The Moral Actions

Feelings and Moral Decision-Making

Introduction

When people decide at the height of their emotion, decisions made are most likely to be
subjective or biased. If one is mad, hurt, depressed or going through a painful experience, his or
her decisions may not be the most appropriate ones as they are clouded with strong emotional
nuances and lack objectivity. When one is at the height of one’s rage, he or she does not even
consider making a decision but acts upon it immediately without considering the consequences
of the action. People end up having more complicated problems having not considered first
where their actions may lead to.

The topic deals with emotion and moral decision-making. Should one disregard one’s
emotion or emotions when taking a stance? Should an individual be pathetic so that decisions
arrived at are wise and objective? Let us consider below some ideas concerning this intriguing
topic on emotion and moral decision-making situations.

Learning Outcomes

1. Attribute the role of emotions in moral actions;

2. Differentiate actions based on reason and feelings; and
3. Analyze their feelings in personal moral experiences.

Activating Prior Learning

In a group, capture an experience when you made a decision at the height of your
emotion. What were the consequences of your decision? Was there regret after you have
decided? (Share it in class) 15 minutes.

Presentation of Contents

The rationalistic point of view that emotion has no place in moral decision needs to be
examined. No person has the capacity to be unaffected or separate himself or herself completely
from one’s feelings or emotions. Psychologically, it is a condition that is not possible because
individuals experience the situations of their life in all its dimensions – as a rational being, as a
feeling being, as a social being, as a religious being and more. And as such these dimensions can
never be compartmentalized or segregated from each other and experience one and put aside the
others. One dimension may dominate the others but they can never be completely erased or
neglected during a particular experience. Where there is a need to make moral decisions, it is
impossible to purge the individual of one’s feelings or emotions that may derail him or her from
making the most appropriate one. After all, human beings are not robots.

Bulaong Jr. Et al (2018) suggests citing the ideas of Aristotle that moral virtue is far
beyond the pure and simple act of intellectually determining the right thing to do. Moral virtue is
the character of the person through which a moral agent is able to have control over one’s
emotions or feelings. Aristotle does not suggest the elimination of feelings but the cultivation of
one’s character at the basis of learning how to be able to control them.

It would seem that the Filipino agrees to this idea, when he or she says: “Huwag kang
padadala sa bugso ng iyong damdamin.” Or, “Huwag mong paiiralin ang iyong emosyon.” These
suggest that Filipinos have a way in order to tame one’s emotions or feelings. It must be a
corollary experience that somehow there is a way to be able to manage one’s emotions.

All these tell us that the human being is intellectual as much as emotional. Being a human
being is to have both the rational and emotion aspects and people will always be. Aristotle
proposes that decisions or moral virtues are arrived at by the mature moral agent because of
habitually managing one’s emotions in the rightful manner.

Hence, the responsible moral agent accepts that feelings cannot be put aside as they will
always be there. But what is necessary so that they will not detract anyone from making an
informed moral decision is learning how to cultivate them so that one’s emotional life does not
remain in the, pre-conventional level in which self-interest is the motivation of decision making.
It should be noted that the cultivation of one’s character is a process of continuous habit of doing
what is right. It is not therefore, a result of an overnight and single attempt but really of a
prolonged endeavor to train one’s reaction to situations to arrive to what is called character.
Managing one’s emotions and feelings would require every individual this process until the
individual has attained a mature moral character.

Summary

Emotions can easily prompt individuals to make decisions based on their prevailing
emotional state. Emotions have value in moral decision-making but knowing how to control it
would be essential in order to make the rightful decisions by habitually doing what is right. By
practicing something it evolves as the moral agent’s character or natural manner in dealing with
situations. Knowledge is one aspect and managing one’s emotions through character is the other
ingredient honored by responsible moral agents
 The 7-Step Moral Reasoning Model
Introduction

Making decision may not be easy. People change their decisions now and then. They
vacillate in their stance unsure about the right thing to do. This is usually the case when facts and
ideas about certain issues are unclear. Furthermore, people’s decision about certain issues gets
more confused because of their knowledge about the people to be affected by their decisions.
Whether right or wrong, they seem to favor more those close to them and are quite harsh and
unforgiving to those they have less knowledge about. Decisions do not seem to depend on the
issue but rather on the people involved. In fact, decisions are all the more biased and subjective
when the persons who are supposed to decide are themselves involved in the issue. They are
more concerned about saving their skin even if the responsibility for certain errors are theirs and
definitely have less or no consideration at all to other parties involved even if they are right.
People obstinately insist only on their rights, privileges and interests but are not fair toward
others’ legitimate demands and interests.

How can people arrive at a more objective and right decisions? Even when people are up
to what is legitimate and acceptable decision for everyone, it looks like decisions made are not
always the way everybody wants them to be. Something always escapes and remains unattended.
The topic might help people in their quest for a more objective, fair and rightful solutions to
issues affecting their lives.

Learning Outcomes

1. Perform the 7-step Moral Reasoning Model;

2. Judge their personal moral actions using the 7-step moral reasoning model; and
3. Check real life cases using the 7-step model.

Activating Prior Learning

Debate on the premise:

Resolve that the age of committing a crime is lowered at 15 years of age.

