacredness of all.

Cole (2019) defined culture as a concept that refers to a broad and diverse collection of often intangible
areas of social life

Lederach, (1995) introduced culture as the collective knowledge and schemes generated by a group of
people to perceive, view, convey, and react to the social realities around them.

Zimmerman explicated (2017) culture as the characteristics and awareness of a specific community of
people, including language, religion, food, social behavior, etiquette, fashion, music, and the arts.

THE INFLUENCES OF CULTURE IN MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Leano & Gubia-on (2018), Baring shared 5 points in how culture influences the moral development of
the people and these are the following:

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
- Culture is social and communal in character where the people established and develop their
relationships with each other and learned from their experiences with them in the
community
2. The culture defines the normative principles and behaviors of society.
- This refers to the definition of the principles and behaviors to be maintained, preserved, and
changed for the benefit and best interest of the members of the community.

3. A 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.
- The restrictions and boundaries will serve as the protection and security of the members of
the community.

4. As culture helps in generating the character and identity of its people, it also includes their
moral character.
- Culture shapes the character and identity of the people in the community through the
norms, standards, rules, regulations, and laws

5. The culture identifies the authorities or the governing individuals or groups

- The authorities serve as the maker, interpreter, and implementer of the laws, rules, and
regulations that they have in the community.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FILIPINO CULTURE

Dumaraos (2018) expounded some of the characteristics of the Filipinos that set them apart from any
other culture and society:

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 values traditions and culture
7. Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebration.
8. Filipinos love art and architecture
9. The Filipinos are hospitable people

WEKNESSES OF FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. Extreme Personalism- the Filipinos always try to give an interpretation of the actions or they take
things personally. They say thank you with "but" (compliment-criticism-compliment)

2. Extreme Family Centeredness- consentidor, overprotected

3. Lack of Discipline- The Filipinos have a rather relaxed attitude, but bad time management (famous
Filipino time).

4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative- They 're demanding someone's accomplishment, so they're not
displaying the same flag just because of race. They are rather complacent (relax) but they often have
a sense of urgency. The Filipinos have a positive personality, but a lack of self-confidence and a deep
desire to achieve their goals.

5. Colonial Mentality- Filipinos have what we call patriotism vs active awareness mentality. They
appreciate too much other nationality and foreign products than native ones (local vs imported)

6. Kanya-kanya Syndrome- Filipinos have self-serving attitude that generates feeling of envy and
competitiveness towards others (status vs prestige). They have personal ambition but insensitive to
common will (people and own country).

7. Lack of Self Analysis and Reflection- Filipinos are superficial and dreamy. They lack self-evaluation
and reflection of the situation.
Module 5
CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Cultural relativism
- means that we do not judge a society by our own criteria of what is right or wrong, odd or
natural. Rather, we will make an effort to understand the cultural traditions of other
communities in their own cultural context
- the desire to consider a culture on its own terms and not to make conclusions based on the
norms of one's own community
- is an attitude towards the meaning and role of values in various cultures
- a moral theory that claims the idea of no objective universal moral rules that would apply to
every culture and it varies depending on the culture of the society.

Concept of cultural relativism - means that any opinion on ethics is subject to the perspective of each
person within their particular culture

ADVANTAGES OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM:

1. It creates learning opportunities that could make humanity stronger.
2. It eliminates the concept of separate, but equal
3. It creates a system of niche expertise.
4. It encourages respect
DISADVANTAGES OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
1. There will be actions taken that would be defined by some as “violent,” “unsafe,” or “wrong.”
2. It is based on a concept that people are perfect
3. It creates a personal bias
4. It eliminates the idea that reform or change can be a good thing.

Module 6
UNIVERSAL VALUES

Value- something that a person or a group believes has a value that merits being sought, promoted, or
privileged.

Universal values
- something has universal value because everyone finds it important
- when all people have reason to believe it has value.
- a concept that it is not obvious to define because a principle is connected with morality or
ethics.

Schwartz described 'values' as 'conceptions of what is important that affect the way people choose
action and evaluate events.

Schwartz's 10 types of universal value

1. Power- authority; leaders’ authority; leadership
2. Achievement- success; capability
 3. Hedonism- pleasure; enjoying life
4. Stimulation- daring activities; varied life; exciting life
5. Self-direction- creativity; freedom; independence; curiosity; choosing your own goals
6. Universalism- broadmindedness; wisdom; social justice; equality; a world at peace
7. Benevolence- helpfulness; honesty; forgiveness; loyalty; responsibility; friendship
8. Tradition- accepting one's portion in life; humility; devoutness; respect for tradition
9. Conformity- self-discipline; obedience
10. Security- cleanliness; family security; national security; stability of social order
11. Spirituality- the goal of finding meaning in life', but found that it does not seem to be
recognized in all cultures

BASIC UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUES

Hereunder are some of the basic universal human values:
1. Happiness – it refers to good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.
2. Peace– is a freedom from disturbance; tranquility. It is a state or period in which there is no war
or a war has ended.
3. Freedom – is the state of being free or at liberty,
4. Safety - is the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.
5. Intelligence – is a capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding
6. Respect - a formal expression or gesture of greeting, esteem, or friendship
7. Equality – is the state or quality of being equal;
8. Justice – is the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
9. Health – is the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor:
good health

Dignity- is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.

