GeSocSci5 Genesis — The beginning of everything

Unit 1: Ethics
1:1 In the beginning God created the
What is Ethics? heavens and the earth.
How do people view it from different
angles? 1:2 Now the earth was without shape and
empty, and darkness was over the surface
Is it a "good" or "bad" thing? What have I of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God
done? was moving over the surface of the water.

Thus, we just don't think about these things 1:3 God said, "Let there be light." And there
because we can just randomly can. We are was light!
given the power to even distinguish what is
right from wrong—or see which is which. 1:4 God saw that the light was good, so
God separated the light from the darkness.
Philosophy of Man — It is the
philosophical study of man. 1:5 God called the light "day" and the
darkness "night."
●​ It is an endless inquiry in his attempt
to understand himself and the world There was evening, and there was morning,
he lives in marking the first day.
●​ It is his attempt to grasp upon truth,
justice, hope, freedom, love and his Our decisions — reflect our inner selves.
relations to the Supreme being that
he believes in And so as human beings, we are given the
●​ It is a course that delves into the gift of wisdom to be able to clearly
origin of human life and the reality of distinguish good from bad.
human existence
We must know what we should do, without
This things must be considered for us to being affected by our emotions but only the
understand the relationship between truth in front of us.
humanity and ethics itself.
Yet again, it depends on us on how we
Philosophers that spend their entire lives respond to it-since our values, experiences
writing reflections, experiences as they ask and belief systems reflect who we really are.
questions for us children of the future, to
make use of the existing knowledge around We are given the freedom to choose
us. And all we have to do is to find its whatever we want to pursue in life.
essential meaning from it. We have basic freedom to be the best
version of ourselves.

But the problem is that since we have all the

freedom and wisdom to use, we also have
the willpower to interpret what is good or
bad. We can individually see different kinds Take note that questions of the good are not
of truth and believe in things we wanted to questions of practicality or questions of
believe in. realizing one's desired end. They are
questions that refer to a person's freedom
Then we go back to the conclusion that and ability to live according to what he/she
each one of us is wearing colored lenses of considers to be the good.
our souls- sometimes the things we believe
that are correct can be unethical to others. A conversation between a Butcher and a
Vegan
We all have the capacity to think and
exercise freedom, wearing the lenses of The butcher calmly explained that cattle
ourselves that are influenced by our such as chickens, cows and pigs are meant
unconscious biases, thoughts, and even the to be consumed by people because it can
things we consume or being exposed with. give us the protein that we need in our
bodies. At the same time, she highlighted
Moral philosophy is nothing else but the that slicing meat and cooking is her way of
science of what is good, and evil, in the art that inspires her to cook well and serve it
conversation, and society of mankind. to others.
Good, and evil, are names that signify our
appetites, and aversions; which in different A visible disbelief washed the man's face,
tempers, customs, and doctrines of men, as he responded calmly. He asked again if
are different. (Thomas Hobbes) she's aware that she was hanging "body
parts" and sacrificing the lives of others. If
The discipline of ethics plays an important it's all about cooking, he told her she
role in providing people with a basis upon could've picked some plant-based diet that
which to discern their own accepted ethical could provide her nutrients like protein.
systems and as a basis for broadcasting
their own conceptions of the good. Good thing the interview ended well, both
ethically acting calm and composed. And so
There is a framework of ethics underlying this conversation showed us how both of
our lives on a daily basis, helping us make them stood at the opposite side of their
decisions that create positive impacts and beliefs and truths that they grasp upon.
steering us away from unjust outcomes.
Ethics guides us to make the world a better Both of them are representing what they are
place through the choices we make. passionate for. The butcher is passionate
about cooking and selling meat, while the
Ethical norms and the question of good and vegan does not eat meat because he
evil arise when people need to act as free believes that having meat for consumption
persons. But not all actions are inherently would require animals to sacrifice their lives
ethical. Actions only require ethical just to be turned into food. Both are guided
reflection when they are free acts that by different biases and realities.
involve a person's desire to realize the Therefore, their varying belief systems
good. question each other's standpoint.
Next example.....

Another example, eating and breathing are

not usually thought about as ethical or
unethical. After all, these are just functions
of the body. Although the effects of
consumerism into our lives are inevitable.

