Republic of the Philippines
University of Northern Philippines
College of Nursing
Tamag, Vigan City
“ENRICHMENT QUESTIONS”
Prepared by:
Labini, Dienizs
BSN-2E
In Partial Fulfilment
Of the requirements in the Course:
ETHICS
Submitted to:
Aaron Noel F. Taloza, LPT
Instructor
2nd Semester, A.Y. 2019 - 2020
June 15, 2020
I. MORAL AGENCY
1. Are all human persons capable of moral agency? If not who can be considered a
moral agent, Why? You may think of case scenario to illustrate your answer.
I believe that not all humans are considered to be moral agent. Only those
people within the age of reason probably the age of 7 and those who are
aware of sound mental judgements. Children, non-living things and animals
are not moral agent. For example, a person who is suffering an Alzheimer’s
Disease is not capable of moral agency because her mind is seriously
mentally ill.
2. Persons can either be natural (individual human being) or juridical (entities such
as Church). Are juridical entities also moral agents? In what way can these
juridical persons become sources of ethical decisions?
Juridical person is a non-human legal entity, in other words any organization
that is not a single natural person but is authorized by law with duties and
rights and is recognized as a legal person and as having distinct identity. This
includes any incorporated agencies including corporations, government
agencies and NGO’s.
For example, the church being one of the juridical entities are moral agents
because it composed of human beings that is authorized and capable of
making moral judgments. Church can be a source of ethical decisions but it is
decided upon the three sources of authority; first, “magisterium” a teaching
authority formed of the Pope and Bishops of the church. Second, “tradition”
the beliefs, teachings and behavior of a group. And lastly, “scripture” a piece
of writing that has religious significance.
3. If rationality is a minimum requirement for a moral agency, can trained dolphins
(and other animals who show superior intelligence) and Artificial Intelligence
(ALs) become moral agents?
If rationality is a minimum requirement for a moral agency, trained animals
such as dolphins who shows superior intelligence and ALs are not considered
to be moral agent because they are dependent to the person who trained
them and they don’t have autonomy and cannot distinguish what is right and
what is wrong.
4. From your readings, what is human freedom in essence?
From my understanding about the human freedom is that if someone or a
person has the capacity to give herself a particular direction to her own ideal
self you can say that she has the essence of human freedom. But before that,
that someone should accept what personality does she have for her to see
the freedom of her own self.
5. Can you consider yourself a moral agent, why?
I considered myself as a moral agent because I can distinguish what is right
and what is wrong, I understand the standards of being a moral agent, and I
have the capacity to make moral judgements.
II. CULTURE AND MORAL BEHAVIOR
1. How does your culture shape your moral behavior? If you observe yourself, what
kind of moral beliefs and behavior would you consider to have been taught to you
by your culture? Cite at least six examples (3 positives and 3 negatives)
Culture is a collective way of life, or way of doing things. It is the sum of
attitudes, values, goals and practices, knowledge and language shared by the
society. Culture vary over time period, between cultures and among groups.
As I observed myself that there are positive and negative moral beliefs and
behavior that have been taught by my culture, the positive example that our
culture taught me are the following: Faithfulness, politeness, and practicality.
However, there are still negative examples that I observed; Filipino Time
Habit, Crab Mentality and The Mamaya Na Syndrome.
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Filipino Value System? Aside from
those you find in books and online sources, what else can you add?
Aside from those strength and weaknesses of Filipino Value System that we
found in books and online sources, these values can be added to Filipino
Values:
Strengths: Practicality, Competitive, Adaptive, Directness and Future
Orientation
Weaknesses: Managdillaw/Judgemental, Procrastination, Setting High
Standards
3. Can you think of distinct Ilocano Moral Norms? What are these? Can you see
them affecting your moral behavior?
There are some of a distinct Ilocano Moral Norms that contribute a lot to my
behavior such as thriftiness, sense of shame, faithfulness, politeness, and
panagpadigo(sharing).
4. Do you think the four distinct Filipino moral norms mentioned by Vitaliano
Gorospe, SJ, published in 1966, are still applicable today? If yes, does that mean
that we have not progressed at all morally speaking? If no, what are the changes
that you can think of us regards Filipino moral norms?
