COURSE GUIDE FOR ETHICS 1: Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Everyday Life

University of the Philippines Open University

Second Trimester, AY 2019-2020

COURSE CODE AND TITLE

ETHICS 1 Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Everyday Life

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Ethical issues and concerns permeate your everyday lives. By “everyday life” it means
the life of anyone who can recognize him/herself as a person embedded in relations with
other persons, with a social environment, and with nature. Moral conflict and even moral
crises on a global scale, characterize our everyday lives. The development of our moral
capacities is one of the core objectives of the UP General Education program. The
institution of Ethics as a GE course is aimed at keeping this objective. This course will
help develop your understanding through informed and systematic reflection on the moral
experiences that form so much of the substance of everyday life. GE Ethics will locate the
sources of moral experience not only within our culture, society, religion and individual
experiences, including our relation with nature. Thus, this course will approach the study
of ethics from the ground up, from the more concrete to the more abstract, and then back
again to the concrete and urgent concerns of applied ethics in our world. At the end of the
course, we will have an understanding of why and in what sense we are considered as
moral beings situated in a moral world, with an urgent responsibility to ourselves, to others,
and to the world we live in. It is hoped that taking the course will help provide UP students
with the moral compass that every human being needs in order to meet the difficult moral
challenges of our time.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Explain basic ethical concepts, principles, and processes involved in ethical
reasoning;
2. Identify cultural and indigenous knowledge in relation to ethical concepts and
frameworks within various contexts;
3. Demonstrate skills and competencies that underpin critical and reflective thinking,
and ethical reasoning:
● identify the values that one lives by;
● describe the role that these values play in one’s life;
● evaluate the soundness of arguments used in ethical discourse; ●
generate decisions based on reasoned appraisal of moral argument;
4. Demonstrate openness to the views of others in settling moral disagreements.

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 COURSE MATERIALS

Will provide the reading materials within this week.

COURSE OUTLINE

I. NATURE OF ETHICS AND MORAL REASONING

A. MODULE I: Ethics, Mores and Values

1. The Nature of Mores

2. Only human beings are moral
3. Necessary conditions for morality (freedom, obligation)
4. Value Experience (when does a value become a moral value?)

B. MODULE IIA: Nature of Ethics

1. Definitions, Scope, and Relevance of Ethics

a. Ethics and the Problem of How to Live Well
b. Ethics as Rational Inquiry
c. Ethical and Other Types of Evaluation

2. Basic Questions and Problems of Ethics

a. Norms, Good and Right Action, Virtue, and Character
b. Value, Duty and Obligation

C. MODULE IIB: Nature of Moral Reasoning

3. Moral Reasoning
4. Moral Reasons
5. Challenges to the Study of Ethics and Moral Reasoning
a. Moral Subjectivism
b. Moral Relativism
c. Religion and Morality
d. Evolution and Morality

II. INDIGENOUS AND CULTURAL SOURCES OF MORAL VALUATION

AND REASONING

A.1. MODULE III: Indigenous and Cultural Sources of Moral Valuation and
Reasoning Part I

1. Pantayong Pananaw

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 a. Kahulugan at Tunguhin ng Pantayong Pananaw
b. Papel at Kahalagahan ng Wika sa Pagtataguyod ng Pantayong Pananaw

2. Sikolohiyang Pilipino
a. Konsepto ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino
b. “Kapwa” bilang pangunahing konsepto sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino at iba
pang mga halagahin
c. Sikolohiyang Pilipino bilang batis ng moral na halagahin at
pangangatwirang moral

A.2. MODULE IV: Indigenous and Cultural Sources of Moral Valuation and
Reasoning Part 2

3. Pilipinohiya
a. Balangkas ng Pagkataong Pilipino
b. Tambalang-Lapit

4. Pilosopiyang Pilipino
a. Tatlong konsepto ng Pilosopiya ni Armando Bonifacio
b. Konsepto ng Pilosopiyang Pilipino
c. Pilosopiyang Pilipino bilang batis ng moral na halagahin at
pangangatwirang moral

III. NORMATIVE THEORIES

A. MODULE V: Asian Ethical Frameworks and Religious Conceptions

1. Ethics as Quest for Spiritual Liberation

a. Hinduism
b. Buddhism
2. Ethics as a Way of Life
a. Daoism
b. Confucianism
3. Religious Conceptions of Ethics
a. Christian Ethics
b. Islamic Ethics

B. MODULE VI: Theories of Ultimate Good

1. Egoism
2. Altruism
3. Virtue Ethics

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 C. MODULE VII: Deciding What is Right

1. Deontological/Duty Ethics
2. Teleological/ Consequentialist Ethics
3. Rights-Based Ethics
4. Feminist Ethics/Ethics of Care
5. Supererogatory: Actions Beyond the Call of Duty