Almost all of our basic needs are

mass-produced such as canned food, cup
noodles or biscuits in tin cans. Of course,
eating is. Now the question is, are we really
living ethically since the factory workers
behind these products are not paid a living
wage- or the production of the items are
causing the environment to rot faster than
we think.

And that is where eating and consuming the

mentioned food becomes an ethical
question since eating food is what our body
needs but consuming such items while
knowing that there is injustice behind its
production- is called a free choice.

Thus ethics has something to do with

realizing the fullest potential as free persons
acting in the world and doing right for
others. Human beings intuit that life is not
just about existing or survival and human
actions are not just all about expediency.
Unit 2: Moral Act guidance of reason, one's moral capacities
Where are you going? Are you doing the become shortsighted and limited.
right thing?
Reason can sometimes be blinded in
Humans are complex beings. Unlike implementing and following its own strict
organisms who are driven by survival rules that it becomes incapable of empathy
instinct, humans experience the world in a for the other.
variety of ways through variety perspective
capacities. Old Normal: Steal canned sardines jailed 2
years.
Apart from our rational capacity which
allows us to reckon reality with imaginative New Normal: Steals RM1.25B payback
and calculative lenses, our feelings may RM465M, walks free.
play a crucial part in determining the way
we navigate through various situations we
experience.

Most of the time, we act based on how we

feel. However, we have the capacity to
reflexively examine a situation before
proceeding to act with respect to how we
feel.

In other words, although feelings provide us

with an initial reckoning of a situation, they
should not be the sole basis for our motives
and actions.

Feelings seek immediate fulfillment, and it is

our reason that tempers these compulsions.

Feelings without reason are blind.

Reason sets the course for making ethical

and impartial decisions especially in moral
situations although it is not the sole
determining factor in coming up with such
decisions.

Reason and feelings must

constructively complement each other
whenever we are making choices. When
feelings such as anger, jealousy, and shame
are out of control, hence without the proper
Unit 3: Morality and the 7-Step Moral 2.​ Clarify Goals
Reasoning Model Sometimes, in the heat of the moment,
Who are you without your unconscious short term wants eclipse long-term goals.
biases and prejudice? Thus, you must determine if you are willing
to sacrifice more important life goals to
Revisiting our Path achieve your short-term goals.
What we've learned so far.....
It is also necessary to clarify your short-term
●​ Our decisions reflect our inner and long-term aims. One often decides on
selves. the basis of what he/she wants to
●​ How feelings can turn actions in accomplish.
compulsions and blind our reality
●​ We should balance reason, feelings 3.​ Determine Facts
and actions to be morally correct. Make sure you gather enough information
before you make a choice. An intelligent
Morality choice is one that is supported by verified
●​ It refers to the set of standards that facts. You must first make sure that what
enable people to live cooperatively you know is enough to merit action.
in groups.
●​ Sometimes, acting in a moral Without verifying facts, you may regret your
manner means that individuals must choice in the future once various aspects of
sacrifice their own short-term the situation come to light. Never make a
interests to benefit society. choice on the basis of hearsay. Make sure
your sources are credible and have integrity.
●​ Moral Compass — described as a
natural feeling that makes people 4.​ Develop Options
know what is right and wrong; and Once you are clear in terms of your goals
how they should behave. and facts, try to come up with alternative
options to exhaust all possible courses of
"How is he even doing it? Is his moral action. Most of the time, the pressure of a
compass even working?" situation may make you feel you have less
options than you think.
7-Step Moral Reasoning Model
A guide in making choices of moral import 5.​ Consider Consequences
Filter your choices and separate the ethical
7-Step Moral Reasoning Model from the unethical choices bearing in mind
both your motives and the potential
1.​ Stop and Think consequences of your action.
Before making any decisions, it is best to
take a moment to think about the situation Think of long-term consequences and act in
itself, your place in it, and other surrounding accordance with the principles of justice and
factors which merit consideration, such as fairness. Consequences are historical
the people involved and the potential effects realities that bear upon the lives of others.
of your decisions on them.
 6.​ Choose a decision Are there instances that you were able to
Make a decision. If the choice is hard to practice the full 7-Step Moral Reasoning
make, try consulting others who may have Model?
knowledge or experience of your situation.
Find people with a virtuous character and
compare your reasoning with b your moral
analysis.

