Saint Michael College, Cantilan, Incorporated

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

College Department

LEARNING MODULE
in
GE 8 – ETHICS
Instructor – Zorayda A. Orozco

I. MODULE 7 : ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS

II. INTRODUCTION
It is good to understand what an ethical framework is. When trying to decide between that which
is clearly right or wrong, most people know how they want to act. However, ethical dilemmas are
particularly problematic because they often require us to choose between what is right and what is right.
Having an ethical framework, or a method of deliberating ethical dilemmas, can help us choose the
course that is the most ethical. These frameworks don't offer ethical answers; rather, they provide a
general frame for beginning to uncover the ethical action in any given situation.

III. TOPICS
1. The Meaning of Ethical Framework
2. Types of Ethical Frameworks
a. Utilitarian/Teleological/Consequentialist Framework
a.1 Quantitative model of Jeremy Bentham
a.2 Qualitative model of John Stuart Mill.
b. Natural Law or Commandment Ethics of St. Thomas Aquinas
c. Virtue or Character Ethics of Aristotle
d. Deontological and Duty Framework of Immanuel Kant
e. Love and Justice Framework

IV. TIME FRAME : 3 hours

V. OBJECTIVES
1. Explain the meaning of ethical framework.
2. Distinguish among five ethical frameworks.
3. Discuss the basic principles of utilitarian ethics
4. Recognize how Thomas Aquinas made use of ancient Greek concepts to provide a rational
grounding to an ethical theory based on Christian faith.

VI. SUMMARY OF TOPICS

What is an Ethical Framework?

An ethical framework is a set of codes that an individual uses to guide his or her behavior. It is
just another term for “moral standards.” It is what people use to distinguish right from wrong in the
way they interact with the world. It is used to determine the moral object of an action. An ethical
framework guides an individual in answering these two questions: “What do I ought to do?” and
“Why do I ought to do so?” So ethical frameworks serve as guideposts in moral life.

Types of Ethical Frameworks

1. Utilitarian/Teleological/Consequentialist Framework
A consequences-based approach to ethics, the framework of utilitarianism calls on us to choose
the action that seems to guarantee the greatest good for (or the least harm to) the largest number of
people. It was championed in the late 18th century and early 1800s by two Englishmen named
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. This framework may be particularly troubling because it
requires us to try to be unbiased, and to valuate each human being in the same way. Many people
may find it difficult to do the greatest good without any regard to doing good for specific people,
such as yourself or your family members.

2. Natural Law or Commandment Ethics of St. Thomas Aquinas

For St. Thomas, what is right is what follows the natural law, the rule which says, “do good and
avoid evil.” In knowing the good as distinguished from evil, one is guided by the Ten
Commandments which is summed up as loving God and one’s neighbor.

3. Deontological and Duty Framework of Immanuel Kant

Kant’s framework is deon or duty or deontological framework. Deontology centers on the
“rights of individuals and the intentions associated with particular behavior… equal respect… given
to all persons.” The deontological approach is based on universal principles such as honesty,
fairness, justice, and respect for persons and property. It is based on the categorical imperative.

4. Virtue or Character Ethics of Aristotle

Virtue ethics asks “who is an ethical person?” For Aristotle, the ethical person is virtuous, one
who has developed good character or has developed virtues. One attains virtues when s/he actualizes
his/her potentials or possibilities, the highest of which is happiness. Happiness is the joy of self-
realization, self-fulfillment, the experience of having actualized one’s potentials.

5. Love and Justice Framework

What is ethical is that which is just and that which is loving. Justice is giving what is due to
others while love is giving more than what is due to others.

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making

The following framework for ethical decision-making is intended to serve as a practical tool for
exploring ethical dilemmas and identifying ethical courses of action.

Identify the Ethical Issues

1. Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group, or unevenly

beneficial to people? Does this decision involve a choice between a good and bad alternative,
or perhaps between two “goods” or between two “bads”?
2. Is this issue about more than solely what is legal or what is most efficient? If so, how?

Get the Facts

3. What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are not known? Can I learn more about
the situation? Do I know enough to make a decision?
4. What individuals and groups have an important stake in the outcome? Are the concerns of
some of those individuals or groups more important? Why?
5. What are the options for acting? Have all the relevant persons and groups been consulted?
Have I identified creative options?

