ST.

JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

SIMPLIFIED COURSE PACK (SCP) FOR

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

GECC 108 – Ethics

This Simplified Course Pack (SCP) is a draft version only and may not be
used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of the
Academic Council of SJPIICD. Contents of this SCP is only intended for
the consumption of the students who are officially enrolled in the
course/subject. Revision and modification process of this SCP are
expected.

SCP-Ethics-108 | 1
 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

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Vision
accessible, and transformative education grounded on the teachings of St. John
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Serve the nation by providing competent JPCean graduates through quality

teaching and learning, transparent governance, holistic student services, and
Mission
meaningful community-oriented researches, guided by the ideals of St. John
Paul II.

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Core Values
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Course Code/Title GECC 108/Ethics

This course is an introduction to the philosophical study of morality, including the theory
of right and wrong behavior, the theory of value (goodness and badness), and the
Course Description theory of virtue and vice. The intention of the course is to learn how to live well and
happy because ethics investigates the meaning and purpose of human life.
Course Requirement Reflection paper
Time Frame 54 Hours
“Based 40” Cumulative Averaging Grading System
Grading System Periodical Grading = Attendance (5%) + Participation (10%) + Quiz (25%) + Exam (60%)
Final-Final Grade = Prelim Grade (30%) + Midterm Grade (30%) + Final Grade (40%)
Contact Details
Instructor Jason N. Marquez (Cell # 09286206742)
Dean/Program Head Clasyl C. Nellas (Cell # 09956626188)

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Course Map

GECC 108- Simplified Course Pack (SCP)

SCP-Topics: Prelim Period SCP- Topics: Midterm Period SCP- Topics: Final Period

The meaning, nature and scope of Ethics of Utilitarianism

Week 1 Week 7 Ethical Relativism Week 13
Ethics (Continuation)

Ambivalence of Filipino Cultural

Week 2 The Human Person Week 8 values Week 14 Deontological Ethics

The Morality of Human acts and Deontological Ethics

Week 3 Week 9 Natural Law Theory Week 15
its moral accountability (Continuation)

The Morality of Human acts and its

Week 4 Week 10 Natural Law Theory (Continuation) Week 16 Virtue Ethics
moral accountability (Cont.)

Week 5 Law and Conscience Week 11 Ethics of Utilitarianism Week 17 Virtue Ethics (Continuation)

Week 6 Preliminary Examination Week 12 Midterm Examination Week 18 Final Examination

Course Outcomes
1. Distinguish morally right actions from morally wrong actions.
2. Follow moral principles and ethical laws.
3. Apply the Ethical theories in deciding or determining what is right and wrong.
4. Develop ethical disposition and moral values.
5. Evaluate issues according to the Objective standards of morality.

SCP-Ethics-108 | 3
 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Welcome Aboard! This course is an introduction to the philosophical

study of morality, including the theory of right and wrong behavior,
the theory of value (goodness and badness), and the theory of virtue
and vice. The intention of the course is to learn how to live well and
happy because ethics investigates the meaning and purpose of
human life.

SCP-TOPICS: PRELIM PERIOD TOPICS

Week 1 The meaning, nature, and scope of Ethics

Lesson Title Ethics: Meaning, Nature and Scope
1. Discuss the meaning, nature and scope of Ethics and its
Learning Outcome(s)
importance.
Time Frame 3 hrs.

At SJPIICD, I Matter!

LEARNING INTENT!
Words to Ponder
This section provides meaning and definition of the
terminologies that are significant for better understanding of
the terms used throughout the simplified course pack of
Ethics. As you go through the labyrinth of learning, in case you
will be confronted with difficulty of the terms refer to the
defined terms for you to have a clear picture of the learning
concepts.

Ethics is under that branch or division of Philosophy that is

called normative philosophy that deals with the morality of
human acts or human conduct.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Morality is that quality of human acts by which some of them

are called good or right while others evil or wrong. (Sambajon
Jr., 2011).
Science is a systematic study, or a system of scientific
conclusions clearly demonstrated, derived from clearly
established principles and duly coordinated. The science being
referred to here is not about experimental science but as a
philosophical science. (Felix & Montemayor, 1994).