Once you make up your mind, summon the

will to do the right thing even if it is hard and
seemingly counter-intuitive.

7.​ Monitor and Modify

Monitor what happens after your decision
and have enough humility to modify your
action or behavior as necessary.

Pride may get in the way of admitting that

you might have thought out a decision well
enough.

It sheds light on the various aspects of

moral situations that you have to consider
before making a decision. An important
element, though, is your will to commit to an
action based on moral principles.

You must have the necessary resolve to put

your choice in motion after a long process of
deliberation. Goodwill, though sufficient as a
ground for morality according to some
philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, must
nevertheless be enacted and applied to
make a difference in the world of practical
moral affairs.

Questions to ponder upon....

From the 7 Steps of Moral Reasoning

Model, what step would you usually
skip/violate and why?
Unit 4: Sources of Authority Example:

Various institutions have a strong influence Company 8/12 pads its profits by refusing to
in the way we think and act, including how give its employees benefits may do so
we make moral valuations. within the parameters of the

Sources of Authority in our Society Company 8/12 can do this by simply

refusing to hire workers on a permanent
1.​ Law basis but only offer them six-months
Law guides us to do ethical behavior. contracts.

— (Philippines) Filipinos are constrained to Here, no law is violated; but is it ethically

obey the laws of the land as stated in the right?
country's criminal and civil codes.
2.​ Religion
— It is localized to the barangay or village
level, where local or municipal layers of "Love the Lord, Your God, therefore and
obligation are there for residents to follow always heed His charge; His statutes,
decrees, and commandments." (New
Positive Law — refers to all different rules American Bible)
that are posited or put forward by authority
figures which require one's compliance. — The idea that one is obligated to obey
her God in all things.
— It has no moral purpose other than to
ensure the survival of the state. Divine Command Theory — It is a
philosophical theory that suggests that
— We recognize that there are many acts morality and ethical behavior are derived
that we immediately consider unethical from the command of God or
which we know are also forbidden by the Gods.
law.
— Further, taking religion to be the basis of
— It is enforced with a system of sanctions ethics has the advantage of providing us
through persons, institutions which help us with not only a set of commands but also a
obey. "Supreme Authority" that can inspire and
compel our obedience in a way nothing else
The flaws of the "law" can.

— One, we should obey the law.

Problems with "religion"
— The prohibitive nature of law.
a.​ On a practical level, we realize the
"The law cannot tell us what to pursue, only presence of multiplicity of religions.
what to avoid."
 b.​ The problem of differences is not — It teaches us to be tolerant of others from
confined to varying distinct religious different cultures, we realize we are in no
traditions. position to judge other cultures.
c.​ The believer is required to clarify her
understanding of the connection Problems with "culture"
between ethics and the Divine.
(Plato's dialogue titled Euthyphro) — From the classic exposition of this topic
by James Rachels......
Calling into question the Divine
First, the argument of cultural relativism is
— Command Theory is not intended to premised on the reality of difference.
make anyone question his or her faith in
God and the particular religious tradition Different culture = Different Moral
he/she belongs to ; It is not intended to codes
challenge one's faith.
— From the classic exposition of this topic
— It is an invitation to consider whether by James Rachels......
there may be more creative and less
problematic ways of seeing the connection We are in no position to render any kind of
between faith and ethics. judgement on the practices of another
culture.
3. Culture
Culture is a wide diversity in how different — From the classic exposition of this topic
people believe it is proper to act. (Difference by James Rachels......
on aesthetics, religion and etiquette)
We are in no position to render judgement
Cultural Relativism on the practices of even our own culture.
—There is no universal standard to
measure cultures by, and that all cultural — From the classic exposition of this topic
values and beliefs must be understood by James Rachels......
relative to their cultural context, and not
judged based on Culture helps us maintain it only by
outside norms and values. following the presumption of culture as a
single, clearly defined substance or as
— It seems to conform to what we something fixed and already determined.
experience, which in reality of the
differences of cultures make their ethical "What am I supposed to take as my
valuations. culture?"

— By taking one's culture as a standard, we Cultural Relativism

are provided a basis for our valuations.
Negative Side: Can be a problem to ethics
because it deprives us from using our
critical thoughts.
Positive Side: It helps us promote our sense
of humility for us not to imagine our culture
is superior to another.