Module 3 Ethics
Module 3 Ethics
Module 3 Ethics
Distance Education
Instructional Module
LCCB Vision-Mission
We are a Christ-centered, Augustinian and Marian educational community dedicated
to create a more sustainable world.
LCCB is committed to provide the community with
accessible, relevant and advanced curricular programs that promote life-long
learning towards fulfilling careers;
empowering and enriching avenues to conduct responsive research to push
the frontiers of new knowledge; and
meaningful experiences of the universal compassion of Christ through
services and programs with the last, the least, and the lost.
- St. Augustine
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Course Information
Course Title : Ethics
Course Code : Ethics
Credit : 3 units
Course Instructor : Mr. Erwin C. Cangas, LPT
Contact Details : erwincangas08@gmail.com | 0999-577-1802
Consultation Schedule : Monday thru Friday, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Helplines : Guidance (4349661 local __); DSA (4349661 local __)
Introduction
Ethics deals with principles of ethical behaviour in modern society at the level of the person,
society and in interaction with environmental and other shared resources.
Morality pertains to the standards of the right and wrong that an individual originally picks up
from the community. The course discusses the context and principles of ethical behaviour in modern
society at the level of individual, society, and in interaction with the environment and other shared
resources. The course also teaches students to make moral decisions by using dominant moral
frameworks and by applying a seven-step moral reasoning model to analyse and solve moral
dilemmas.
The course is organized according to the three main elements of the moral experience: (a)
agent, including context – cultural, communal, and environmental; (b) the act, and (c) reason or
framework (for the act).
You will complete this course for one semester. This course is composed of four
modules, namely:
Module 1 – Introduction to Ethics: Foundation of Moral Valuation
Module 2 – Culture, Cultural Relativism and Filipino Values
Module 3 – Human Acts, Acts of Man and Modifiers of Morality
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Examination (30%)
Midterm** (15%)
Finals** (15%)
Attendance Policy
Considering the modality of instruction of this course (Correspondence), actual
attendance of students may not be required as in the traditional residential or classroom
setting. However, you should make sure that are present during the monitoring or follow-up
of your progress by your teacher, the Guidance Office or the Student Affairs Office. Your
attendance in any of these follow-up calls corresponds to your attendance in class.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty in any form (bribery, plagiarism, cheating and fabrication of
documents will result in a failure on the academic task in question.
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Module 3
Human Acts, Acts of Man and Modifiers of Human Acts
Lesson 1
Principles governing Human Acts and Acts of Man
MY JOURNEY
In this lesson, you will be able to distinguish between acts of man and human acts.
You will understand the basic principles governing human actions. Also, you will be able to
know the different kind of human acts.
MY TARGETS
MY WARM-UP
“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what
you demand with your actions (Dr. Steve Maraboli).” Every day we act. Nothing happens
until something moves. However, sometimes we failed to identify whether our actions are
subject to morality or not. This failure leads to a failed judgment.
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Task 1
Below are actions categorized as human acts and acts of man. Decide whether they are Acts
of Man or Human Acts. Write HA for Human Acts and AM for Acts of Man on the space
provided.
MY READING TEXT
Human Acts are those actions which man performs knowingly, freely, and voluntarily.
These actions are the result of conscious knowledge and are subject to the control of the
will. We refer to these actions as deliberate, intentional, or voluntary. Acts of man on the
other hand are those actions which happen in man. They are instinctive and are not within
the control of the will.
For an act to be considered a human act, it must possess the following characteristics: 1.)
It must be performed by a conscious agent who is aware of what he is doing and of its
consequences. 2.) It must be performed by an agent who is acting freely, that is, by his own
volition and power. 3.) It must be performed by an agent who decides wilfully to perform
the act. Human acts must, therefore, be knowing, free, and willful.
There are two kind of human acts namely: Elicited acts and Commanded acts. Elicited
acts are those performed by the will and are not bodily externalized. Paul Glenn enumerates
the following elicited acts: 1.) Wish which is the tendency of the will towards something,
whether this be realizable or not. 2.) Intention which is the tendency of the will towards
something attainable but without necessarily committing oneself to attain it. 3.) Consent
which is the acceptance of the will of those needed to carry out the intention. 4.) Election
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which is the selection of the will of those means effective enough to carry out the intention.
5.) Use which is the command of the will to make use of those means elected to carry out
the intention. 6.) Fruition which is the enjoyment of the will derived from the attainment of
the thing he had desired earlier.
Commanded acts are those done either by man’s mental or bodily powers under the
command of the will. They are either internal or external actions. Examples of internal
actions are conscious reasoning, recalling something, encouraging oneself, controlling
aroused emotions and others. Examples of external actions are walking, eating, dancing,
laughing, listening, reading and others. Some actions are combinations of internal and
external movements such as, listening, studying, and reading, driving a car, writing a letter or
playing chess.
Task 2
Make example of an action that belongs to Human Acts and Acts of Man. Examples
given in task 1 are not included.
1. Human Acts
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2. Acts of Man
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TESTING MYSELF
Task 3
“If there's a single lesson that life teaches us, it's that wishing doesn't make it so.”
