ETHICS
ETHICS
ETHICS
ETHICS
Botolan, Zambales
NOTE:
Do not write anything on this module. You may write your answers on the separate sheet/s
underneath of this Student Learning Module.
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Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE OF BOTOLAN
(Formerly Botolan Community College)
Botolan, Zambales
E-mail: polytechniccollegeofbotolan@gmail.com
Website: www.pcb2009.net
ELICIT
1. The mission of Catholic School A is to serve the poor by giving quality education. It is torn
between the obligation to charge low tuition to help the poor and to pay better salaries to keep quality
teachers.
2. Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her.
The drug had been discovered by a local chemist, and the Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the
chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to make the drug, and this was much more than the
Heinz could afford.
Heinz could only raise half the money, even after help from family and friends.
He explained to the chemist that his wife was dying and asked if he could have the drug cheaper or
pay the rest of the money later.
The chemist refused, saying that he had discovered the drug and was going to make money from it.
The husband was desperate to save his wife, so later that night he broke into the Chemist’s laboratory
and stole the drug.
3. A principal ought to welcome and encourage parents and community participation in school
affairs. Based on her experience, parents and community are passive and so the principal always ends
up deciding and doing things just the same. She is obliged to observe parents’ and community
participation which do not give any input at all at the same time she is obliged to accomplish things on
time.
INTRODUCTION
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Moral dilemmas are situations in which the decision-maker must consider two or
more moral values or duties but can only honor one of them; thus, the individual will violate at least
one important moral concern, regardless of the decision.
A. INDIVIDUAL
B. ORGANIZATIONAL
An organizational dilemma is a puzzle posed by the dual necessities of a social organization and
members’ self-interest. It may exist between personal interests and organizational welfare or between
group interests and organizational well-being... (Wagner, J. 2019)
The example of the Catholic school in the Activity phase of the lesson shows the dilemma
between the goal of the school to give quality education for the poor and so must charge the lowest
tuition fee possible and yet to keep quality faculty the school must raise their salary and consequently,
must raise tuition.
Organizational dilemmas may likewise occur in business, medical and public sector. ‘
The following hypothetical case highlights the story of Mr. Brown, a 74-year old man who is
seriously ill of Metastatic lung cancer. Mr. Brown completed a full course of radiation therapy as well as
chemotherapy for treatment of his cancer, and he is now hospitalized with severe shortness of breath
and pneumonia. His physician has managed the symptoms associated with the lung disease, including
chest pain, fever, infection, and respiratory distress, but believes that there are no other options available
to aggressively treat the underlying cancer... Both Mr. Brown and his wife clearly state that they ‘want
everything done.’...
The dilemma here lies in the conflicting concerns: a) the financial problems of Mr. Brown and his
wife, b) the hospital concern of focusing its attention on this hopeless patient when there are other cases
which have still possible remedies, c) the other hospital patient's concern, particularly their need of the
medicine used by Mr. Brown, c) the concern of the medical staff, at al.
Organizational dilemmas arise due to different opposing concerns between various groupings in
an organization.
C. STRUCTURAL
The case of the principal whether to be participatory or no participatory in school affairs but due
to her not so favorable experience of attempting to be participatory ended up to one-woman rule is an
example of a structural dilemma.
Below are more examples of structural dilemma.
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Differentiation versus Integration in Structural Dilemma
Different divisions have their own different culture and so coordination between divisions or
bringing them together for becomes more difficult.
With decentralization, local governments have become more empowered to direct their affairs
just as schools have become empowered to address their problems or are given opportunity to localize
the given curriculum.
In effect, local governments and schools have likewise become more differentiated and so it
becomes more difficult to integrate them for a unified structure. Local governance and schools curricula
haw become more complex. There is need for costlier coordination strategies.
Any attempt to introduce reform in society or government creates structural dilemma. For
instance, promoting or introducing universal health care, which is tantamount to socialized health care,
gives rise to a structural dilemma, that is, a conflict of perspective of sectors, groups and institutions
that may be affected by the decision. Why would those who contribute less to the social fund enjoy the
same benefits as those who contributed big amounts of premium? In a study on the prices of medicines
in the Philippines, it was established that “patients are buying medicines from the private sector at many
times their international reference price” (Ateneo de Manila University 2019). If the government
intervenes by introducing price control, the drug stores may lose so much that they may close shop. If
the government does not do anything at all, the patients will continue to suffer because they may not
be able to afford the high prices of medicines.
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That is what happens when there are gaps or overlaps in an organization. The gaps leave an
important thing in an organization undone. The overlap results in unnecessary and counterproductive,
redundant procedures which ultimately lead to waste of resources.
To illustrate:
When individuals or groups are too autonomous, people often feel isolated and disconnected. School
teachers working in self-contained classrooms and rarely working with other teachers may feel lonely
and unsupported. Yet, efforts to create closer teamwork have repeatedly failed because of teachers’
difficulties in working together: In contrast, if units and roles are too tightly linked, people are distracted
from work and waste time an unnecessary or too much coordination. IBM lost an early lead in the
personal computer business in part because new initiatives required so many approvals from levels
and divisions alike that new products were over designed and late to market. Hewlett Packardfs' ability
to innovate in the late 199019 was hindered by the same problem.