Human acts are acts done with knowledge and consent. (Felix &
Montemayor, 1994; Sambajon Jr., 2011; Fernandez, 2018).

Essential Content

Origin of the word Ethics. The word “ethics” comes

etymologically from the Greek word “ethos” which its
equivalence is custom or character. The latin equivalent for
custom is “mos” or “mores.” This is where the word morality
came from. It is for this reason, that the two words where being
used to mean the same thing. It is here where they share the
same meaning.

Meaning of Ethics: Different authors used different

vocabularies in terms of the definitions about Ethics. Below are
the following definitions of Ethics:

1. Ethics is the practical science of the morality of human

actions.
2. Ethics is the scientific inquiry into the principles of
morality.
3. Ethics is the science of human acts with reference to
right and wrong.
4. Ethics is the study of human conduct from the
standpoint of morality.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

5. Ethics is the study of the rectitude of human conduct.

6. Ethics is the science which lays down the principle of
right living.
7. Ethics is the practical science that guides us in our
actions that we may live rightly and well.
8. Ethics is a normative and practical science, based on
reason, which studies human conduct and provides
norms for its natural integrity and honesty.
9. Ethics is the investigation of life according to Socrates.
10. Ethics is a philosophical and practical science that deals
with the study of the morality of a human act or human
conduct.

As you can observe, the definitions are fundamentally the

same. In Ethics what is being studied is the rightness or goodness
and badness or wrongness of human act or human conduct.
Furthermore, Ethics (as a science) is a systematized body of
knowledge where the data gathered are arranged and put in order.
In this connection, Ethics is a philosophical science because it
takes a look at the ultimate cause and principle of reality by the
use of human reason alone. Likewise, Ethics is a practical science
because whatever knowledge it provides, is to be acted upon in
accordance with what is applicable in daily human conduct or
activity. As a result, it is not only for the sake of intellectual
discourse or analysis, but it ought to be done in real situations of
our lives.

Divisions of Ethics. There are two major divisions of Ethics

namely:

a. General Ethics – presents usually the basic truths

about human acts and from these truths infers the
general principles of morality.
b. Applied Ethics - it is also called special ethics. It
applies the principles of general Ethics in various

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

specific areas of human life and activity both

individual and social

The Material and Formal Objects of Ethics. To clarify

further, the object of study in Ethics are the following:

a. Human Act or Human Conduct. The material

object of science is the subject matter with which
science deals in its study. In the case of ethics,
the material object is the human act or the
human conduct. The human acts are those acts
done by a human person in which his rational
and higher faculties of intelligence and free will
are utilized.

b. Morality or Moral Rectitude. The formal object

of science is the very viewpoint, setting, or
perspective employed in dealing with its material
object. In the case of ethics, the formal object is
the morality or moral rectitude of human act.

Morality of Human Acts. As defined, morality is that quality

of human acts by which some of them are called good or
right while others evil or wrong. In other words, morality
refers to that quality of goodness or badness of a human
act. This quality is determined by the kind of human act
that is performed.
Everyday, we pass judgement on the morality of human
action. For example, you will say; “what he did was right.” Or
“What he did was wrong.” This shows that there is a
fundamental and objective distinction of right and wrong, which
we call moral in human actions. While there is difference in
opinion as to the nature of morality which will be discussed
later, all are agreed that there are some actions that are good
and some actions that are bad.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

To go deeper on the said quality of good and evil, the

question now is; what makes good, good? And what makes evil,
evil? As far as ethics being a moral philosophy is concerned, an
act is good when it is in agreement or in conformity with the
dictates of right reason. And it is evil when it is not in
conformity with the dictates of right reason. Now, what makes
reason right? As far as ethics is concerned, reason is considered
right when it is in conformity with the truth which must be
objective in its sense. Meaning, the truth is not that which is
acceptable only to some but not to all. The truth is rather
universally acceptable to all human persons regardless of time,
space, and culture. How is it possible? It is intrinsically inscribe
within the nature of man to be able to recognize and distinguish
right from wrong. It is within his nature to tend to do good and
avoid evil. This natural tenet is universally upheld, regardless
of beliefs, customs, opinions and race.
This is the reason why we should have a norm or standard
of morality that is hopefully objective. A reasonable standard of
right and wrong in human acts. A moral norm that serve as an
ideal vision of a human person or an ideal stage or perfection
of his being. In other words, it is that which makes man more
fully and truly human.

