Chapter 2 Freedom and Morality

Which do you prefer,
doing the right thing

or doing things right?
Why?
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, students expected to:
• Explain why only human being can be ethical;

• Discuss the meaning of moral acts;
• Put into practice Kant’s definition of freedom and morality;
• Analyze the relationship of culture to morality;
• Detect a moral dilemma; and
• Identify the three levels of dilemma.
Introduction
In Kant’s Philosophy, Freedom is defined as a concept
which involved in the moral domain, at the question:
What should I do? And that moral law is knowing oneself
as a free person.
Kant’s Morality and Freedom
- In order to be free we must act

autonomously:
- To act autonomously is to act

according to the law I give myself
- For Kant, acting freely

(autonomously) and acting morally
are one and the same thing.
Kant’s notion on Moral Law
Duty vs. Inclination (Morality)- only the motives of duty,
acting according to the law “I give my self” confers
moral worth to an action. Any other motive, while
possibly commendable, cannot give an action moral
worth.
2. Categorical vs. Hypothetical Imperatives- (Reason)
Kant acknowledges two ways in which reason can
command the will, two imperatives. Hypothetical
Imperative uses instrumental reasons: if I want X, I must
do Y. (if I want to stay out of jail, I must be a good citizen
and not rob banks). Hypothetical Imperative is always
conditional.
3. Autonomy vs. heteronomy- (Freedom)
I am only free when my will is determined autonomously,

governed by the law I give my self.
If the action would be good solely as a means to do something else, the
imperative is hypothetical. If the action is represented as good in itself,
and therefore necessary for a will which itself accords with reason, the
imperative is categorical.
Categorical Imperative is non-conditional. “it is concerned not with the

matter of action and its presumed results, but with its form, and with
the principle from which it follows. And what is essentially good in the
action consists in the mental disposition, let the consequences be what
they may.
Kant’s Three Maxims
Consistency – “act only according to that maxim by which you
can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”
Respect for human dignity- “act so that you treat humanity,

whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an
end and never as means only”
Universal acceptability- “ act only so that the will through its

maxims could regard itself at the same time as universally
lawgiving.
Freedom: The foundation of Moral Act
Freedom is the power rooted in reason and will, to
act or not to act, to do this or that and so to
perform deliberate actions on one’s own
responsibility. Every action you choose further
determines our character.
Freedom and Free Will
Our freedom has limits.
External Freedom- is freedom from factors outside ourselves

that limit or destroy our free will.
Internal Freedom- is a freedom from interior factors that

limit our free will.
Requirement of True Freedom
True freedom is dependent upon the truth, “ You will

know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John
8:32).
True Freedom is oriented toward the good.
True freedom requires responsibility.

Human Act vs. Acts of Humans
Human acts make use of knowledge and free will. Acts of
human do not make use of intellect or will knowledge.
True freedom liberates us to develop our God-given talents in

a responsible way so we can live our lives for others and for
God.
True Freedom serves what is good, just and true.

Lesson 2.
Culture and
Morality
Introduction
Anthropologist view vs. Philosopher’s view on culture and morality
Philosopher insist about the rational foundation of ethics.
Anthropologist talks about the interaction between moral ideas and

social institutions.
Anthropologist are confident that they are speaking about the role of
culture in human life and societies.
Philosophers are sure that they are discussing moral issues.
What is culture?
Culture is derived from the Latin word “cultura” or “cultus” which
means care or cultivation.
Culture as cultivation implies that every human being is a

potential member of his own social group. He is endowed with
certain innate qualities to make use.
Anthropologist Edward Tylor one of the classic definition of
culture. He said, “culture is a complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, law, art, moral, customs, and other capabilities
and habits acquired as a member of society.
His theory defines culture in descriptive terms as the “complex

whole” that makes up social ideas and institutions.
On the other hand, Sociologist define culture as the entire way of

