PHILO 101: ETHICS
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Francisco La Torre Jr., Annalisa Jamilano, Angela Khaye Llanares
MODULE 3
THE MORAL AGENT
Brief Introduction or Description
This module introduces the moral agent of a person, specifically developing virtue as habit.
Further, it discusses Kohlberg’s stages of moral development.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. Recall defining moments in your moral formation.
2. Explain the relationship between individual acts and character.
3. Identify and articulate each stage of moral development.
Pre-Activity
Read the moral dilemma below.
Ryan, 17 has been saving up money to buy a ticket for this concert of rock band. His parents have
discouraged him from going as the concert will surely be with a rowdy crowd. The band is notorious for having
out-of-control audience who somehow manages to get drunk and stoned during the concert. Ryan agreed not
to watch anymore. But a day before the concert, Nic, 15-year-old brother of Ryan, saw a corner of what
appeared to be a concert ticket showing in the pocket of Ryan’s bag. Nic examined it and confirmed it was
indeed a ticket. Looking at Ryan’s bag , Nic also found an extra shirt and 2 sticks of marijuana. So he figured
Ryan will go to the concert after all. That night, Ryan told his parents that he was spending tomorrow night at
a classmate’s house for a school requirement. Then later that evening, he told Nic of his plan to go to the
concert. Nic didn’t say anything, but he found it difficult to sleep that night, thinking whether to tell their
parents or not.
Answer the following questions.
1. If you were Nic, what would you do?
2. Why would you choose to do that? What were the things you considered in deciding what to do?
Lesson 1
DEVELOPING VIRTUE AS HABIT
MORAL CHARACTER
- refers to the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty.
To say that a certain person has a good moral character means that he or she is a good person
and a good citizen with a sound moral compass.
COMMON NOTIONS FOR THE TERM “CHARACTER”
“charaktêr” = a mark impressed on a coin.
= symbol or imprint on the soul.
- a distinct mark by which one thing is distinguished from others.
- the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one person from another.
- “personality”
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PHILO 101: ETHICS
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Francisco La Torre Jr., Annalisa Jamilano, Angela Khaye Llanares
2 DISTINCT OF HUMAN EXCELLENCES
1. Excellence of Thought
2. Excellence of Character
- êthikai aretai
- moral virtue and moral excellence
- “êthikos” (ethical) is the adjective cognate with “êthos” (character)
- virtue (the excellence of moral character)- blend of qualities that make a person the sort
of admirable being that he is.
Moral Character
- In philosophical sense, refers to having or lacking moral virtue.
- Someone who lacks virtue may have any of the moral vices or maybe in a condition somewhere
in between virtue and vice, such as continence or incontinence.
- Moral character traits involve a normative judgment, which means that the moral agent himself
or herself is responsible for having the moral character trait itself or for the outcome of that trait.
THE CIRCULAR RELATION OF ACTS AND CHARACTER
There is a circular relationship between acts that build character and the moral character itself.
A person’s actions determine his or her moral character, but moral character itself generates acts that
help in developing either vice or virtue.
Moral development is understood in the sense of human flourishing. This flourishing is
attained by the habitual practice of moral and intellectual excellences, or ‘virtues’.
Acting in line with Virtues = Acting in accordance with Reason
Virtuous Traits of Character
- ought to be stable and enduring and are not mere products of fortune, but of learning, constant
practice, and cultivation.
- are called excellences of the human being because they are the best exercise of reason,
which is the activity characteristic of human beings
MORAL CHARACTERS AS DISPOSITIONS
The moral character traits that constitute a person’s moral character are characteristically
understood as behavioral and affective dispositions.
DISPOSITIONS
- are particular kinds of properties or characteristics that objects can possess.
- Moral character traits are considered as dispositions of character for which it is suitable to hold
agents morally responsible.
VIRTUE VS. VICE
VIRTUE VICE
• A moral character trait for which a person is • A moral character trait for which the agent is
deserving of positive reactive attitude, such deserving of negative reactive attitude, such
as praise or gratitude. as resentment or blame.
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PHILO 101: ETHICS
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Francisco La Torre Jr., Annalisa Jamilano, Angela Khaye Llanares
A good moral character is practically a disposition to do virtuous acts. On the other hand, a
bad moral character is a disposition to do vicious deeds. The kind of character that we have is
determined by our deeds.