(Lev Grossman) Wish is the tendency of the will towards something, whether this be
realizable or not. It is what motivates us to do an action. However, wish is just all in the
minds when it is not performed. It will just remain idea when it not put into reality.
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Human as we are, we have wishes in life. As a human being, what is your wish in life
and how are going to concretize it. Cite detailed steps in order to achieve it.
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Human acts are actions done by a person with full knowledge and acted freely. Freedom is
necessary for an action to be considered subject to morality. St. Augustine taught that
“true freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are meant to be.
Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom, then, is not found in moving away
from that image but only in living it out.”
Task 4
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Being an LCCian we are called to defend from its abusers. Amidst the fears and
silence we are facing right now through threats and violence, how can you be a voice and
example of freedom to others?
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Lesson 2
Classification of actions
MY JOURNEY
In this lesson, you will be able to understand the meaning and purpose of the will in
every action. You will know the different kinds of actions. Also, you will be able to know the
different kind of voluntariness.
MY TARGETS
This instructional material is exclusively for LCCB only | Page 8
LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE BACOLOD
Galo Corner Gatuslao Streets, Bacolod City 6100, Philippines
Tel No. +63 (34) 434 9661 to 64 | Fax No. +63 (34) 433 5190
lccbpresoffice@gmail.com | www.lcc.edu.ph
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MY WARM-UP
It is said that in life there are only two options, to do or not to do, to live or not to
live, to act or not to act. But at the end of the day we need to decide which is which.
Task 1
Below are actions categorized as moral and immoral actions? Decide whether they are moral
or immoral actions. Write MA for moral action and IM for immoral action on the space
provided.
MY READING TEXT
This instructional material is exclusively for LCCB only | Page 9
LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE BACOLOD
Galo Corner Gatuslao Streets, Bacolod City 6100, Philippines
Tel No. +63 (34) 434 9661 to 64 | Fax No. +63 (34) 433 5190
lccbpresoffice@gmail.com | www.lcc.edu.ph
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Classification of actions
Voluntariness
Voluntariness came from the Latin word voluntas- referred to the Will. It is essential
to an act. Without it, an act is just a mere act of man. Here is the distinction of voluntariness;
1.) Perfect voluntariness which is present in a person who fully knows and fully intends an
act. A man who, wanting to get even, takes a gun and shoots his enemy is said to be acting
with perfect voluntariness. 2.) Imperfect voluntariness which is present in a person who acts
without fully realizing what he means to do, or without fully intending the act. A drunken
man might act irrationally without fully realizing what he is doing; or, a woman, in terror,
might jump out of a window without fully intending to kill herself. 3.) Conditional
voluntariness is present in a person who is forced by circumstances beyond his control to
perform an act which he would do under normal conditions. A child who is intimidated by his
mother to study the lesson is acting with conditional voluntariness. 4.) Simple voluntariness
which is present in a person doing an act wilfully, regardless of whether he likes to do it or
not. It is either positive or negative. It is positive when the act requires the performance of
an activity, such as polishing the floor, paying rent, or playing tennis. It is negative when an
act requires the omission of activity, such as not taking the prohibited drugs, remaining
quiet, or not listening to the radio.
Task 2
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Give an example of an amoral act which becomes evil due to circumstances. Discuss
its process by citing a moral principles.
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TESTING MYSELF
Task 3
Every day, we are called to do good actions. Good actions are considered moral. It is
the foundation of our being. It is also the foundation of our society. However, despite of the
clear principle of doing good as our concern in this world, why does man still commit evil or
immoral action?
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St. Augustine once said, “The purpose of all wars, is peace.” It is a reality that there are evil
and good things amidst of us. Human as we are we are called to do good always.
Task 4
As an LCCian amidst the challenges and temptations of worldly cravings especially
materialism and selfishness that brought conflict to human race, how can you be an
instrument of peace to others?
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Lesson 3
Modifiers of Human Acts
MY JOURNEY
In this lesson, you will be able to discover the modifiers of human actions. You will
know the different principles behind these modifiers of human actions.
MY TARGETS
MY WARM-UP
Task 1
As a person, what is the biggest factor why you continue to pursue your studies despite of
the difficulties? Discuss.
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MY READING TEXT
Modifiers are factors that influence man’s inner disposition towards certain actions.
They affect the mental or emotional state of a person to the extent that the voluntariness
involved in an act is either increased or decreased.
Principle: “The greater the knowledge and the freedom, the greater the voluntariness and
the moral responsibility.” (Panizo)
1. Ignorance
Ignorance is the absence of knowledge which a person ought to possess.
a. Vincible ignorance can easily be reminded through ordinary diligence and
reasonable efforts. The ignorance of a visitor regarding a particular address in a certain place
is vincible, since he can easily ask for information from a policeman or pedestrian.
b. Invincible ignorance is the type which a person possesses without being aware of
it, or, having awareness of it, lacks the means to rectify it. The ignorance regarding a missing
persons or objects is often invincible.
c. Affected ignorance is a type which a person keeps by positive efforts in order to
escape responsibility or blame. It is affected ignorance when an employee refuses to read a
memo precisely so that he may be exempted from its requirement.