Evaluate Alternative Actions

6. Evaluate the options by asking the following questions:

 Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? (The Rights Lens)
 Which option treats people fairly, giving them each what they are due? (The Justice Lens)
 Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm for as many stakeholders as
possible? (The Utilitarian Lens)
 Which option best serves the community as a whole, not just some members? (The Common
Good Lens)
 Which option leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be? (The Virtue Lens)
  Which option appropriately takes into account the relationships, concerns, and feelings of all
stakeholders? (The Care Ethics Lens)

Choose an Option for Action and Test It

7. After an evaluation using all of these lenses, which option best addresses the situation?
8. If I told someone I respect (or a public audience) which option I have chosen, what would
they say?
9. How can my decision be implemented with the greatest care and attention to the concerns of
all stakeholders?

Implement Your Decision and Reflect on the Outcome

10. How did my decision turn out, and what have I learned from this specific situation? What (if
any) follow-up actions should I take?
REFERENCES
Books

Bulaong, Jr.,Oscar G., et al, Ethics Foundation of Moral Valuation, REX Book Store,1977 C.M. Recto
Avenue, Manila, Philippines, c 2018
Carino, Jovito, Fundamentals of Ethics, C & E Publishing, Inc., 839 EDSA, South Triangle Quezon
City, copyright 2018
Corpuz, Ruben A., Corpuz, Brenda B., Ethics OBE-& PPST – Based, LORIMAR Publishing Inc., 10-B
Boston Street, Bgy. Kanluran, Cubao, Quezon City, c. 2020
Ocampo, Ma. Liza Ruth A., Ethics Primer, A Young Person’s Guide to Moral Reasoning, Vibal Group,
Inc., copyright 2018

Websites

https://centraleastethics.ca/ethics-framework-examples/
https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/a-framework-for-ethical-decision-making

Prepared by: Checked by:

ZORAYDA A. OROZCO, LPT Sgd. CARMEN SHIELA C. RAGURO, MIT

Instructor Program Head

Approved by:

Sgd. CARMEN SHIELA C. RAGURO, MIT

Department Dean
 Saint Michael College, Cantilan, Incorporated
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur
College Department
First Semester, AY 2022 – 2023

TEACHING LEARNING ACTIVITIES

GE 8 – ETHICS – Module 7
(Instructor – Mrs. Zorayda A. Orozco)

Name _____________________________ Course/Year ____________________ Score _____________

A. Activity/Assignment

1. Match the items in Column 1 with Column 2. You may repeat an answer.

Column 1 Column 2
Ethical Statements Ethical Framewrks
____ 1. The ethical person develops good a. Virtue on Character Ethics of
character. Aristotle
____ 2. An act is ethical if one gives the b. Natural law of Commandment
other Ethics of St. Thomas
what he/she is due.
____ 3. An act is ethical if it is an obligation c. Deontogical and Duty Framework
expected of every man or woman. of
Immanuel Kant
_____ 4. That which is right follows the rule d. Utilitarian, Teleological and
“do good and avoid evil.” Consequential
_____ 5. That which is ethical is that which e. Love and Justice Framework
has
good consequences.
_____ 6. An act is ethical if one gives the
other
one more than what he is due.
_____ 7. To act ethically, one must act in a
way
that he wishes others to act in the
same way.
_____ 8. An act is ethical if it brings about the
greatest good for the greatest
number
of those affected by the act.
_____ 9. What is good is written in a person’s
very being.
_____ 10. What is moral is what a virtuous
person does.

B. Creative Work

Identify an ethical decision making issue. Create an ethical framework for an ethical decision –
making.

SELF - EVALUATION (SYNTHESIS of the MODULE)

Based on activity number 1, what is meant by ethical framework?

TEST

I. Fill – in the blanks.

1. A ______________ is a set of codes that an individual uses to guide his or her behavior.
It is just another term for “moral standards.”
2. The _____________ is based on universal principles such as honesty, fairness, justice,
and respect for persons and property.
3. ____________ is the “ordinance of Divine Wisdom, which is made known to us by
reason and which requires the observance of the moral order.”
4. Mill understands ___________ as a respect for rights directed toward society’s pursuit
for the greatest happiness of the greatest number.
5. The ________________ is about our subjection to the sovereign masters: pleasure and
pain.
6. ____________ is an ethical theory that argues for the goodness of pleasure and the
determination of right behavior based on the usefulness of the action’s consequences.
7. ____________ first wrote about the greatest happiness principle of ethics and was known
for a system of penal management called panopticon.
8. According to Mill, ________ are a valid claim on society and are justified by utility.
9. The _________ is instrumental to an ethics that is rooted in the Christian faith.
10. The moral theory that evaluates actions that are done because of duty is called
_________.