Yes, the distinct Filipino moral norms mentioned by Vitaliano Gorospe are still
applicable today but it does not mean that we have not progressed at all and
we still attached on these norms but in minimum. For example, being
complacent is somewhat fading in this generation especially to those
millennials.
5. Using the four distinct Filipino moral norms mentioned by Vitaliano Gorospe, SJ,
published in 1966, will you please cite examples (real life scenarios) wherein
Filipinos in the last 5 years (2015-present) have manifested these four moral
norms? Cite as many as you can in the
a. Individual Level
A student who cheats on exams.
Motorcycle riders wearing only their helmets when there are checkpoints for
that day.
b. Organizational Level
Barangay officials stealing money from the SAP funds.
c. Systemic Level
Pork Barrel Scam
Filipino politicians who corrupt people’s taxes and government funds.
III. CULTURE MORAL RELATIVISM
What are the moral values that are acceptable to all cultures (universally)
regardless of differences? Enumerate as many as you think.
Helping your family or those who is in need
Being brave
Honoring our parents
Respect others property
Love one another
1. How can Cultural Relativism promote equality among cultures?
Cultural relativism is ability to understand a culture on its own terms and not
to make judgements using the standards of one’s own culture. The goal is to
promote understanding of cultural practices that are not typically part of one’s
culture. I believed that each culture in our society can promote equality
among cultures as they shared common values and practices that is
observed and practiced.
2. Why is Cultural Relativism a "threat" to morality?
Cultural relativism can be a threat to morality because there is no absolute
standard of good and evil therefore every decisions and judgments of what is
right and wrong is individually decided in each society and each cultures may
or may not practice a certain value.
3. Why can’t all practices be always correct?
All practices cannot be correct because every culture in our society had its
own set of moral practices and values.
4. Should we tolerate morally questionable cultural practices?
We should not tolerate morally questionable cultural practices because
morality measures the standards of what is right and wrong.
5. Have you encountered a morally questionable cultural practice in the places you
visit?
Yes, I have encountered a lot of morally questionable cultural practices such
an abortion, mercy killing, sex before marriage, etc. which I know that this is
morally unacceptable.
6. If there is one thing you consider as morally questionable cultural trait in the
Philippines, what is it? Why?
I believe that corruption is the most unacceptable trait in the Philippines and it
is very rampant, wherein most of the Filipino politicians steal money from the
people taxes and we know that stealing can violate God’s Commandments.
IV. MORAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
1. How is your
a.) Family
b.) Physiological Qualities
c.) Peers
d.) School
e. Community influential to your moral development. Think of at least 5
positive values and 5 negative traits (in each of the five factors) that you developed
because of these factors.
a.) Family
POSITIVE: Happiness, Respect, Kindness, Honesty, Gratitude
NEGATIVE: Defensive, Impatient, Jealous, Anger, Selfish
b.) Physiological Qualities
POSITIVE: Kind, Brave, Caring, Forgiving, Patient
NEGATIVE: Defensive, Lazy, Controlling, Childish, Forgetful
c.) Peers
POSITIVE: Trustworthy, Honesty, Empathy, Open-Mindedness, Happiness
NEGATIVE: Insecure, Jealous, Judgmental, Rejection, Disappointment
d.) School
POSITIVE: Dependent, Fairness, Respect, Self- Control, Empathy
NEGATIVE: Depression, Sadness, Disappointment, Aggression, Arrogance
e. Community
POSITIVE: Helpful, Fairness, Responsible, Friendly, Gratitude
NEGATIVE: Judgmental, Anger, Arrogance, Irresponsible, Gossipy
2. In Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory on what particular stage do you think you
belong at present?
Stage Number 3: Group Loyalty
Republic of the Philippines
University of Northern Philippines
College of Nursing
Tamag, Vigan City
“QUIZZES”
Prepared by:
Labini, Dienizs
BSN-2E
In Partial Fulfilment
Of the requirements in the Course:
ETHICS
Submitted to:
Aaron Noel F. Taloza, LPT
Instructor
2nd Semester, A.Y. 2019 - 2020
June 15, 2020
QUIZ 1: MORAL AGENCY
A. Why is "freedom" an essential pre-condition for moral agency?
Freedom is essential for moral agency. If a person has freedom to choose,
then he should know which one he believes is right from what is not.