Lesson 2
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
- He was a 20th-century psychologist and moral philosopher who once held the position as the
director of Harvard’s Center for Moral Education.
- He employed Piaget’s storytelling technique, which included a task where the respondents
have to solve moral dilemmas, to study how one develops a sense of what is right and wrong.
HEINZ DILEMMA: HEINZ STEALS THE DRUG
1. Should Heinz have stolen the drug?
2. Would it change if Heinz did not love his wife?
3. What if the person dying was a stranger, would it make a difference?
4. Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the woman died?
KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Stage 1: Avoiding Punishment
- People make decisions based on what is best for themselves, without regard for others’
needs or feelings.
- They obey rules only if established by more powerful individuals and may disobey if they
are not caught.
- “Might makes right.”
Stage 2: Exchange of Favors
- People recognize that others also have needs.
- They may try to satisfy others’ needs is their own needs are also met.
- “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
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PHILO 101: ETHICS
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Francisco La Torre Jr., Annalisa Jamilano, Angela Khaye Llanares
Stage 3: Good Boy and Good Girl Attitude
- People make decisions based on what actions will please others, especially authority
figures and other individuals with high status.
- They are concerned with about maintaining relationships through sharing, trust, and
loyalty.
- “I want to be nice.”
Stage 4: Law and Order
- People look to society as a whole for guidelines about what is right or wrong.
- They recognize that rules are needed to keep the society running smoothly and believe
that it is their duty to obey them.
- “I’ll do my duty.”
Stage 5: Law and Order
- People recognize that rules represent agreements among many individuals about
appropriate behavior.
- People recognize the flexibility of rules, which means that rules that no longer serve the
society’s best interest can and should be changed.
- “I’ll live by the rules or try to change them.”
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle
- People in this stage adhere to abstract universal principles that transcend specific norms
and rules.
- They answer to a strong inner conscience and willingly disobey laws that violate their own
ethical principles.
- “I’ll live according to my conscience.”
Activity- After Reading Questions/ Discussion Questions:
1. What are the contributory elements to your moral character?
2. How is moral character developed? Discuss the circularity of relationship of individual acts and moral
character.
3. How does moral development play an important role in our daily interactions?
4. Differentiate virtue from vices.
5. What are the six stages of moral development? Briefly explain each stage.
Learning Tasks:
1. Quiz
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PHILO 101: ETHICS
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Francisco La Torre Jr., Annalisa Jamilano, Angela Khaye Llanares
2. Reflection Paper:
Analyze the moral dilemma below entitled “Heinz Steals the Drug.”
“In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the
doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had
recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times
what the drug cost him to make. He paid 200 dollars for the radium and charged 2000 dollars
for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to
borrow the money, but he could only get together about 1000 dollars which is half of what it cost.
He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later.
But the druggist said: “No, I discovered the drug and I’m going to make money from it.” So Heinz
got desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife.” (Kohlberg, as quoted
in “Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development,” n.d.)
Then, answer the question: Should Heinz have stolen the drug? Why or why not?
Institutional Rubrics for Essay:
Very
Excellent Satisfactory Fair Poor
Indicators Satisfactory
(20) (14) (11) (8)
(17)
Answers are Answers are Answers are Answers are Answers are
Score comprehensive, accurate and not partial or incomplete.
________ accurate and complete. Key comprehensive incomplete.
complete. Key points are stated or completely Key points are Spelling,
ideas are clearly and supported. stated. Key not clear. punctuation,
stated, points are Questions are and
explained, and Very few addressed, but not adequately grammatical
well supported. spelling and not well answered errors create
punctuation supported. distraction,
Free from errors, minor Most spelling, making
spelling, grammatical Most spelling, punctuation, reading
punctuation or errors punctuation, and grammar difficult
grammatical and grammar are correct
errors are correct allowing
allowing reader to
reader to progress
progress though
though essay. Some
essay. Few errors remain.
errors remain.
References:
Carino, J. (2023). Fundamentals of Ethics. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.
Corpuz, R. (2020). Ethics. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
De Guzman, J. (2018). Ethics: Principles of Ethical Behavior in Modern Society. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing
House,Inc.
Gutierrez, J. (2020). Ethics 101: An Exploration on the Concept of Right and Wrong. Intramuros, Manila:
Mindshapers Co.
Pasco, M. (2023). Ethics. Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.
Palean, E. (2019). Ethics Exploring Moral Philosophy. Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
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