life followed by people, and everything learned and shared by
people in society.
How Culture influence the moral development of the
people?
- Culture is always social and communal by which the relationship of the people
toward one another and their experience as a people are the culture’s
meadow. It is in this relationship and communal experience that culture
influences the moral development of its members.
- The culture defines the normative principle and behaviors of the society. It
defines which particular principle and behavior that should be kept that would
serve the best interest of the community.
- A Culture, as a best exemplified in the experience of the
people, develops restrictions and sets boundaries and
limitations as they live and relate with one another.
- As culture helps in generating the character and identify of it’s

people, it also include their moral character. Culture conditions
the mind – the way people think and the way they perceive the
world and their relationship with one another.
- The culture identifies the authorities or the governing

individuals or groups. They are the symbol of guidance and
control.
Lesson 3
Dynamics of
Culture
Introduction
We recognize that the many cultures of the world

have their own beliefs, values, and practices that
have developed in particular historical, political,
social, material, and ecological contexts and that it
makes sense that they would differ from our own
and that none are necessarily right or wrong or
good or bad, then we are engaging the concept of
cultural relativism.
Cultural Relativism
- Cultural relativism is the ability to understand a culture on its own term and
not to make judgements using the standards of one’s own culture.
- The perspective of cultural relativism leads to the view that no one culture
is superior than another culture when compared to systems of morality, law,
politics, etc.
- This is also based on the idea that there is no absolute standard of good or
evil, therefore every decision and judgement of what is right and wrong is
individually decided in each society.
-Cultural relativism is considered to be more constructive and
positive conception as compared to ethnocentrism.
- Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining and

interpreting other people’s culture.
- Cultural relativism is widely accepted in modern anthropology.
- Cultural relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which

views truth as variable and not absolute.
- Cultural relativism sees nothing inherently wrong (and nothing

inherently good) with any cultural expression.
Advantages of Cultural Relativism
1. It is system which promotes cooperation- Every individual has a different perspective that
is based on their upbringing, experiences, and personal thoughts. By embracing the many
differences, we have, the cooperation creates the potential for a stronger society.
2. It creates a society where equality is possible- Cultural relativism allows the individual to
define their moral code without defining the moral code of others.
3. People can pursue a genuine interest- In cultural relativism, you get to pursue your own
interests without restriction.
4. Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism- Each person is naturally given

the right to pursue life through his/her own specific perspective and then learn from his/her
experiences in a way that works best for him/her.
5. It preservers human cultures
6. Cultural relativism creates a society without judgement
7. Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativism .
8. We can create personal moral codes based on societal

standards with ease.
9. It stops cultural conditioning.

Disadvantages of Cultural relativism
1. It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias
2. It would create chaos.
3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity.
4. It could promote a lack of diversity.
5. It draws people away from one another.
6. It could limit moral progress.

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Which do you prefer,

doing the right thing

• Explain why only human being can be ethical;

- In order to be free we must act

- To act autonomously is to act

- For Kant, acting freely

I am only free when my will is determined autonomously,

Categorical Imperative is non-conditional. “it is concerned not with the

Respect for human dignity- “act so that you treat humanity,

Universal acceptability- “ act only so that the will through its

External Freedom- is freedom from factors outside ourselves

Internal Freedom- is a freedom from interior factors that

True freedom is dependent upon the truth, “ You will

True Freedom is oriented toward the good.

True freedom requires responsibility.

True freedom liberates us to develop our God-given talents in

True Freedom serves what is good, just and true.

Philosopher insist about the rational foundation of ethics.

Anthropologist talks about the interaction between moral ideas and

Culture as cultivation implies that every human being is a

His theory defines culture in descriptive terms as the “complex

On the other hand, Sociologist define culture as the entire way of

- As culture helps in generating the character and identify of it’s

- The culture identifies the authorities or the governing

We recognize that the many cultures of the world

- Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining and

- Cultural relativism is widely accepted in modern anthropology.

- Cultural relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which

- Cultural relativism sees nothing inherently wrong (and nothing

4. Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism- Each person is naturally given

6. Cultural relativism creates a society without judgement

7. Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativism .

8. We can create personal moral codes based on societal

9. It stops cultural conditioning.

2. It would create chaos.

3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity.

4. It could promote a lack of diversity.

5. It draws people away from one another.

6. It could limit moral progress.

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