ETHICS Psychologist, educator, and former Chairperson

of the Commission on Higher Education Dr.

Cultural Relativism
Patricia B. Licuanan wrote that the strengths
The Advantages and Dangers of Cultural and weaknesses of the Filipino character are
Relativism rooted in factors such as:

1. It warns us from assuming that our Home environment, Filipino children taught to
preferences are the absolute rational standard. value family and give it primary importance.
The Filipino social environment is characterized
2. It teaches us to keep an open mind and to be by depending on one another to survive.
more amenable in discovering the truth.
Culture and Language, depict openness to
Dangers of cultural relativism: foreign elements with no basic consciousness of
1. We cannot call out societal practices that our cultural core. The Filipino Colonial mentality
promote harm. such as the importance of the English language
in our educational system, the wider following
2. We cannot justifiably criticize our own of Hollywood movies, foreign soap operas/TV
culture’s harmful practices. shows, and foreign songs and music is a
3. The idea of social progress becomes doubtful. manifestation of our attachment to foreign
elements.

History, is regarded as the culprit behind our

Universal Values colonial mentality.
The dangers that cultural relativism present led Educational system, is also instrumental in
thinkers such as ethics expert Dr. James Rachels molding the strengths and weaknesses of the
to reject cultural relativism because it is Filipino character.
implausible.
Religion, taught us optimism and resilience.
3 UNIVERSAL VALUES SHARED BY ALL However, it also instilled in us a fatalistic
CULTURES: attitude. Since religious communities are also
highly authoritarian, this further reinforced our
1. Caring for the young
being passive and a conformist.
2. Murder is wrong
Several Filipino traits are rooted in our
3. Tell the truth economic environment. The hard life drove
Filipinos to work hard and take risks, such as
Theoretical point – there are some moral rules
leaving our families to work abroad.
that all societies will have in common, because
those rules are necessary for society to survive. Unfortunately, our political environment and
government structures and systems are fraught
The Filipino Way
with problems.
The Filipino culture is a mix of both
Filipinos highly respect authority, we lean on
Eastern and Western cultures. The beliefs and
our leaders and role models.
traditions of pre-colonial Philippines was mainly
indigenous Malay heritage (Baringer, 2006)
STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER no sooner was it started that the enthusiasm
and interest just as soon died down.
1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao is demonstrated in the
Filipino’s openness, helpfulness, and generosity; 4. Passivity and lacking initiative. There is
in practice of bayanihan or mutual assistance; strong reliance on leaders and government to
and the famous Filipino hospitality. solve the nation’s problems but ordinarily
Filipinos also do not feel the need to initiate or
2. Family orientation. Filipinos also possess a
contribute to the solution.
genuine love for family.
5. Colonial mentality. Connected to our general
3. Joy and Humor. Filipinos are also cheerful
feelings of inferiority, where we think foreigners
and fun loving.
– especially Westerners, are superior.
4. Flexibility, Adaptability, and Creativity.
6. Kanya kanya syndrome. The expression crab
5. Hard work and Industry. This trait is most mentality, where we tend to pull others down
noticeable in our willingness to take risks and to climb up, exemplify the kanya kanya
work in the countries. syndrome.

6. Faith and religiosity. This can be related to 7. Lack of Self Analysis and Self Reflection. We
our bahala na mindset. There is actually a easily forget the mistakes that we made; hence
positive side to this fatalistic trait. For Filipinos we make the same mistakes again.
the bahala na attitude could serve as a
“kickstarter”or a “pampalakas loob” to move
him or her into action. How is Moral Character Developed?

