Moral Educ Chapter 2

Theories and Value SystemThe objective:
To expose the student to the various ethical and moral theories
To guide the students to make a decision and judgment about their action in certain situations.
INTRODUCTION
Custom, habit, courtesy, character, action etc, are connected with regulations and standards followed by society.
It is proper that the social morality to explain the ethics in society.
Normative values and societal regulations become a measure or criterion to determine whether a certain action is right or wrong
THEORIES AND VALUE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS IN SOCIAL LIFE
COORDINATION
PROCESS
A family regulations or a nation has its laws
An individual has to know what he can and cannot do, and whether a certain action is right or wrong
CHINESE
The daily life of Christians is governed by the commands and prohibitions set out in The Ten Commandments
which prohibit killing, adulterous relation, slandering, stealing, etc.
Christian
Hindus are required to observe the moral regulations in ancient writings like the Ramayana and The Upanisads.
These regulations guide the Hindus about what they ought to do and what they must shun.
Hindu
The Malays who are Muslims, practice a disciplined life observing the moral and ethical teaching of the Quran and The Hadis
Malay
Upon visiting Malay house, all Malaysians will take their shoes off before entering a Malay house.
Reason- when they perform their prayers they usually do this in the living room.
Some important rules of Society in Malaysia
The head is considered sacred and untouchable in Eastern culture.
Age takes precedence over almost everything else, i.e. younger person would very likely make the first move to salam (handshake)
Some important rules of
Drink local wine
Long House rules
Once enter the house, go straight and find the old people.
Must get a permission to enter
Bad luck would result if a visitor enters a new longhouse while it is being constructed.
Meeting and greeting
An invitation to someone’s house (wedding, birthday party, reply)
At a meal (talk, table manner, etc..)
Dress code (during function, celebration, funeral, etc..)
Other important do’s and don'ts
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ACTIVITIES
Imagine that a visitor from a different culture is coming to your country. You are going to draw up a list of eight tips about social behaviour. Make a list of ideas under the following headings:
INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE
YOU need to find any outdated rules which is still practised in your society.
Try to critically evaluate that rules.
Make some changes if it is no longer relevant to be practised.
ANALYSIS OF OUTDATED RULES
Strengthen a system of behavior that will bring benefits to self as well as to other people.
To resolve conflict in the society by giving justifications,
FUNCTION OF SOCIETAL RULES
Regulations considered bad and cruel + can’t be challenged + remained be forced to obey it
Leader become dictator + too powerful=Extreme obedient
WEAKNESSESS OF
Difficult to adapt to a new situation
Virtue or individuality honorable is the group of concept like justice, bravery, that plays important role in life moral.
Personality is more important than rules of society
Theory of Personality Virtue
Definition: Ethic has to connect with individuality honorable and behavior characteristic
Emphasis on character building
Virtue or individuality honorable is the group of concept like justice, bravery, honesty, generosity, patience and wisdom that plays important role in life
Individuality honorable is an inclination to do with a purpose. It is not naturally produced, as a person the individual is not bestowing with honorable or evil characteristic.
The main scholars are Aristotle and Rachel
Each action there is one ‘Middle Way’.
Not more excessive and not extremely lesser.
Action that is more excessive or extremely less is a wrong action, evil, bad and can be criticize
Refer Table 1
However Barnes criticizes the doctrine of 'middle way'.
The 'middle way’ doctrine doesn't give advice and information about possibility or method that was stated fair, medium or good to vice actions. (Not all action, we should take MW)
I.e: If your friend ask you to steal or taking drugs, you will follow the middle way (courage) rather than extremely less (coward)
The formation of personality is in gradual stage which can be sees as follows :
CHILDHOOD
ADOLESCENT/YOUTH
MATURE
During childhood: We are only told what is correct and what is wrong. We will obey advise without thinking so as to avoid punishment. Childhood obedience to moral standard is based on self-interest
When we reach adolescence: the moral standard becomes internalized. We begin to understand the implications clearer, and obey them because they appease the people we know and the people who are related to us. Obedience to moral standard at the stage is based on loyalty to family, to friends or to country.