- earned and cannot be taken away from anyone. It must be preserved so that the respect of
others is maintained

A man of dignity and unbending principle- It refers to bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-
respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation

Module 7
FILIPINO WAY

Values- aspects in life that include customs, traditions, etc., which the people regard as necessary and
important in their dealings with one another

Filipino Values:
1. Pakikisama- sense or togetherness
2. Utang na loob or dept/gratitude- recognizing and returning the favor to that person in the same
measure who help them in times of need
3. Hiya or kahihiyan- sense of shame
‘Hiya’- observed to Filipinos in accepting the food that are offered to them
‘Kahihiyan’- maybe observed in the Filipino families
 4. Amor propio- derived from the concept of ‘face.’
- characterized as the high degree of sensitivity that makes a person intolerant to criticism
and causes him to have an easily wounded pride

Filipino Traits
Trait- distinguishing feature or character of a person or a group of people
Hospitality- common traits among Filipino, keeping the strangers feel warm and welcome
Filipinos are also known for having close family ties
Respect for the elders is also observed to the Filipinos.
Pakikipagkapwa-tao-central core of essential cultural traits that form and define an almost stereotypic
Filipino character and mora behavior

Module 8
MORAL CHARACTER AND ITS DEVELOPMENT

Moral character - refers to the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty,
and loyalty.

Character- comes from the ancient Greek term charaktêr, which initially referred to the mark impressed
upon a coin.
- distinctive feature by which one thing is distinguished from others

Virtue ethics- represents the concept that individual’s actions are based upon inner moral virtue where
Aristotle was the leading figure of it

Aristotle considered goodness of character as a product of the practice of virtuous behavior.

It is important to note that for Aristotle, virtue depends on “clear judgment, self-control,
symmetry of desire, and artistry of means
The virtue of excellence, can be achieved by training and habituation, and that a virtuous
character is created by repeatedly acting in a virtuous manner

Doctrine of the mean- is a principle that suggests that a moral behavior is one that is in the middle of
two extremes.
Dispositions - are particular kinds of properties or characteristics that objects can possess.
Moral character traits- are those dispositions of character for which it is appropriate to hold agents
morally responsible.
Virtue- A trait for which the agent is deserving of a positive reactive attitude, such as praise or gratitude
Virtue- behavior showing high moral standards or moral excellence
Vice- a trait for which the agent is deserving of a negative reactive attitude, such as resentment or blame

Moral character affects one’s moral decision

Moral character traits are not just dispositions to engage in certain outward behaviors; they can
also be dispositions to have certain emotions or affections.
Three aspects of action relevant to this are repetition of action and its effect on the person, the type of
action, and intention and responsibility:

A. Repetition of Action and its Effect on the Person

Habit- When an action is constantly repeated, over time
 Actions become skills through repetition and experience.
Habitus- third way actions through Aquinas, inclination or disposition, an inclination, a
willingness, to respond charitably to anyone in need as the situation arises.
 The morality of the action also determines the morality of the habitus. But not all acts can be
cataloged as moral or immoral.

B. The Type of Action

 Human beings are body/soul unities, actions of the body are actions of the self.
 Aquinas calls these acts of a human being (actus humanus) and distinguishes them from human
acts (actus humanis)
 Human acts- rational acts and are more closely associated with character than are acts of human
beings, because the former actions come from the whole person.

B. Intention and Responsibility

 Two important aspects of the revelatory nature of action are responsibility and intention.
 Responsibility and intention are rooted in the will, which is the source of the self-possession and
self-governance of human beings.
 Self-possession is different from possession of an object.
 Another way the will can be hindered is by lack of knowledge.
 According to Mitchell (2015), the human being is self-governing in that he can carry out a human
action or not carry it out as he wills.

Module 9
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Moral Development- ways we distinguish right from wrong as we grow and mature
- Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, a comprehensive stage theory of moral
development based on Jean Piaget’s theory of moral judgment for children (1932) and
developed by Lawrence Kohlberg in 1958

 Kohlberg’s theory focuses on the thinking process that occurs when one decides whether a
behavior is right or wrong.
 Piaget described a two-stage process of moral development
 Kohlberg extended Piaget's theory, proposing that moral development is a continual process
that occurs throughout the lifespan. His theory outlines six stages of moral development within
three different levels.

1. The Heinz Dilemma

 Kohlberg based his theory on a series of moral dilemmas presented to his study subjects
 Kohlberg was not interested so much in the answer to whether Heinz was wrong or right but in
the reasoning for each participant's decision. He then classified their reasoning into the stages of
his theory of moral development
2. Theoretical Framework
 The framework of Kohlberg’s theory consists of six stages arranged sequentially in successive
tiers of complexity. He organized his six stages into three general levels of moral development

I. Level 1: Preconventional level

- At the preconventional level, morality is externally controlled
- Rules imposed by authority figures are conformed to in order to avoid punishment or
receive rewards.
- This perspective involves the idea that what is right is what one can get away with or what is
personally satisfying

Stage 1: Punishment/obedience orientation

- Behavior is determined by consequences.
- The individual will obey in order to avoid punishment.

Stage 2: Instrumental purpose orientation

- Behavior is determined again by consequences.
- The individual focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal needs.

II. Level 2: Conventional level

- At the conventional level, conformity to social rules remains important to the
individual.

Stage 3: Good Boy/Nice Girl orientation

 Behavior is determined by social approval.
 The individual wants to maintain or win the affection and approval of others by
being a “good person.”

Stage 4: Law and order orientation

- Social rules and laws determine behavior
- The individual now takes into consideration a larger perspective, that of societal laws.
- Moral decision making becomes more than consideration of close ties to others.
- The individual believes that rules and laws maintain social order that is worth preserving.

III. Level 3: Postconventional or principled level

- At the postconventional level, the individual moves beyond the perspective of his
or her own society.
- Morality - defined in terms of abstract principles and values that apply to all
situations and societies.

Stage 5: Social contract orientation

- Individual rights determine behavior

- The individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for improving human purposes.
Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation
- the appropriate action is determined by one’s self-chosen ethical principles of conscience.
- According to Kohlberg, this is the highest stage of functioning.
- Kohlberg’s theory was highly influential, especially in psychology and education.
-