The document discusses different types of standards or norms against which the correctness of human acts can be measured. It begins by explaining the etymological origin of the word "norm" from Latin and its use in geometry. It then outlines four main types of norms: 1) Aesthetic norms regarding personal preferences, 2) Societal norms that maintain social cohesion, 3) Technical norms regarding proper techniques, and 4) Moral norms that judge acts as good or bad. The document focuses on moral norms, explaining that divine reason provides the ultimate standard while human reason applies this standard through conscience to guide morally good acts.
The document discusses different types of standards or norms against which the correctness of human acts can be measured. It begins by explaining the etymological origin of the word "norm" from Latin and its use in geometry. It then outlines four main types of norms: 1) Aesthetic norms regarding personal preferences, 2) Societal norms that maintain social cohesion, 3) Technical norms regarding proper techniques, and 4) Moral norms that judge acts as good or bad. The document focuses on moral norms, explaining that divine reason provides the ultimate standard while human reason applies this standard through conscience to guide morally good acts.
The document discusses different types of standards or norms against which the correctness of human acts can be measured. It begins by explaining the etymological origin of the word "norm" from Latin and its use in geometry. It then outlines four main types of norms: 1) Aesthetic norms regarding personal preferences, 2) Societal norms that maintain social cohesion, 3) Technical norms regarding proper techniques, and 4) Moral norms that judge acts as good or bad. The document focuses on moral norms, explaining that divine reason provides the ultimate standard while human reason applies this standard through conscience to guide morally good acts.
The document discusses different types of standards or norms against which the correctness of human acts can be measured. It begins by explaining the etymological origin of the word "norm" from Latin and its use in geometry. It then outlines four main types of norms: 1) Aesthetic norms regarding personal preferences, 2) Societal norms that maintain social cohesion, 3) Technical norms regarding proper techniques, and 4) Moral norms that judge acts as good or bad. The document focuses on moral norms, explaining that divine reason provides the ultimate standard while human reason applies this standard through conscience to guide morally good acts.
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Concerning Standards
or Norms Concerning Standards or Norms
Etymologically, the term “norm” comes
from the Latin norma which means “carpenter's square, rule or pattern”. Now, carpenter's square is used for many things, depending on the end of the carpenter, but its primary purpose is for laying down right angles. Concerning Standards or Norms
In the language of geometry, a line that is perpendicular
(creating 90 degrees on both sides) to a given object is what is called normal. And when a line creates 90 degrees on both sides relative to a fixed point, it can be said that the line is straight or correct. With this, one can easily see the transition of “normal” from geometry to man's actions. The following are some of the standards or norms against which the rectitude or correctness of an act is measured (Fernandez, 2018; Bulaong 2018) 1. Aesthetic Norm
The word “Aesthetics” is derived from the Greek word
“aisthesis” which means “sense” or “feeling” and refers to the judgments of personal approval or disapproval that we make about what we see, hear, smell, or taste (Bulaong Jr. et al, 2018). Aesthetics refers to our personal aesthetic preference based on what we see, hear, smell and taste. Some examples of these personal aesthetic preferences can be found in such expressions as: “Ballad music is good,” “Metallic music is disgusting,” “Lisa of Black Pink is admirable.” 2. Societal Norm
This norm has something to do with the need for group
cohesion and for strengthening the bonds that keep the community together. In this norm, we have certain manners or attire, certain ways of speaking or of conducting oneself and For instance: 1.You ought to knock first before you open certain rituals and ceremonies (Fernandez, 2018). These the door. particular actions maintain the bond and cohesion of the 2.You should not pick your nose in community. public. 3.You should not talk when your mouth Other similar examples belong to the category of etiquette or is full. what is known as “GMRC” (Bulaong Jr. et al, 2018). 4.You should wear the prescribed uniform of the institution. 3. Technical Norm
This refers to man’s needs which come from his bodily
space-time limitations. This has to do with survival, health and well-being. It concerns with techniques of how things should be done (Fernandez, 2018). For instance, “there is a proper way of planting rice”, “proper manner of dribbling the ball”, “proper table arrangement”, etc. 4. Moral Norms
In this type, man and his actions are judged to be
good or bad, right or wrong. All other norms are to be subordinated to this moral norm. The Norm of Morality (Moral Norm) The Norm of Morality
Glenn said: “Morality is the relation of the human acts to
their norm.” This means that the quality of being good or bad (morality) of an action depends on whether or not it measures up to its standards.
But, what is the norm or standard of morality?
The Norm of Morality
Let us borrow and examine Glenn's words:
Let us view man as traveller standing at a point where many roads converge. The traveler wishes to reach the City of Limitless Good. This city is the goal toward which the traveller tends by a connatural and inevitable bent of his will. Now, the tendency of the traveller will remain the same, even if he should choose a wrong road. In other words, man, the traveller, will choose a road for the purpose of reaching the City of Limitless Good, even if, as a fact, the chosen road leads away from his goal. The Norm of Morality
It is obvious, then, that the traveller needs guidance, he needs direction, lest perverse and mistaken judgment thwart his purpose and render impossible the attainment of his goal. In a word, the traveller needs a map. More: he requires ability to read the map, and to interpret it rightly where the road seems to fork or byways open invitingly. Now, the map, the guiding direction, is supplied to man, the traveller, by law; and the application of law in individual acts- the reading and interpreting of the map at particular curves and corners- is achieved by conscience. Human acts are directed to their true end by law, and law is applied by conscience. Hence, law and conscience are the directives or norms of human acts. Context: End/Purpose: Life preservation Law: You shall not kill. Conscience:
Law: Divine Reason
Conscience: Human Reason The Norm of Morality What Glenn called the City of Endless Good is the ultimate goal of human acts. Recall how human acts are responding to tendencies? One performs an act in respond to or because of such tendencies. Now ultimately, human acts tend towards the City of Endless Good.
What Glenn called the law- the map to guide man into the City- is the Divine Law or Divine Reason. What he called the conscience - the faculty that one uses in reading and interpreting the map- is human reason. The Norm of Morality For Glenn: Law: Divine Reason: the Ultimate - comprise the norm of morality. Conscience: Human Reason: the proximate
In other words, for an action to be called morally good, it must be in
accord with the dictates of reason; for it is to be called bad, it must be in disagreement with the dictates of reason. What, then, does it mean to be moral?
To be moral means to examine the tendencies, the goals, the objects of our desire whether or not they lead to Heaven or the ideal society. To be moral means using reason as guide for actions that lead one to Heaven or that ideal, all the while embracing his or her strengths and weakness and rootedness. To be moral, in the words of Rachels, means doing actions that are “impartial, adheres to rules that serve everyone's interest, and that which corresponds to our natural inclination to care for others.”
