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PROFED Notes Module 4

The document discusses morality, fundamental moral principles, and the natural law concept of 'do good and avoid evil'. It provides examples of how this concept is expressed across different religions and philosophies. It also discusses the importance of teachers having good moral character as described in professional codes of ethics.

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Alyza Pearl Dreu
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19 views2 pages

PROFED Notes Module 4

The document discusses morality, fundamental moral principles, and the natural law concept of 'do good and avoid evil'. It provides examples of how this concept is expressed across different religions and philosophies. It also discusses the importance of teachers having good moral character as described in professional codes of ethics.

Uploaded by

Alyza Pearl Dreu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1. What is morality?

Morality refers to “the quality of human acts by which we call them right or wrong, good or evil.” Your
human action is right when it conforms with 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 latter’s permission, Juan’s
action is wrong because it is adherent to the norms, “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’

2. What is meant by fundamental moral principle?

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

3. The natural law 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 the 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
part. 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.” Buddha taught that “hatred does not cease by hated; 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. In condemns mistrust, impatience and cruelty.” Furthermore, this 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.

Teacher as a 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.”

From the above preamble, the words moral values are mentioned twice, to accentuate on the
good moral character expected of you, the teacher. When are you of good moral character? 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 and you practice them consistently in your daily life, and 4)
being a morally, mentally, spiritually appropriate to your developmental stage. In short, you are n the
right track when you strive to develop your potential, your love and care for yourself and make this love
flow to others, you lead a virtuous life, and as you advance to age you also advance in your emotional,
social, intellectual, and spiritual life.

The foundational moral principle is “Do good, avoid evil.” This is contained in the natural law. The
natural law is engraved in the heart of every man and woman. We have in us the sense to do the good
that we ought to do and to avoid the evil that we ought to avoid. This foundational moral principle of
doing good and avoiding evil is expressed in many other ways by different people. The famous Chinese
philosopher, Kung-fu-tzu taught the same principle when he said” “Do not do to others what you do not
like others do to you.” Immanuel Kant taught the same: “Act in such a way that your rule can be the
principle of all.” The Buddhists abide by the same moral principle in their Eightfold Path. The Muslims
have this foundational moral principle laid down in their Korean and the Five Pillars. For the Christians,
the Bible shows the way to the good life – the Ten Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes. The Ten
Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes are summarized in the two great commandments of love for
God and love for neighbor.

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