When you become mature, moral standard inherited from our family can be passed on through our family, peers, our culture etc. We begin to evaluate moral standard and their consequence.
Ie: Saving money, Respecting others, Time management
Based on the family approach: traditional or modern
Traditional approach refers to standards or rules of our ancestors.
An individual accepts and act accordingly because they are prescribed norms.
An individual is expected to conduct himself within the boundaries of traditional morality.
Ie: Time management: Bad action when coming home late at night
Modern approaches calls for reasoning and consideration of the individual.
Modern approaches- is to be familiar with the reasoning and then to observe or oppose the traditional rule.
Not rigid, open (freedom)
Personality virtues
are operational
Personality virtues are good, they differ from bad habits and vices.
All personality virtues are acquired through the learning or training process
Personality virtues are habit ; they are ordinary deed that is prominent that can formed individual characteristic
Personality virtues are operational; they enable us to determine how to behave and act in certain way.
They are perfect, and allow us to act in the best possible manner. With the acquisition of personality virtues, we become good individuals.
And we will avoid ourselves from committing bad action
SKILLS
PERSONALITY VIRTUES
Not really important as personality virtues, skill can make us excellent, but we will fail without personality virtues
Inherited and important , guide for life
Skills are so limited to specific area
Quality in life, wide (covers all aspect in life)
Skill (playing chess) can be forgotten
We can’t forget to differentiate between good & bad
Easy to get (through training & practice)
Sometimes hard to be obtained I.e. telling truth is not easy where there is tendency to lie
Skills may allowed a rest time
No rest (can’t take moral holiday).personality virtues needed to be implemented all the time.
Q
Be Creative
Value Time
The National Chief Secretary introduced the idea of “Twelve Pillars” as a guide to improve the quality of civil service. Diagram 2 shows the poster of “The Twelve Pillars”
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES IN PROMOTING GOOD VIRTUES
Civil servants manning telephone lines and counters and having regular dealings with the public are now being taught to smile.
THE STAR FEBRUARY 21
Siti Nurhaliza, singer of the campaign's theme song Budi Bahasa Budaya Kita composed by Suhaimi Md Zain (Pak Ngah) and lyrics by Habsah Hassan.
BERNAMA.COM, FEBRUARY 20
When a member of a community met with an accident in the public places, at least contact the police or hospital or take other necessary steps. If you don't, it means that we are a passive community," he said.
DATO SERI UTAMA DR. RAIS YATIM,
DAILY EXPRESS MARCH 12
Everyone said “please” and “thank you” especially in the shops. But, a minute later they all reverted back to the same sullenness again
MARINA MAHATHIR, JANUARY 26
INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE
AS THE MANAGER OF WELL KNOWN ADVERTISING COMPANY, YOU NEED THE COOPERATION OF YOUR DESIGNERS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCED.
SO, WHAT ARE THE PERSONALITY VIRTUES DO YOU WISH YOUR STAFF POSSES AND STATE WHY THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT VIRTUES?
Patient
Willing to sacrifices
Definition: A value/ an action is considered right or wrong depends on the final result of an action.
Action + good result & consequences = MORALLY RIGHT
Action + bad result and consequences = MORALLY WRONG
Middle way
Teleological theory which places great emphasis on the consequential result is also known as “consequentialism”
morally acts if it is bring good consequence/result -lessen the pain of the patient;
if it is not, then it is considered as immoral
Theory of Teleology
Euthanasia
Derived from Greek means to die in comfort (eu=good; thanatos=die)
Also refer to the act of a medical doctor to lessen the suffering of a patient during death.
Euthanasia also means mercy killing i.e; to hasten death to end a patient’s suffering
EUTHANASIA/Mercy Killing
Active Euthanasia or voluntary euthanasia is the intentional taking of a human life to avoid suffering. The sufferer or his legal representative must give consent. It is illegal in most countries.