Presentation of Contents

How does one arrive at an acceptable and right moral decision? The following steps are
suggested as guides in making moral decision which is called the Seven (7) Step Moral
Reasoning Model.
1. State the problem. Gather the facts

Before any decision, it is important that decisions makers have in their possession
all the necessary facts and data concerning an issue. Decisions are based on facts and
not on opinions neither on hearsay. Facts and data clarify the issues that need to be
resolved. When facts are incomplete a definite resolution to a problem may not be
reached. The acceptability also of a solution to a problem or issue will depend on the
completeness of facts and evidences.

2. Check the facts. Determine the ethical issue (Is it moral if …)

In the second step, it is necessary to determine the ethical issue. In other words,
what is the problem about? It is a point of clarifying and distinguishing whether a
situation demands moral valuation or not. Some issues do not really qualify to be
considered a moral or ethical issue. When I have to decide about the time I should eat
my breakfast or, when I have to decide whether I have to study for tomorrow’s
examination in my Physics class do not necessarily require deliberate moral decision.
But when contemplating to secretly sell a family property without the knowledge of
the other members is an example of a situation in which a moral valuation is called
for. Here, I have to ask myself whether my intention to sell the family property is
ethical or unethical. Is it the right thing to do even if I have important needs to
address?

3. What principles have a bearing on the case? Identify relevant factors.

In the case mentioned above about secretly selling a family property, I should
consider the principles that would be violated by my decision. It is dishonest to sell a
common property without the knowledge of my co-owners. I am violating the
principle that I should be honest at all times. Furthermore, my intention violates the
principles about private properties owned by others. My intention violates at least two
principles. In the example, there are principles that have a bearing on the intention to
secretly sell a communal property and these principles tell us about some
irregularities ethically speaking.

4. List down the alternatives. Develop a list of options.

Finding a solution to a moral issue may involve several alternatives. Again, in the
example above about selling the family property secretly may not be the only solution
to a financial crisis. Other alternatives may be possible like asking the other co-
owners to buy themselves my own share in the property. Or, maybe, if I have an
existing problem in which considerable amount of money is involved, it is possible
that I can have recourse to the generosity of my siblings. They may not be the only
alternatives found, others may still be possible. Should my siblings and other
members of the family know my situation; they might be able to offer better
alternatives other than those I know. By listing down possible alternatives to resolve a
 problem, I have created several or a few possibilities from which I can choose a more
feasible alternative.

5. Compare the alternatives with principles. Test the options.

It would be interesting to compare the different alternatives; this involves the

examination of the different alternatives analyzing their advantages and
disadvantages. It would also require finding which of the alternatives would violate
less the identified principles with bearing on the issue. An alternative solution that
does not violate any principle would normally be the recommended one.

6. Assess the consequences. Make a choice

Having identified the different alternatives, the next step to be undertaken would
be the evaluation of the possible consequences of the different alternatives. Which
among the choices would bring about the most benefits?

In the assessment of the consequences, it is suggested that the moral agent

consider at least the minimum requirement in making a moral decision, referred to as
reason and impartiality. Hence, the task is to consider not only the benefits that could
be derived by the moral agent himself or herself but also those that would benefit all
individuals to be affected by the moral decision. Again, it is important that the moral
agent does not only look at his or her interests but also giving fair consideration to the
interest of all the people affected by the decision.

7. Make a decision (Review steps 1-6)

The last and final step involved would be to make a decision. A responsible and
conscientious moral agent knows that a morally acceptable decision is well discerned
and has considered all possible consequences and the interest of everybody to be
affected by it.

Note: For more readings on this topic, & Step Method for Ethical Decision Making,
contact Center for the study of Ethics in the Professions. Illinois Institute of Technology
CSEP @IIT .EDU.312.567. 3017.Copy right. Seven Step Method for Ethical Decision Making,
Michael Davis, 2013.

Summary

A disorganized and unsystematic way of dealing with situations like problems or in this
case an ethical issue would lead us to nowhere. To be able to systematically address a situation,
there is a need to work with a certain framework or model or at least a guide. The 7-step
reasoning model is precisely a guide in making a moral decision. Going through the different
steps may be a laborious one, but it helps moral agents not to neglect and disregard important
considerations before arriving at a resolution.

The temptation is always to make shortcuts since it saves time and energy and voila an
instant solution is at hand. This manner of course of solving a problem would be most welcome
if we hit the most appropriate alternative from the many. However, it is not always the case. By
deploying our efforts to the wrong alternative we consume more time and energy because that
would lead us back to the point of departure and rethink the entire process and thus, we are back
to zero. It is usually the case of the heuristic method. It is best known as the trial and error
method. People may be lucky but we can never be sure about this method in looking for the best
solutions.

In solving moral issues, one should not attempt to find easy solutions but one should
rather opt for lasting solutions to problems even if it will require more deliberation,
brainstorming and getting together. A solution moreover that is the fruit of a collaborative effort
is better than the one found by a single individual because more people will give their
commitment in the implementation of the solution. The 7-step moral reasoning model is just like
that; by considering every element in finding a solution, people do arrive at a more permanent,
lasting and morally right alternatives.