IV. ETHICAL ISSUES IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS

A. MODULE VIII: Bioethics

B. MODULE IX: Environmental Ethics

C. MODULE X: Other Special Topics

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

You will be evaluated based on your performance on the following course

requirements:

1. Midterm (25%) and Final Examinations (25%) 50 %

2. Assignments (A1 & A2) 30%
3. Participation in online discussion (DB) 20%
___
100%

As a student of this class, you are expected to:

1. actively participate in the online discussion (DB) about a given ethical

issue/problem. In the forum, you are not only expected to post answers to
my question but you must also be able to respond to the reactions of your
classmates as you are also required to react and critically examine the ideas
presented by at least one classmate. Thus, you must post at least 3
messages in the forum:

(a) your response to my question;

(b) your reactions or insights on the presented ideas of at least one
classmate; and
(c) your response to at least one reaction of your classmate to defend or
clarify your point.

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 In case letter c cannot be accomplished because no one reacted on your post,
you can add another reaction/insight on the presented ideas of your other
classmates to replace letter c.

Please take note also that it is alright to change your position or your take on
the issue if after a careful scrutiny of your very own thoughts, you find very
good reasons to abandon your original position and embrace a new stand. In
other words, it is healthy to change your mind provided that you have very good
reasons for doing so. Your reason, in case you decide to change your position,
must be well-explained.

2. thoroughly read all the assigned readings and handouts.

3. produce well-thought of answers to the assignments and turn them in on the

announced submission schedule. (**Take note that all the deadlines set are
non-negotiable).

4. earn a passing mark (60%) in the midterm and final examinations.

Below is the equivalent grade of your raw scores:

EQUIVALENT GRADE
RAW SCORES
98-100 1.0 Excellent
95-97 1.25
90-94 1.5 Very Good
85-89 1.75
80-84 2.0 Good
75-79 2.25
70-74 2.5 Satisfactory
65-69 2.75
60-64 3.0 Pass
55-59 4.0 Conditional
0-54 5.0 Fail

5. Strictly follow the announced submission schedules. All the deadlines set are
non-negotiable.

ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS

Carefully read and follow the general guidelines for your DB Postings (Forum) and
Assignments (A1 and A2). Topics/questions and additional instructions for the DB and
Assignments will be announced later at our course site.

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 GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE DISCUSSION (DB)

1. Read the DB problem/question carefully before posting your answers.

2. Make sure to follow the given instructions.

3. Keep the discussion within the confines of the specified topic.

4. There must only be one thread per DB question per group. This means that all the
members of the group must follow the thread started by their groupmate who first
posted an answer to the given DB question. Take note that I will not read and grade
the answers that are posted outside the original thread.

5. Post at least 3 messages in the forum:

(a) your response to my question;

(b) your reactions or insights on the presented ideas of at least one groupmate;
and

(c) your response to at least one reaction of your groupmate to defend or clarify
your point.

In case letter c cannot be accomplished because no one reacted on your

post, you can add another reaction/insight on the presented ideas of another
classmate to replace letter c.

6. Use the following codes to indicate the contents of your DB postings. Take note that
corresponding deductions will be given to answers without proper codes:

Write RQ to indicate that the following statements/paragraphs contain your

response to my question.

Write R1 - name of groupmate to indicate that the following

statements/paragraphs are your reactions/insights on the presented ideas of
your identified groupmate.

Write R2-name of groupmate to indicate that the following

statements/paragraphs contain your response to the reaction of your
identified groupmate.

7. Take note that there are no right and wrong opinions; there are only more
comprehensible and well-supported opinions. Always endeavor to present clear and
well-substantiated ideas.

Reactions (whether it is an expression of approval or disapproval) must be clearly

explained and must be well-supported. Comments like “that’s a great idea” and “I
agree/disagree” without an accompanying explanation/support will not merit points.

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 8. Your active participation in the forum, the clarity of your presented points, the
strength of your justifications and the depth of your moral reflections, as well as your
observance of proper decorum, will be the main criteria for the determination of your
DB grade. Below is the breakdown of your DB score (50/50):

RQ - 20 points
R1 - 15 points
R2 - 15 points (Note: R2 can be replaced by another R1)
-----------
TOTAL 50 points

9. Keep an open mind and a respectful attitude towards the other members of your
group. Please avoid making personal attacks.

10. Please be reminded also that since interactions will be done online, a reliable internet
access is a must.

11. The indicated schedule for posting will be observed strictly. Take note that answers
or reactions beyond this specified period will not merit points.