Ethics and Morality. Though ethics and morality, by virtue of their

etymological meaning share the same meaning or relations, but the
two disciplines also have distinction (Sambajon Jr., 2011).

Relation Distinction
1. Both ethics and morality deal 1. Ethics pertains to the
with human act or human acquisition of knowledge of
conduct. what to study about; Morality
pertains to the application of
this knowledge in the
performance of human act.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

2. Ethics studies about morality. 2. Ethics provides learning about

the morality of a human
conduct; Morality provides ways
of practicing what is learned.

3. Morality gives ethics a perspective 3. Ethics is the ‘word’; Morality is

of what to study about - that is the ‘flesh.’
the rectitude of whether an act is
good or bad.

4. Morality provides ethics with a 4. Ethics indicates the ‘theory’;

quality that determines and Morality indicates the ‘practice.’
distinuguish right conduct from
wrong conduct.

Morality and other Phases of Human life. Morality is the basic

element of human life and cannot be separated from other phases of
human activity. (Montemayor, 1994).

a. Ethics and Education. Education develops the whole

aspects of man as a rational moral being. For this reason,
the primary objective of education should be the moral
development of man. Our Constitution mandates the
formation of moral character as the first and primary goal
of education.
b. Morality and Law. Morality and Law are intimately
related. Right and wrong, good and bad in human actions
presupposes a law or rule of conduct. There is however a
striking difference between what is moral and what is
legal. The legal only covers the external acts of man; The
moral governs even the internal acts of man, such as the
volitional and the intentional of the will and the mind
specifically man’s though and desires.
c. Ethics and Art. Ethics stands for moral goodness; art for
beauty. But as transcendental the beautiful and the good
are one. Evil always implies ugliness or defects and the
good is always beautiful since it is the very object of
desire and therefore, like beauty, pleases when perceived.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

d. Ethics and Politics. Politics has often become very dirty

and the reason is precisely because it is separated from
ethics.
e. Religion and Ethics. This is the closest relation in the
phases of human activity. True ethics can never be
separated from God. What is the ultimate ground of right
and wrong should come from the God, the first Law giver.

In Conclusion, according to Moga, “Life challenges us to

live in all areas, balancing a mature moral sensitivity with a
well-rounded involvement in other areas of life.”

Importance of Ethics. The importance of the study of ethics

follows immediately from the importance of ethics itself. The
following is the main reason:

1. Ethics means right and good moral character; and it is in

good moral character that man finds his true worth and
perfection.
2. Education is the harmonious development of the whole
man particular the formation of reason and the will. Thus,
the primary objective of education is the moral development
of the will.
3. According to Socrates, “the unexamined life is not worth
living.” As it is defined, ethics is the investigation of the
meaning of life. Likewise, Plato considers ethics as the
supreme science for it provides the supreme purpose of
human living.

SELF-SUPPORT: You can click the URL Search Indicator below to help you further understand the lessons.

Search Indicator

Fernadez, Apolinar Henry. Ethics: Deciding what’s right and wrong. SMKC
PrintShoppe. 2018.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Montemayor, Felix M. Ethics: The Philosophy of Life. National Book Store,

1994.

Sambajon Jr., Marvin Julian. Ethics for Educators. C & E Publishing Inc.
2011.

What is Ethics. (2010). Retrieved August 8, 2020 from

https://www.ethicssage.com/2010/12/what-is-
ethics.html#:~:text=The%20term%20ethics%20is%20derived,of%20right%20and%20wrong
%20behavior.

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