THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF MORALITY AND YOU

Someone once wrote of teachers: “Even on your worst day on the job, you are still some
children’s best hope.” Indeed society expects much from you, the teacher. Henry Books Adams said it
succinctly: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

For you to be able to cope with these expectations you should be anchored on a bedrock
foundation of moral and ethical principles. Let us begin this lesson by defining what morality is.

What is morality?

As defined by one textbook author, morality refers to “the quality of human by which we call
them right or wrong, good or evil.” (Panizo, 1964) Your human action is right when it conforms to the
norm, rule, or law of morality. Otherwise it is said to be wrong. For instance, when Juan gets the pencil of
Pedro without the letter’s permission, Juan’s action is wrong because it is adherent to the norm, “stealing
is wrong”. A man’s action, habit or character is good when it is not lacking of what is natural to man, i.e.
when it is in accordance with man’s nature. For instance, it is not natural for man to behave like a beast
because he is not a beast. He is man and, unlike the beast, he has intellect and free will. That intellect
makes him capable of thinking, judging and reasoning. His free will gives him the ability to choose.
Unlike the beasts, he is not bound by instincts. It is natural occurrence for beasts when a male dog meets a
female dog on the street and mate right there and then, as they are not free but bound by their instinct, like
sexual instinct. But it is contrary to man’s nature when a man and women do as the dogs do. To do is to
go down to the level of the beast.

Meaning of foundational moral principle

The word principle comes from the Latin word princeps which means a beginning, a source. A principle
is that in which something is based, founded, originated, and initiated. It is likened to the foundation of a
building upon which all other parts stand. If we speak of light, the principle is the sun because the sun is
the body from which the light of this world originate. A foundational moral principle is, therefore, the
universal norm upon which all principles on the rightness or wrongness of an action are based. It is the
source of morality.

Where is this foundational moral principle? It is contained in the natural law. Many moralists, authors,
and philosophers may have referred to this foundational moral principle in different terms. But it may be
acceptable to all believers and non-believers alike to refer to it as natural law.

What is the natural law? It is the law “written in the hearts of men”. (Romans 2:15) For theist, it is “man’s
share in the Eternal Law of God....” (Panizo, 1964) St. Thomas defines it as “the light of natural reason,
whereby we discern what is good and what is evil… an imprint on us of the divine light…” (Pinizo, 1964)
It is the law that says: “Do good and avoid evil.” THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL OF
FOUNDATIONAL MORAL PRINCIPLE.

All men and women, regardless of race and belief, have a sense of this foundational moral principle. It is
ingrained in man’s nature. “It is built into the design of human nature and woven into the fabric of the
normal human mind.” We are inclined to do what we recognize as good and avoid that which we
recognize as evil.
Panizo says: “Writings, customs, and monuments of past and present generations point out to this
conclusion: That all peoples on earth, no matter how savage and illiterate, have recognized a supreme law
of divine origin commanding good and forbidding evil” (Panizo, 1964). The same thing was said by the
Chinese philosopher, Mencius, long ago

All men have a mind which cannot bear [to see the suffering of] others… If now men
suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a
feeling of alarm and distress… From this case we may perceive that he who lacks the
feeling of commiseration is not a man; that he who lacks a feeling of shame and dislike is
not a man; he who lacks a feeling of modesty and yielding is not a man; and that he who
lacks a sense of right and wrong is not a man… Man has these four beginnings…
(FungYulan, 1948, 69-70)

The natural law that says “do good and avoid evil” comes in different versions. Kung-fu-tsu said the same
when he taught: “Do not do to others what you do not like others to do to you.” This is also the Golden
rule of Christianity only that it is written in the positive form: “Do to others what you like others do to
you.” Immanuel Kant’s version is “Act in such a way that your maxim can be the maxim for all.” For
Christians, this Golden Rule is made more explicit through the Ten Commandments and the Eight
Beatitudes. These are summed up in two great commandments, “love God with all your heart, with all
your mind, with all your strength” and “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” The Buddhists state this
through the eightfold path. For the Buddhists, they do good when they “(1) strive to know the truth; (2)
resolve to resist evil; (3) say nothing to hurt others; (4) respect life, morality, and property; (5) engage in a
job that does not injure others; (6) strive to free their mind of evil; (7) control their feelings and thoughts,
and (8) practice proper forms of concentration.” (World Book Encyclopedia, 1988) Buddha taught that
“hatred does not cease by hatred; hatred ceases only by love.” The Islamic Koran “forbids lying, stealing
adultery, and murder” It also teaches “honor for parents, kindness to slaves, protection for the orphaned
and the widowed, and charity to the poor. It teaches the virtues of faith in God, patience, kindness,
honesty, industry, honor, courage, and generosity. It condemns mistrust, impatience and cruelty.” (World
Book encyclopedia,1988). Furthermore, the Muslims abide by The Five Pillars of Islam: 1) prayer, 2)
self-purification by fasting, 3) fasting, 4) almsgiving and 5) pilgrimage to Mecca for those who can
afford. (www.islam101.com/dawal/pillars.html)
 TEACHERS AS A GOOD PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

As laid down in the preamble of our Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers, “teachers are duly licensed
professionals who possess dignity and reputation with high moral values as well as technical and
professional competence.

In the practice of their profession, they strictly adhere to, observe and practice this set of ethical and
moral principles, standard and values.”

One Christian author describes four ways of describing good moral character:

1.) Being fully human – you have realized substantially your potential as a human person.

2.) Being a loving person – you are caring in an unselfish and mature manner with yourself, other people
and God.

3.) Being a virtuous person – you have acquired good habits and attitudes & you practice them
consistently ijn your daily life.

4.) Being a morally mature person – you have reached a level of development emotionally, socially,
mentally, spiritually appropriate to your developmental stage.

The Foundational moral principle is “Do good; avoid evil” This is contained in the natural law.

*Our act is Moral when it is in accordance with our human nature.

*Our act is Immoral when it is contrary to our human nature.