M5: Ethics, Culture, and Cultural Relativism

Ethics

Disciplined study of moral principles and behavior

Morality

Criteria for judging right and wrong

Moral behavior

How people act in different situations

Rational justification

The reasoning behind moral decisions

Culture

Shared system of beliefs, values, customs, and practices within a society

Cultural relativism

Is the idea that morality is culture-dependent and that there are no moral truths

Morality is shaped by culture rather than being universal

Values

Standards for what is good or bad

Norms

Rules on how to behave in specific situations

Symbols

Signs and gestures that carry meaning

Language

Verbal and written communication

Knowledge

Information and skills passed through generations

Visible

Represents the most superficial aspects of culture that are easily observable

Tangible and outwardly displayed

Includes symbols, rituals, and artifacts

Ways of life, dress, laws, customs, behavior, rituals, festivals, language, literature, arts

Unseen

Refers to the implicit rules and norms that guide behavior

Subtle but noticeable through interactions

Includes values, attitudes, and social expectations

Beliefs, philosophy, ideologies, norms, family roles, biases

Deep

Represents the foundational beliefs, values, and worldviews that shape a culture

Hidden and often unconscious

Forms the root of a culture’s identity and shapes other layers

Values, ethics, tastes, attitudes, desires, assumptions, expectations, myths

Malay

Strong family ties, close-knit communities

Chinese

Business ethics, filial piety (respect for elders)

Indian

Language, folk beliefs, architecture

Spanish

Christianity, social hierarchy, traditions

American

Democracy, modern education, technology

The Traditional Concept

Filipino culture is a mix of intellectual, moral, spiritual, and social aspects

The Nationalistic View

Culture is linked to historical struggles and national identity

Cultural Dualism

The Philippines is influenced by both traditional and modern values, creating conflicts between old and new beliefs

Moral Relativism

Ethics and morality are defined by culture and are not the same everywhere

No universal moral laws nor moral truths