(www.humancapitalreview.org/content/default.asp?Article_ID528#)
Structural dilemma is the dilemma arising from conflicting concerns among various sectors of
society. In the first instance of differentiation versus integration, the dilemma is how to enforce a
decision, policy, or rule intended for everybody among many different or unique groups or individuals.
In the second, the dilemma arises because of either gaps or overlaps in the procedure of implementation
of certain projects or policies among involved agencies like the FBI and CIA in the USA or like the NBI
and the INP in the Philippines. GAPS creates serious consequences. Read about the unforgettable
Mamasapano massacre in Mindanao, Philippines.
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Centralized versus Decentralized Decision Making
In decentralized decision making, organizations can respond to change more rapidly and effectively
because the decision makers are the people closest to the situation. However, top managers may lose
some control. This is the dilemma of tight over centralization or diffusing authority which is loose.
2. Another way is “choosing the greater good and lesser evil” or...,” Or one may apply the situation ethics
approach, following the rule, one must do only what he can where he is. Do not resort to extraordinary
or supernatural means.
Joseph Fletcher offers some principles in resolving moral dilemma. He uses Kant’s “ought to implies
I can” rule. If I ought to do something, then I can do it. By contraposition, if I cannot do something, then
I cannot be obliged to do it. Or by implication, either I cannot be obliged to do something or I can do it.
In other words, one is only obliged to do something if and only if he can do it. So Fletcher says, “Do
what you can where you are.” Or quoting St. Augustine’s, “Dilige, et quod vis fac” (love and do what
you will). The extent of one’s obligation and responsibility is the extent of one’s ability and the measure
of the “extent” is one’s capacity for love.
Here is a situation: You are a father of seven children. On your support, seven children plus your
wife depend. You work in the mines and receive only a minimum wage. After working like a “carabao” in
the mines, you need to ease your pains with a bottle of gin before you lie down to rest and sleep. You
also need to eat food sufficient enough to replace your wasted energy. Hence, you spend for wine, food,
and cigarette. Minus these expenses, the balance of your wage is just enough for the food of your
children. Nothing is left for their education, and other expenses.
Question: Should you be faulted for not being able to sacrifice enough by giving up your needs,
so that your dependents can have something left for their education? You love your family, but you have
a need you cannot give up. Is your case what Fletcher wants to picture? Your obligation ends where
your capacity for love ends. Love is supposed to be unconditional, no limits of sacrifice or boundaries.
But your love is human, you are only human. “You can only do what you can where you are.” Others
can sacrifice more by giving up their gin and cigarette and eat less expensive food. Yes others can, but
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can one be faulted for not being like the others, not having the strength to overcome a vice? Can one
not argue that the extent of his ability is the limit of his responsibility? On the other hand, can it not be
said that resorting to human frailty is just a convenient or comfortable way of justifying one’s lack of
moral will? That may be easier said than done, although it is possible for one who has virtue as his moral
strength. But what can be said of one who has no moral virtue or strength to sacrifice with the discomfort
of self-giving? Endless condemnation? That would be un-Christian.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Moral dilemmas come in three levels individual, organizational or structural.
Individual dilemmas concern dilemmas that individual persons face.
Organizational dilemmas refer to dilemmas between organizational benefits versus
individual members’ welfare.
Structural dilemmas concern dilemmas faced by groups or individuals as a result of structural
relationships.
A world organization like the United Nations is usually faced with this dilemma: sovereignty
of nations versus world order.
If confronted with a moral dilemma, choose the greater good and lesser evil or...,” do only
what you can where you are (Fletcher) or “love and do what you will” (St. Augustine) The
extent of one’s obligation and responsibility is the extent of one’s ability and the measure of
the “extent” is one’s capacity for love.
REFLECT
TEST
A. Identify the structural dilemma described. Write your answer on the space provided.
(Differentiation vs. integration; gap vs. overlap; lack of clarity vs. lack of creativity; flexibility vs. strict
adherence to rules; excessive autonomy vs. independence)
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c) gap versus overlap
d)differentiation versus integration
e) centralized versus decentralized decision-making
f) sovereignty of nations versus world peace and order
C. “Man is not made for the Sabbath. The Sabbath is made for man.” How can this guide you when
face with a structural dilemma on strict adherence to rules versus flexibility?
D. Search, watch or read (YouTube, Google) at least two (2) from the recommended resources that
illustrate structural dilemmas and write your reflections on the topics you have chosen.
1. Mapapasano Encounter SAF 44 Why were 44 killed? Based on reports, what was said to be the
cause of the death of 44?
2. Reason behind the bombing of the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
3. Red tape in government offices.
4. Creation of autonomous regions like ARMM.
ANALYZE
Do the lower forms of animals have ethics? Like can we say that a dog is immoral or unethical if it
defecates right there at your doorstep? Or is ethics only for human persons? If so, why? This is the
concern of these lesson.