Principles:
1. Invincible ignorance renders an act involuntary. A person cannot be held morally liable if
he is not aware of his state of ignorance. A waiter who is not aware that the food he is
serving has been poisoned cannot be held for murder.
2. Vincible ignorance does not destroy, but lessens the voluntariness and the corresponding
accountability over the act. A person who becomes aware of the state of ignorance he is in
has the moral obligation to rectify it by exercising reasonable diligence in seeking the needed
information.
3. Affected ignorance, though it decreases voluntariness, increases the accountability over
the resultant act.
2. Passion
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3. Fear
Fear is the disturbance of the mind of a person who is confronted by an impending
danger or harm to himself or loved ones. Distinction is made however between an act done
with fear and an act done out of fear. Examples of action done with fear are climbing a cliff,
flying an airplane through a storm, diving for pearls, arresting a notorious killer. Examples of
action done out of fear or because of fear are the child reads his book out of fear of the
mother, the employee volunteers to work overtime out of fear of being fired by the boss.
Principle:
1. Acts done with fear are voluntary. A person acting with fear is acting inspite of his
fear and is in full control of himself.
2. Acts done out of fear, however great, is simply voluntary, although it is also
conditionally voluntary.
3. Acts done because of intense fear or panic are involuntary. Panic completely obscure
the mind. It causes a person to lose complete control of himself.
4. Violence
Vilolence refers to any physical force exerted on a person by another free agent for
the purpose of compelling the said person to act against his will. Bodily torture,
maltreatment, isolation and mutilation- are examples of violence against person.
Principle:
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5. Habits
Habit is defined as a lasting readiness and facility, born of frequently repeated acts,
for acting in a certain manner.
Principle:
Actions done by force of habit are voluntary in cause, unless a reasonable effort is
made to counteract the habitual inclination.
6. Emotion
Emotions are generally instinctive in origin. They become good or evil by the attitude
of the person manifesting them. Ethics deals with emotions as factors affecting human
motivation and behavior.
Task 2
How would you explain this saying: “Ignorance of the Law excuses no one”?
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TESTING MYSELF
This instructional material is exclusively for LCCB only | Page 16
LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE BACOLOD
Galo Corner Gatuslao Streets, Bacolod City 6100, Philippines
Tel No. +63 (34) 434 9661 to 64 | Fax No. +63 (34) 433 5190
lccbpresoffice@gmail.com | www.lcc.edu.ph
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Task 3
Passions are driving force towards getting something what we desire. It has positive
and negative aspects to human action. It can help us achieve what we aim for. As the saying
goes on: “People with great passion can make the impossible happen.” However, passions
can also lead us to do evil actions. We sometimes hear people saying, “I was able to do that
bad thing because of my passion.”
In this sense, why are you not justified in doing wrong because of passions?
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St. Augustine once said, “Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.” If it is a bad habit,
then, we need to resist in it.
Task 4
Why are we accountable for actions done out of habits? As a student, how can you
resist you bad habits. Cite concrete steps.
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ANSWER KEY
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GLOSSARY
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Competence
more than just knowledge and skills; it involves the ability to meet complex demands
by drawing on and mobilizing psychosocial resources (including skills and attitudes) in a
particular context
Diversity of Learners
emphasizes the central role of teachers in establishing learning environments that
are responsive to learner diversity
Learning Environment
the role of teachers to provide learning environments that are safe, secure, fair and
supportive to promote learner responsibility and achievement
PPST
an abbreviation of Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers which is built on
National Competency-Based Teacher Standard (NCBTS)
REFERENCES
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Agapay, Ramon B. (1991). Ethics and the Filipino. A Manual on Morals for Students and
Educators, National Book Store, Mandaluyong City.
Babor, Eddie R. (2006). Ethics: The Philosophical Discipline of Action. Rex Bookstore Inc.,
Manila.
Buenaflor, Lionel E. (2006). The Meaning of Human Existence, Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.
Losonsky, Michael (2006). The Evolution of Modern Philosophy: Linguistics Turns in Modern
Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, New York City.
Maboloc, Christopher Ryan B. (2009). Philosophy of Man: Fundamental Topics & Thinkers,
Rex Book Store, Inc., Manila, Philippines.
Murray, Michael J., Rea, Michael (2008). An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion,
Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom.
Velasquez, Manuel (2008). Philosophy, A Text with Readings, Tenth Edition, Thomson Higher
Education, Belmont, USA.
FURTHER READINGS
Heung-sang, T., Man-biu, C., Chi-chung, L., Wai-ching, M., MOK, M., Kwok-hung, N., … DAVIS,
B. (2007). The Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications.
Hoge, M. A., Tondora, J., & Marrelli, A. F. (2005). The fundamentals of workforce
competency: Implications for behavioral health. Administration and Policy in Mental
Health, 32(5–6), 509–531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-005-3263-1
Hussain, R. (2018). Generation gap, Permanent job craze and teaching standard.
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