Passive Euthanasia involuntary euthanasia is allowing death to take place by with-holding the medicine or medication needed for life. The sufferer may or may not consent. It is not illegal in most countries.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF EUTHANASIA
Euthanasia Guarantees Death with Dignity. Every person has a right to die with dignity, and death is part of the package deal of life. Active euthanasia is a guarantee to a dignified death, and allows us to have control or choice over our own demise.
Euthanasia is An Act of Mercy to the Sufferer, We should be as humane as possible and not prolong suffering. If there is no more hope for the sufferer, the most compassionate act is to put him out of his misery. Keeping him alive is just prolonging the inevitable.
Euthanasia is An Act of Mercy of Mercy to the Sufferer's Family. In most cases, the sufferer is not the only person suffering as family members also suffer, emotionally and financially. Euthanasia will relieve the family of a heavy burden.
Against the Natural Dying Process. Using a machine to keep a person alive is against the natural dying process. There is a limit to life, and that limit is reached with natural death. To keep a person alive through a machine is to unnecessarily extend those limits.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA
Humans Should Not Play God. There is no moral right to intentionally kill an innocent human being who has done nothing wrong except to be terminally ill. Only God has the right over human lives. Humans should not play God.
Killing Does Not Stop Pain. Killing never stops pain because killing itself is pain. Family members who contribute to the decision to put away an elderly relative would never be able to erase the pain of such a decision.
There is Much to Be Learnt from Suffering. Held among some religious groups is the view that suffering is a time of refining and character building. Often, family are drawn closer together because of suffering and tragedy. Besides, doctors today are able to prevent more people from suffering based on medical test results of those who had suffered.
No Price Tag on Humans. We should not have merciful death for the reason of saving money. Are we to preserve life only if we can afford it? This would be a very materialistic philosophy indeed, and entirely unmoral.
When we make choices which resulting in the correct consequences, then we are acting morally;
when we make choices which resulting in the incorrect consequences, then we are acting immorally.
Let’s think
Actions are right if they are useful or for the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people.
Action+ happiness+ a lot number of people = Morally right
Middle way
Utilitarianism
The bombing of Hiroshima, for instance, was aimed the end of World War 2
Utilitarianism Act
The right course of action is the one that produces benefits or happiness for many people.
i.e. stealing food to be given to the poor people.
i.e a govt officer accepting bribe to build a bridge (avoid traffic congestion) from a contractor + bring happiness to ppl.
It will bring great pleasure to a lot of people ; so it is permissible and morally right even involved the means of stealing and bribing
Utilitarian Law
We should follow or obey rules, which will maximize pleasure for all concerned
Ie: the act of taking bribe and awarded the project to the contactor for the benefit of people is morally right, but if the bridge collapsed and cause pain, then the people in charge will be punished by law (guilty/unacceptable/immoral)
Sacrifice self needs
Action that is carried out doesn’t guarantee will bring justice and admit to the others rights.
Weakness
Happiness & suffering related to the feeling that is very subjective.
Correct or wrong of one’s action is not based or is determined from the results of the action
EGOISM
Egoism or selfishness can be defined as concern with one self interest or seeking or concentrating on one's own advantages or pleasure or well being without regard for other.
a theory which considers a value as good if it is benefits the individual himself, bad or cruel if it harms or suffer or loss.
Deontology
a value as good if it benefits the individual himself, bad or cruel if it harms causes him to suffer or loss.
the action can be carried out just like that because one of the action really is
or not assumed good.
Obligation Principle
good individuals from the viewpoint of moral are the individual who are always behave or acting on the obligations basis (respect the law)
Obligations principle indicates that the responsibility should be implemented because the practice is a responsibility.
e.g.; turn to vote during election
Give dana/ donationas a Buddhist
Existentialism
Principle
One value whether it is good or bad must be based on the individual's choice freely.
Donate to mosque is a good value over choice itself .
Free Choice

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Moral Educ Chapter 2