DB : Topic/Question: to be announced later on the course site

Period of Posting: TBA

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ANSWERING ASSIGNMENTS (A1 and A2)

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions.

2. The topics/questions for your assignments will be announced later at the course
site.
3. Upload your assignment on the Assignment 1/ Assignment 2 Submission Bin
that will appear at our course site.

4. Your assignment must be an MS Word document with file name

A1_yourfullname.doc for Assignment 1 and

A2_yourfullname.doc for Assignment 2

5. Make sure to write the following information on the first page of your answer to
your assignment:

For Assignment 1:

Complete name of student: Juan dela Cruz Subject: Ethics 1

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 Assignment 1 Topic: Moral Issue X Date submitted: TBA

For Assignment 2:

Complete name of student: Juan dela Cruz Subject: Ethics 1

Assignment 2 Topic: Moral Issue Y Date submitted: TBA

6. The following will be the main criteria for the determination of your Assignment
grade (50/50):

Correctness
Consistency, coherence and clarity of presented ideas
Strength of justifications
Depth of moral reflections/insights

7. Strictly follow the submission schedule. They are non-negotiable.

Schedule of Submission:

A 1 TBA
A 2 TBA

8. To ensure that you will be able to submit the requirements on time, please avoid
last minute submissions. This is in consideration of some unexpected technical
mishaps that might prevent prompt submission of your output. Please be mindful of
the announced deadlines. Only the assignments that are successfully uploaded at
the Assignment Submission Bins will be marked.

EXAMINATIONS

1. Examinations will be taken in a face-to-face (proctored) setting at the UPOU

Learning Center (LC) or Testing Center.

2. Take note that for proctored course exams, students must file an application
for proctored course exams TWO WEEKS after the start of classes. “No
Application, No Proctored Course Examination” policy is strictly implemented.
The examination services staff will inform you of the status of your application,
name of proctor, date, time and venue of your exam before the scheduled
examination.

3. All examination concerns will be taken care of by the Exams Services Office.

4. The course requires 2 examinations that constitute 50% of your final Philosophy
173 grade.

a. MIDTERM EXAM (25%)

DATE: February 22, 2020, Saturday

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 VENUE AND TIME: please check these with Exam Services Office
COVERAGE: TBA TYPE
OF EXAM: TBA

b. FINAL EXAM (25%)

DATE: April 4, 2020, Saturday
VENUE AND TIME: please check these with Exam Services Office
COVERAGE: TBA
TYPE OF EXAM: TBA

HOUSE RULES

1. Carefully read and strictly follow all the given guidelines/instructions.

2. Make sure that the name that you will use at our course site and in the other
course requirements that you will submit is the name you used for registering
at UPOU. This corresponds to your MyPortal account name as provided by
UPOU’s techsupport team.

3. Upload a “recent photo" of yourself (not a picture of your pet, family, friends,
a cartoon character, et cetera) to your profile.

4. You must strictly adhere to the announced submission schedules. Failure to

submit a requirement on the indicated date means a zero (0) for that missed
requirement. This is non-negotiable.

5. To ensure that you will be able to submit the requirements on time, please avoid
last minute submissions. This is in consideration of some unexpected technical
mishaps that might prevent prompt submission of your output.

6. I also highly recommend that you take a screenshot of your successfully

uploaded/posted output and be ready to show this as your proof of
submission in case of technical mishaps. In case presenting acceptable proof
of submission is called for and you are unable to show one, I will take it to mean
that you did not submit your output.

7. In connection with house rule #4, I suggest that you officially drop the course if
it is very obvious that your failure to submit requirements as scheduled will only
result in obtaining a failing mark in the course. A mark of “DRP” is better than
getting a final grade of “5.0.” I suggest the same thing (that you officially drop
the course) if you are officially enrolled in this class but for whatever reason
decide not to participate in any of our class activities.

8. Observe netiquette in our online discussions.

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 9. UP students must at all times pursue academic excellence and uphold
intellectual integrity. I will not tolerate any form of intellectual dishonesty. I will
strictly enforce and uphold the rules of the university regarding this matter.
Remember that you can be expelled from the university if you are found guilty
of cheating, of claiming the work of someone as your own (plagiarism), or of
any other kind of intellectual dishonesty.

10. Regularly check our course site for important announcements.

11. Feel free to contact me via Myportal if you have concerns about the class but
give me 2-3 days to respond to your mail. Do not expect me to be online 24/7.

YOUR FIC

I am Mylah D. Nazario, I have been teaching philosophy courses since 2003. I

have already co-authored several books- Human Horizon: Philosophy of the
Person; Ethics, Exploring Moral Philosophy; Introspection Understanding the Self
and other coffee-table books in photography. I graduated from UP Diliman with MA
in Philosophy.

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