7. Ability to survive. Matutong mamaluktot Moral – is concerned with the principles of right
habang maikli ang kumot. We can endure, make and wrong behavior or the goodness and
do, and get by on so little while looking forward badness of the human character.
to the coming of better days.
Character Is defined as the mental and moral
WEAKNESS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER qualities distinct to an individual. But in
Philosophy, the term character usually denotes
1. Extreme Personalism. We find it difficult to
to the moral dimension of a person.
separate objective tasks and emotional
involvement. This is where the palakasan Moral Character – refers to the existence (or
system spring from. Filipinos want to get special lack of) virtues such as integrity, courage,
treatment and will always look for inside fortitude, honest, and loyalty.
connections in most of his or her transactions.
MORAL CHARACTER AS DISPOSITION
2. Extreme family centeredness. Is manifested
Moral Characters – are those dispositions or
in our political system where political dynasties
the tendency to act or think in a particular way
lord over our elected government posts starting
for which a person can be held morally
from the barangay level all the way up to the
responsible. Thus, moral character traits are
national positions.
rational, informed, stable and reliable
3. Lack of Discipline. Characterized by our dispositions.
idiomatic expression ningas cogon. Projects
start out with full enthusiasm and interest, but
PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS ON MORAL the one that is in the middle of two extreme
CHARACTER behaviors (deficient)

Confucian traditions Temperance is the golden mean between

gluttony and starvation.
The philosophy of moral development is
rooted in ancient views. For Confucian The virtuous man is the kind of man who is able
traditions moral development was attributed to to satisfy both inclinations and rational desires
“four beginnings” were considered as seeds of because his or her inclinations and desires are
human personality that will naturally unfold to aligned. He wants to do what is good and does
become human activities. it because he/she derives pleasure from
choosing and doing what is moral.
Personality in Confucian perception
meant – an achieved state of moral excellence. Stages of Moral Development

4 beginnings in Confucian Traditions Lawrence Kohlberg was a 20th century

developmental psychologist and moral
Jen, means goodwill, sympathy towards others,
philosopher.
and generosity.
He studied morality using a very interesting
Yi, means righteousness and the respect of
technique. In his research, Kohlberg would ask
duty, that is, respect your position as guardian
children and adults to try solve moral dilemmas
towards nature and humanity.
in short stories and asked the participants to
Li, deals with outward behavior such as think out loud so he could follow their
etiquette, customs, and rituals. reasoning.

Zhi, means wisdom, and this wisdom is a Level 1: Pre-conventional morality

product of practicing Jen, Yi, and Li.
Judgment at this level is solely focused on the
Aristotle and Virtue Ethics self. This line of moral reasoning is common
among children although some adults would
Virtue ethics – is an approach that reduces the also exhibit such behavior. The child, having no
emphasis on rules, consequence, and particular concept about society’s conventions on what is
acts. right or wrong, would base its judgment on the
Instead, virtue ethics focus on the quality of the external consequences of its action.
person. Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience
Aristotle believed that humans have an essence. Orientation (pre-moral)
He called this essence proper functioning Decisions and actions are determined
where everything has a function and the thing by immediate physical consequence and not the
that performs as intended is called good when true moral value.
it is able to fulfil this function.
Stage 2: Reward orientation
A person of virtue is someone who performs
the distinctive activity of being human well. The As children grow older, they begin to
principle of being virtuous is called the Doctrine see that there is actually room for negotiation
of the Golden Mean – that moral behavior is because other people have their own goals to
meet and wants that must be satisfied too.
Level 2: Conventional Morality

Is to reason in a conventional manner. It is

accepting rules and standards of one’s group.
This means decisions and the morality of
his/her actions are based on society’s views and
expectations.

Stage 3: Good boy/girl Orientation

The child tries to seek approval from

other people by living up to their expectations.

Stage 4: Authority Orientation

Individuals have reached adulthood and

they usually consider society as a whole when
making judgments.

Level 3: Post conventional (principled level)

It is marked by a growing realization that people

are unique and are an independent part of the
society. Therefore, the individual’s own
perspective is more significant over what the
rest of the society thinks and that this would
sometimes lead to disobeying the law to follow
personal principles.

Stage 5: Social contract orientation

The individual is aware that much of

what is considered to be moral or good is
mainly based on personal beliefs as well as on
the social group they belong to and that only a
very few of the known fundamental values are
actually universal.

Stage 6: Ethical – principle orientation

Social contract takes a clear back seat

and the person makes a personal commitment
to uphold universal principles of equal rights
and respect.