Ethics: Foundations of Moral Values
MAISIE MIA JANE R. POSTIGO
BSA 1-B
Exercise 1 : What I Know About Ethics.
Directions : Fill out the shapes below with words that come into your mind
when you see the word “Ethics.”
Good Bad
Theories Ethics
Habit
Morals Standards
Exercise 2 : Multiple Choice Test
Directions : Answer the following questions and encircle the letter of the
correct answer.
1. What word is derived from the Greek word aisthesis which means ‘sense’ or ‘feeling’
and refers to the judgements of personal approval or disapproval that we make about
what we see, hear, smell, or taste?
a. thesis c. aesthetics
b. anesthesis d. antithesis
2. It is a term used to refer to specific beliefs or attitudes that people have or to describe acts
that people perform.
a. morals c. ethics
b. values d. behaviours
3. This is the term used to refer to the discipline of studying and understanding ideal human
behaviours and ideal ways of thinking.
a. ethics c. behaviours
b. morals d. values
4. A study of ethics which reports how people, particularly groups, make their moral
valuations without making any judgement either for or against these valuations. This kind
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of study is often the work of social scientists, either a historian or a sociologist or
anthropologist.
a. normative study of ethics
b. philosophical discussion of ethics
c. descriptive study of ethics
d. foundations of ethics
5. The study of ethics, as is often done in philosophy or moral theology, which engages the
question: What could or should be considered as the right way of acting? In other words,
it prescribes what we ought to maintain as our standards or bases for moral valuation.
a. foundations of ethics
b. descriptive study of ethics
c. philosophical discussion of ethics
d. normative study of ethics
6. When one is placed in a situation and confronted by the choice of what act to perform,
that person is called to make a _____________________.
a. moral issue c. moral decision
b. moral judgement d. moral dilemma
7. When one is torn between choosing one of the two goods or choosing between the lesser
of two evils, that person is said to have a ____________.
a. moral issue c. moral judgement
b. moral dilemma d. moral decision
8. When one cannot afford a certain item, but then the possibility presents itself for that
person to steal that item, that person is said to have a _____________.
a. moral issue c. moral dilemma
b. moral decision d. moral judgement
9. When a person is an observer who makes an assessment on the actions or behaviours of
someone, that person is making a ____________.
a. moral issue c. moral judgement
b. moral dilemma d. moral decision
10. Which of the following is NOT a source of authority?
a. law c. religion
b. culture d. social media
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Hi, thank you for answering the pre-test. The answer key
is found at the end of this unit. Meanwhile, read the next
section as it contains information relevant to our topic!
Stay safe. Stay home. We Heal As One.
Learning Activities
Activity 1 : Post it!
Directions : Answer the tasks given below. Write your answers on the post-it
notes.
1. Comment on this statement: “What I believe must be true if I feel very strongly about it.”
Honestly, I don’t agree with this statement. For
me, not everything that we strongly believe is
true. There are things that we may think are true
but it aren’t. Maybe it’s just that sometimes we
are confidently judging a thing base only in our
own preference. In other words, we are blinded
with our own thoughts in concluding something
without even considering the factors that can
justify if our belief is really true or not. And
this case is something that we must avoid at.
2. Imagine that you are a legislator. What rules or laws that currently prohibit certain acts or
practices would you want to amend or repeal?
This would be the new implemented rule because of our
situation, a rule prohibiting a person aging 21years old below
is not allowed to go outside. For me, this isn’t fair. What if
in a household there were just 3 people living given the 2 are
senior citizens and the other one is 19 years old. How can they
buy their needs outside? Another thing, is there a big
difference between a 21 years and 18-20 years old person? I
want to amend this rule since this is not favorable for
everybody. We should be considerate enough. As long as they are
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Activity 2 : List it!
Directions : Read the instructions below carefully and write your answers on
the space provided.
Identify a list of (a) obligations we are expected to fulfil, (b) prohibitions we are required to
respect, and (c) ideals we are encouraged to meet.
A. Obligations I am expected to fulfil
1. To be a good daughter, responsible sister, and a well-disciplined resident of the
community.
2. Finish my studies and find a stable job.
3. To accept and respect everyone.
4. To keep myself physically and mentally fit.
5. The need to sustain my life.
B. Prohibitions I am required to respect
1. My parents’ rules, one of it is I am not allowed to go out later than 6 in the evening.
2. The laws implemented by the community such as at today’s situation, we are not
allowed to go outside without wearing a face mask.
3. To not criticize someone’s belief or culture.
4. The commandments given by our Almighty like we are not allowed to steal.
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5. School laws like we are prohibited to cut our classes and wear an inappropriate attire
inside the campus.
C. Ideals I am encouraged to meet
1. To keep being an optimistic thinker whatever it takes.
2. To live without any regrets.
3. To be a person who’s being loved and respected by people because of kindness.
4. To live a life filled with contentment and happiness.
5. To be morally developed.
Assessment
Directions : Read each item carefully and write your answer on the space
provided.
1. Give one example, i.e. a scenario, for each kind of valuation.
Aesthetics
An example for this is, I can say that having a color white and pink combination is
“good” for any party decorations.
Etiquette
For example in school, I saw my classmate using her cellular phone while we are
currently having an examination. What she did is really not good but this will just
become unethical if she is using it while browsing for some answers or giving answers to
someone, in short if she’s doing it for cheating.
Technique
For instance, this could be when writing an excellent essay. I learned that the right thing
to do to have an excellent essay is you should consider having a catchy introduction,
well-organized body, and a strong conclusion. Though it talks about the right thing to
come up with an excellent essay, this is something that ethics is not concerned about.
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2. What are some of the distinctions between ‘ethics’ and ‘morals’? Use the Venn diagram
below to show your answer. In the middle, give one reason why these terms are used
interchangeably.
ethics morals
* discipline of studying * specific beliefs or attitudes
and understanding ideal man there is that people have or to describe acts that
behaviour and ideal ways of thinking still no people perform
consensus
* this are rules established by an as to how * these are an individual’s own
external source to make principles regarding right and wrong
the said
distinctions
* this are usually uniformed or * these vary according to different
universal cultures and religion
3. Think of a common Filipino value and discuss its strengths and weaknesses below.
Filipino Value:
Utang na Loob (Debt of Gratitude)
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
This enables us to appreciate someone’s effort Sometimes this can be misused by someone,
of helping us. like they may felt like they are obligated to
return the help to someone because of this value
This shows our thankfulness or looking back to This also can be use by someone who extended
people and situations that have touched our lives some help to force the one he/she helped to pay
positively. her/him back
Having this value will lead us on helping If this value will be exaggerated, this will
someone in return without any hesitations. prohibits some to develop self-confidence
needed to get out on an unwanted situation.
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