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ELICIT
INTRODUCTION
N
ETHICS APPLIES ONLY TO HUMAN PERSONS
The song, Born This Way, implies choice or freedom. Unlike the lower forms of animals,
human persons have a choice or freedom, hence morality applies only to human persons.
Ethics, therefore, applies only to human persons. We cannot say a cat is “unethical” when
it eats the food at table intended for you or when a d0g urinates on your favorite bag lying on the
floor.
Dilemmas presuppose freedom. Freedom-loving societies have customary ways of
training the young to exercise their freedom. Parents regularly give their children opportunities to
choose. “Guys, what do you want for breakfast ham and egg or pancake?” Later in life, they come
face to face with hard choices. Then dilemmas come along. There is such a thing as a dilemma
because there is such a thing as freedom. If there is no ability or power of choice, then any incident
simply happens without any interference. There would also be no obligation to do any act in
expectation of the responsibility following the act.
Without freedom it is impossible to make a moral choice.” If we are to have free will we
must have the ability to make a decision that is unhindered. Kant believed that we must have free
will if we are to be held morally responsible for our actions. If God did not give us free will then
our decisions cannot be considered immoral or moral as we would have had to act in the way we
did. Thus we cannot be held responsible; a good moral action cannot be praised as you had no
other option, whilst an immoral action cannot be punished as once again there was no free choice.
In other words, making moral choice is a necessary consequence for being free, a consequence
of being a human Because a human person has freedom, he/she has a choice and so is
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responsible for the consequences of his/her choice. The lower forms of animals have no choice
since they are bound by instinct and so cannot be held responsible for their behavior.
Having free will or freedom to choose among alternatives, which implies prior analysis and
study, is coming to terms with what you finally affirm or deny. When you arrive at a personal
conviction and self-affirmation, you begin to own the moral standard. The moral standard begins
to be integrated, internalized. You follow the norm not because it is imposed by others, not
because others say so or authoritatively impose it on you. On the other hand, merely abiding by
moral standards means applying them as basis to resolve a moral problem without necessarily
having internalized them. Merely abiding by them means once the enforcer is not around, the
moral standard is not followed.
Or if you do not own or internalize the standard, you will tend to use it for convenience, to
evade responsibility, to put the blame on the standard itself when things do not end well. You
simply become legalistic, and adopt the maxims, “follow the rule or law, even if the sky falls down”;
“the law says so”; the law is hard, but it is the law (dura lex sed lex). You follow the law because
others, authorities, regulators say so; not because you say so.
Owning moral standards means internalizing them, making them part of your conviction.
Internalized or embodied moral standards are being followed with or without anyone telling you.
You internalize a rule after using reason to understand. When you are persuaded of its
wisdom, it becomes your basis of resolving an ethical problem. You decide to do something not
because the law says so but because you yourself say so.
This may be termed as the embodiment of the moral standard in you. The moral standard
becomes one with the moral agent. As the moral agent, this moral standard becomes your natural
and immediate basis in your ethical decision making.
The presupposition is that you have come to own the moral standard after having been
convinced of its wisdom, having chosen it among other principles or standards. Any dilemma
regarding the standard has been resolved. Under the Chinese Taoist concept of harmony, this is
where the thought, the word, and the action become one. This author once visited a Taoist temple
and had a chance to ask what a Taoist live by as a principle of life. He replied, “What I think must
be the same as what I say, and what I say must be the same as what I do.” The result is oneness
of thought, word and action, and its effect is an integrated personality, personality made whole.
Making your mind, word, and action, a unity is not easy. You have in mind the maxim, “honesty
is the best policy.” As a teacher you always tell that to students. But deep in your heart you know
it has been difficult to be honest all the time. There was the joke, of which no one knew the source
regarding the motto of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Integrity: Courage, Loyalty.” This
is a signage at the gate of PMA in Baguio City at that time some military officials, alumni of PMA,
were being investigated for corruption, the word “Integrity” disappeared.
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Choice or freedom is a prerequisite of ethics or morality.
Every human person has freedom or choice and so is expected to be ethical or moral.
Lower forms of animals have no choice. They are governed by instincts and so ethics or
morality does not apply to them.
To be truly ethical or moral, we must internalize or possess not Just adhere to moral standards.
“I did it My Way” because I am convinced, have to do it “My Way" and not because others tell
me so.
REFLECT
1. What choice have you made in life recently? Are you happy with that choice? Are
you grateful you have the capacity to choose freely?
2. Bernard Haring says “Morality is for persons.” What
does this mean?
3. “Ought implies can” is an ethical formula ascribed to
Immanuel Kant. What does this mean?
4. Does Kant’s statement, “ought implies I can” make you understand why morality
or ethics cannot apply to the lower forms of animals?
5. “Two roads diverged in the woods; I took the one less traveled by and that made
all the difference.” Robert Frost. Does the quote imply choice and ethics or
morality? How?
6. Explain why only human beings, not the brutes, can be ethical.
REFERENCE:
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Prepared by:
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