PHOEBE ANNE R.

MALLAPRE SYNTHESIS JUNE 29, 2018

The idea of morality had always been shallow topic for some people. Some has still
insubstantial perspective about it thinking that it’s just about the good and the bad. Though true,
there is still a deeper realm that one could unfold in morality- its grounds and other aspects.
Morality basically talks about the standards of right and wrong behavior- the moral vs the
non-moral (AMORAL). This area includes the concept of ETHICS, ACTS of MAN,
RESPONSIBILTY, and the whatnots. Morality deals with the relation of human activity with the
dictates of reason. Human activity is different from the mere acts of man. Acts of man are acts
without advertence, without the exercise of free choice, or basically involuntary acts. On the
other hand, human acts are performed with advertence or motive. Human acts are performed
with telos (the Greek word for purpose).
Ethics is from the Greek word ETHOS and is the practical science of the morality of
human conduct. Practical science differs from the speculative science which deals more with
theories while practical science focuses more on the act, and so does ethics. It is about the good
things that we should do or pursue and the bad things that we shouldn’t. Morality/Morals is
almost synonymous to ethics, however there is still a difference between the two: morals are
certain manners that people possess to describe people’s actions while ethics is an intellectual
discipline that belongs to Philosophy.
If we’re going to put ethics in the Filipino context, the GAWI andts GAWA subject is sure
to arise. Gawa or action is the act that is being done to achieve a certain end while gawi or
inclination is one’s habit. Between gawa and gawi, the latter is the one that reveals the truth
about oneself. Kagawian or habituation is ethos in Greek and mos or morris in Latin and is the
basis of people’s judgement whether one is good or bad. Ethics is more concerned about the
praxis (gawi) but according to Aristotle it is still important for people who engage in poiein
(gawa) to finish his or her particular work.
Morality and its dimensions has also a great impact in this subject having a total of six
elements. Its first element is Indebtedness to another. This covers the idea of one being aware
that his/her existence owes the other like the way a child is indebted to his or her parents. Next is
moral judgement in view of telos which talks about how man is in search of truth and the
meaning of existence (or basically life’s purpose) and how man wants to find love or mutual
recognition. The third and fourth one are action and dignity. Action tackles human’s very nature
which is to act, to achieve one goal after another. Next is freedom which is the very essence of
morality. Lastly is the obligation that is being required to do or not to do something. Obligation
is basically responsibility of one that has something to do with certain principles and rules. There
are different obligations such as technical, societal, legal, religious, and lastly, moral which is
considered to be an unconditional obligation.
Morality has also its norms and sources. The first is the Natural Law. This is basically the
law that man obeys because of the very human nature. Our original design is to go towards the
good thus giving us the proper reasoning of determining of what is good and ending up having a
set of moral laws that would be common to everyone. The second one is the Conscience. As
persons, we are endowed with conscience thus having worth and dignity by ourselves.
Dignity of Human Person is also covered in morality. This matter has three fundamental
aspects: mind, where by man is in search of the truth and the meaning of life; heart, where the
human seeks mutual recognition; and embodied consciousness where man is conscious of
PHOEBE ANNE R. MALLAPRE SYNTHESIS JUNE 29, 2018

himself but at the same time conscious that he is co-existing with other beings here on earth.
However, some norms are actually evolving. Some norms are still norms but some are nothing
but Tpart of the history. Such things happen because every human is destined for a telos
betokening something infinite, beyond this world.
However, the question of the ultimate ground of morality still lies. Therefore, different
theories came up such as The Socio-Psychological Theory. According to it, morality has been
always and will always be there, as long as it undergoes the process of communal life itself. Next
is the Humanistic Theory and talks about how a human person, himself, is the ground of
morality.
Morality has still lot of things to unfold and exploring it gives one the opportunity to
know how exactly it affects the way we behave, our conscience, the community and the
whatnots.