Individuals have to be always conscious and free to make their own
decisions. If not, then the ethical value of their decision is tainted. Moral
agents have responsibility to not harm other people based on his decisions.
Individuals has freedom to express himself in order to make a better moral
judgment.
B. Discuss the implausibility of cultural relativism thesis?
Cultural relativism is the idea to understand a culture on its own terms and not
to make judgements using the standards of one’s own culture. It promotes
understanding of cultural practices that are not typically part of one’s own
culture. And, I believe that cultural relativism is not plausible. There is no right
and wrong ethical system. The perspective of relativism lead to the view that
no one is superior than other culture. Therefore, every decision and
judgement of what is right and wrong is individually decided in each society.
No matter how cultural relativism sounded convincing, it still doesn’t create a
healthy human relationship in our society
C. Explain how the parent generation affects moral development? How's morality
at present?
Morality is the standard of the society used to decide the meaning of what is
right or wrong behavior. In present generation, morality has deteriorated. The
moral values and behaviors in the past were slowly diminishing over the years
as youth in this present generation are disregarding the moral ethics. People
especially the adolescents became curious on different things, can’t seem to
resist temptations, and they forget what self-discipline really means. Today,
premarital sex, disrespectful, smoking, alcohol consumption and same sex
marriage are tolerated. We cannot see the goodness of moral development in
the society if we, people cannot take the right ethical path of being a virtuous
person of ourselves and not helping ourselves to have interest in good way of
life. The morality of an individual depends on how he views different
perspectives and depends on how people around him will influence him from
such good or bad behavior.
QUIZ 2: THE HUMAN ACT
A. Without meaning anything, Z happened to stare into the eye of one of four men
hanging out by a store which he passed. Taking offense, the four mauled and
robbed him of his wages. Z went home, took a knife, and stabbed one of his
attackers to death.
Under the guiding principles governing human acts, is he morally accountable
for the death of one of his attackers? Substantiate your answer. You may
pattern your answer on the following sequences:
Categorical answer (Yes or No) -Facts -Principles –Conclusion
Z stabbed one of his attackers to death, he was mauled and robbed his
wages by for men. He was robbed and what came first in his mind is to attack
one of his attackers. This ended Z killing one of his attackers. To him, it was a
self defense and he might think that if he will not fight back, he might be the
one who was killed by his attackers. I believe that Z, is morally accountable
for his action because it is ethically wrong to killed someone. He could have
run and report to the authority what was really happen rather than killing his
attacker. To killed someone is not what humans a good action to resolve his
problems; only God can take away the life of a person.
B. How can reason and moral impartiality help in resolving societal issues such
as racism and sexism?
The unjust and uneven treatment of people towards others are vastly
palpable, no matter how we look at it. Matters concerning racism and sexism
seems to grow everywhere in an alarming alert. Hence, this requires
necessary solutions. That is when reason and impartiality take their entrance.
One needs the right reasons for performing such foul actions or concluding
that doing so is irrational. Impartiality, as well, warrants even distribution of
treatment, thus, arriving to an even terrain of judgments. To be rational
enough in dealing with these issues will provide a firm resolution to almost
every society’s concern. Discrimination due to inappropriate reasons will be
diminished. Inferior outlook towards women, in particular, will end as well.
Thereupon, making these two main pillars tangible towards one’s actions can
uproot the huge dirt clogging our way to justice.
C. What is the importance of moral courage in living an ethical life?
Moral courage is important in living an ethical life, it enables a person to
speak out and act for which is right even in the face of opposing, even
superior forces. To live with strength and integrity makes a person’s moral
courage a whole. Our moral courage doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it is linked to
our core moral values and compose our willingness to stand up for our
virtues, such as respect, honesty and fairness.
Republic of the Philippines
University of Northern Philippines
College of Nursing
Tamag, Vigan City
“FREEDOM
Prepared by:
Labini, Dienizs
BSN-2E
In Partial Fulfilment
Of the requirements in the Course:
ETHICS
Submitted to:
Aaron Noel F. Taloza, LPT
Instructor
2nd Semester, A.Y. 2019 - 2020
June 15, 2020
