TABLE OF CONTENTS

MODULE 1 - INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND VALUES- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - page 01-06

Introduction
Objectives
Understanding Ethics
Character vs Personality
Understanding Morality
Ethics vs Morality
Morality and Human Existence
Understanding Values
Organizational Values
Understanding Human Acts
Human Acts vs Acts of Man
References
Exercise No.1
Quiz No.1
 Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
College of Public Administration and Criminology
First Semester School Year 2020-2021

BASCO, Braulio Santos - Professor

Subject : Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards
Code : C4PECSTA
Year & Sec : 2nd Year

INTRODUCTION:
Human relations is defined as the interaction or interrelation of one person to another
person or relationship of persons among each other, in accordance with mores (habits or
manners), customs and public policy not contrary to laws. It is based on the old adage (saying)
or golden rule: “Do not do unto others, what others don’t do unto you”.
This subject is the integration of values education, police ethics and police community
relations (PCR). The study covers the general concepts and foundations of ethics with emphasis
on the right Filipino values for national transformation and reformation of the Philippine police
system. Ethics and values are studied as applied to the present Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
and Police Professional Conduct as embodied under Section1, Rule II of the PNP Rules and
Regulations. (Special credit to the University of Cordilleras wherein these modules were
patterned in their handouts.)

MODULE 1- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND VALUES

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
1. Explain the foundation;
2. Have deep understanding of human existence

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UNDERSTANDING ETHICS
Etymologically, the word ethics is coined from the Greek word “ethicos”, or that which
pertains to “ethos”, the English translation of which is “custom” or “character”. From this
etymological meaning, ethics is taken to mean as a philosophical science that deals with the
morality of human conduct or human acts.
What do we mean by “morality of human acts”? Morality of human acts refers to the
goodness or the badness, the rightness or the wrongness of human acts.
Ethics is a philosophical science. This means that ethics is one of the many disciplines in
philosophy.

Enhancement reading: http://www.bbc.co.yk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml

Four Disciplines / Divisions in Philosophy:

1. Descriptive or Speculative - a discipline in philosophy that affirm the question: What is the
nature of reality? (Metaphysics)
2. Normative - a discipline in philosophy that posits the question: What is good and what is
bad? Or what is right action and wrong action? (Moral philosophy)
3. Practical philosophy - a discipline in philosophy which reflects upon truth in relation to
action. (Logic)
4. Critical philosophy - a discipline in philosophy that posits the question: What is the truth?
(Epistemology)

CHARACTER VS. PERSONALITY

Character Personality
1. It is objective in nature (within a person) 1. It is subjective. It changes at a point
in time
2. A particular system of trait that is 2. A set of characteristics that each
permanent to each person person possesses
3. It is molded depending on his 3. It influences how one behaves as
environment well as one’s motivation
4. One’s character shows on how the 4. The image that one presents in
person acts and reacts to his or her peers and front of the other
how he or she deals with everything that
happens around him or her 02
UNDERSTANDING MORALITY
Moral integrity is the only true measure of what man ought to be. The most successful
professional is nothing unless he too is morally upright. Thus, the philosophers speak of Ethics
as the “only necessary knowledge”.
Morality is the foundation of every human society. Without civic morality, communities
perish; without personal morality their survival has no value. Every culture admits the
importance of morality as a standard of behaviour. When the moral foundation of a nation is
threatened, society itself is threatened.
Morality is the quality of human acts by which they are constituted as good , bad or
indifferent.

ETHICS VS. MORALITY

Ethics Morality
What is it? The rules of conduct recognized Principles or habits with respect
in respect to a particular class of to right or wrong conduct. It
human actions or a particular defines how things should work
group, culture, etc. It defines according to an individual’s
how things are according to the ideals and principles.
rules.

Source Social system/ External Individual/ Internal

Why we do it? Because society says it is the Because we believe in something

Right thing to do being right or wrong

Flexibility Ethics are dependent on others Usually consistent, although can

for definition. They tend to be change if an individual’s beliefs
consistent within a certain change.
context, but can vary between contexts. 03
MORALITY AND HUMAN EXISTENCE

* There is morality because there is man.

