Key Points for the Course Ethics

Here are key points in General Ethics that are commonly covered in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET):

1. Definition and Nature of Ethics

  • Ethics is the philosophical study of morality—what is right and wrong.
  • Branches include: Normative Ethics, Metaethics, and Applied Ethics.
  • Difference between ethics (theory) and morality (practice).

2. Major Ethical Theories

  • Deontology (Kantian Ethics) – Duty-based ethics; actions are right or wrong in themselves.
  • Utilitarianism (Consequentialism) – The greatest good for the greatest number.
  • Virtue Ethics – Focuses on moral character (Aristotle).
  • Ethical Relativism – Morality is culture-dependent.

3. Moral Development

  • Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:
    1. Pre-conventional (obedience/punishment, self-interest)
    2. Conventional (social conformity, law and order)
    3. Post-conventional (social contract, universal ethical principles)

4. Human Acts and Morality

  • Components of a moral act: Knowledge, Freedom, and Voluntariness.
  • Moral responsibility depends on intention and circumstances.

5. Conscience

  • Inner sense of right and wrong.
  • Types: Correct, Erroneous, Doubtful, Lax, Scrupulous.

6. Filipino Values and Ethics

  • Pakikisama, Hiya, Utang na Loob, Bayanihan, Kapwa.
  • Ethics based on community, respect, and harmony.

7. Rights and Duties

  • Human Rights – Inherent, universal, and inalienable.
  • Duties – Moral obligations tied to individual and societal roles.

8. Professional Ethics

  • Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers (DepEd/PRC).
  • Core values: Integrity, Objectivity, Professional Competence, Confidentiality, and Professional Behavior.

9. Common Ethical Dilemmas

  • Conflict of interest
  • Truth-telling vs. kindness
  • Justice vs. mercy
  • Individual rights vs. the common good

10. Components of Human Acts

  • Human Acts: Actions done with knowledge, freedom, and voluntariness (e.g., studying, teaching).
  • Acts of Man: Involuntary acts like breathing or blinking—outside moral judgment.

11. Sources of Morality

  • Object – the act itself (what is done).
  • Intention – purpose behind the act (why it’s done).
  • Circumstances – context (who, when, where, how).

All three must be good for an act to be morally good.

12. Freedom and Responsibility

  • Freedom allows moral responsibility.
  • Greater freedom → greater accountability.
  • Abuse of freedom leads to moral failure.

13. Types of Conscience

  • Correct – judges what is truly right.
  • Erroneous – judges wrong as right or vice versa.
  • Scrupulous – overly strict.
  • Lax – too lenient.

14. Values and Moral Standards

  • Moral Values – ideals that guide behavior (e.g., honesty, justice, respect).
  • Moral Standards – norms by which actions are judged (e.g., laws, cultural ethics, religion).

15. Ethical Relativism vs. Universalism

  • Relativism – right and wrong depend on culture or individual.
  • Universalism – certain moral truths apply to all humans.

16. The Golden Rule

  • “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”
  • A universal moral principle across cultures and religions.

17. Ethical Decision-Making

  • Steps:
    1. Recognize the ethical issue.
    2. Evaluate options using ethical theories.
    3. Make a choice.
    4. Reflect on the outcome.

18. Code of Ethics for Teachers (Philippines)

  • Uphold human dignity.
  • Promote love of country and moral integrity.
  • Be models of excellence and responsibility in and outside the classroom.

19. Moral Absolutism vs. Moral Pluralism

  • Moral Absolutism holds that certain actions are universally right or wrong regardless of context.
  • Moral Pluralism accepts that there can be multiple morally acceptable answers depending on cultural or situational context.

20. The Role of Reason in Ethics

  • Reason helps individuals analyze situations, weigh consequences, and make morally sound decisions.
  • Ethics is not just about feelings or traditions—it relies on critical thinking and rational judgment.

Ethics serves as the compass that guides human behavior, helping individuals distinguish right from wrong and act in ways that promote human dignity and social harmony. By understanding major ethical theories—such as deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics—we gain frameworks for making moral decisions. The study of conscience, moral development, human acts, and Filipino values deepens our appreciation of personal and cultural morality. In professional contexts, especially in education, ethics ensures integrity, fairness, and responsibility. Ultimately, ethics is not just about knowing what is good, but consistently choosing to do what is right.



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