1. Man is the only Moral Being by virtue of the following reasons:

a. Man is a being of action
b. Man has intellect
c. Man has will
2. Man as an Animal
3. Man as a Rational Animal
4. Intellect compared with will
5. Concrete Basis of Morality

UNDERSTANDING VALUES
Undeniably, there is a metaphysical dependence of values in ethics, for values have ethics
as one of their indispensable carriers. True enough, ethics and values support each other. An
ethics without values is hollow and shallow and, therefore, weak. Values without ethics
paralytic. Needless to say, values are values even if they are not put into practice because
primarily - not absolutely - values are objective. If values are construed this way. It can be
inferred (derived) that they have nothing to do with ethics. The contention can be justified in
view of the fact that not everything which is good is moral or ethical. In other words, not all
values (good) are necessarily moral. The good in a glass of water- because it satisfies our thirst -
does not qualify water as moral. The good food - because it satisfies our hunger- does not make
good food moral as well.

General definition of Values

1. Values are the object of human desire and striving; they are also the subjective assessment
of a particular object insofar as it is good.
2. Values are our beliefs, those beliefs which we hold to be true. Thus values inspire us to
struggle towards our proximate and ultimate ends.
3. Values refer to things, person, ideas, or goals which are Important to life; they enable us to
direct, understand, and evaluate our lives. Thus, they refer to our ideals and our principles by
which we live. Further, values are those which we like, approve, esteem, enjoy and prize.

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Properties of Values

1. Values are subjective - when we say values are subjective, we mean that the existence and
the validity of values are dependent upon on the feelings or attitudes of the subject.
2. Values are objective - when we say values are objective, we mean that the existence and the
nature of values are independent of a subject.
3. Values are relative- this means that values have intrinsic (originating) limitation and
imperfection.
4. Values are bipolar - this means that values do not exist alone; they always exist with their
counter values. Thus, values are either positive or negative.
5. Values are hierarchical - when we say values are hierarchical, we do not classify values but
rather we rank them. When we rank values, we establish order of importance among them. The
closest, meaning of ranking values is prioritizing values.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Every organization has values that are important to the group. It will help the organization
to survive. Organizations develop values much the same as each individual has developed
values.

Enhancement reading:
https://www.slideserve.com/rhys/introduction-to-ethics-values-and-attitudes

UNDERSTANDING HUMAN ACTS

Human acts are actions that proceed from the deliberate free will of man. In a broader
perspective, the term human acts refer to any activity performed by man. This activity could
either be physical, spiritual, internal, or external. Moral philosophy, however, treats the term
human acts not in its broader but in its stricter meaning. Moral Philosophy, therefore,
understands human acts as actions that are proper only to man. These actions are those which
man does not share with the brutes (purely physical) for human acts are rational and willed
acts.

Three-fold Elements of Human Acts

1. Knowledge
2. Freedom
3. Voluntariness

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HUMAN ACTS VS. ACTS OF MAN

Human Acts Acts of Man

1. It requires man’s rationality 1. It does not require man’s rationality

2. It requires knowledge, freedom, 2. Done without knowledge, without

and voluntariness (elements of human acts) consent and involuntary
3. It does not need man’s freedom and will
3. Man takes responsibility 4. It does not make man responsible for
his action

Enhancement reading: https://www.slideshare.net/espirituanna/human-acts

References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml
https:www.slideshare.net/espirituanna/human-acts
https:www.slideserve.com/rhys/introduction-to-ethics-values-and-attitudes
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ASSIGNMENT/ EXERCISE No.1/ Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards

Name: __________________________________ Yr and Sec____________ Date____________

1. Briefly explain when can an act or attitude is considered (5 points)
A. Ethical and
B. Moral

2. Identify whether the following are human act or act of man (10 points)
A. Looking
B. Seeing
C. Dreaming
D. Day Dreaming
E. Breathing

QUIZ No. 1 / Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards

Name: ____________________________________ Yr and Sec ____________

Date___________
A. Based from the learning that you have gained in this module, what do you think could be
the general effect or consequence/s if a person does not follow or do what is ethical and what
is moral. Answer this by using the space provided below (5 points)

1. What if a person does not follow/do it? Ethical Moral

2. Determine whether the following acts are considered human act or act of man.

3. Put an X mark on the corresponding column in identifying your answers. (10 points)

Human Act Act of Man

A. Killing by self-defense
B. Theft by a kleptomania
C. Rape under the influence of drugs
D. Cheating in order to pass
E. Sleep walking

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