Mark Reynan Venus

BSEE 2 BLOCK 2
ACTIVITY 1: ESSAY
Direction: In a letter size paper, write your answer to the following questions
1. Check and discuss your personal growth against the stages of moral development.
2. By way of summary, compare and contrast simple subjectivism and emotivism.
3. Recall immediate responses to moral dilemmas. Differentiate responses based on
reason and those based on feelings.
4. Look for stories from news clips (or the news online) that highlight emotional and
rational responses. Discuss your emotional and rational responses to the news.
5. You may choose either one:
a. check real-life cases against the 7-step model, a model that uses reason and
impartiality.
b. use the 7-step moral reasoning model to solve a case (moral dilemma).
Throughout my personal development, I have navigated Kohlberg’s stages of moral
growth, starting from the pre-conventional stage of obeying rules to avoid punishment,
through the conventional stage where societal norms and the approval of others guided
my decisions, to the post-conventional stage where I now prioritize principles like
justice, fairness, and empathy. This evolution reflects a growing awareness of ethical
complexity and a desire to align actions with broader, universal values.
When comparing simple subjectivism and emotivism, both theories view morality as
subjective, but they differ in important ways. Simple subjectivism holds that moral
statements are expressions of personal feelings—when someone says something is
“wrong,” they are merely stating their own disapproval. On the other hand, emotivism
sees moral judgments as not only expressions of emotion but also as attempts to
influence others. For example, saying "X is wrong" isn't just about expressing
disapproval but also encouraging others to disapprove. Thus, while both theories reject
objective moral truths, emotivism incorporates a social element, focusing on how moral
language can sway others' attitudes and actions.
Moral dilemmas often trigger distinct responses based either on reason or
emotions. Rational responses involve carefully weighing the consequences and ethical
principles. For example, in the classic trolley problem, one might choose to sacrifice one
person to save five others, applying utilitarian reasoning to minimize overall harm. In
contrast, emotionally driven decisions stem from immediate, visceral reactions—such as
the reluctance to pull the lever due to the fear of being directly responsible for
someone's death. Emotions like empathy, fear, and guilt can overpower logical analysis,
showing the tension between emotional instincts and rational ethical reasoning.
 An example from current events, like the plight of refugees escaping war, often
evokes both emotional and rational responses. On an emotional level, the images of
families suffering generate strong feelings of compassion and sadness, prompting a
desire to provide immediate help. Rationally, however, one might analyze the broader
geopolitical factors at play, considering the need for coordinated international efforts,
policy reforms, and sustainable long-term solutions to address both the refugee crisis
and its underlying causes. This dual response highlights how moral reasoning and
emotional empathy can intersect in complex situations.
When faced with moral dilemmas, the 7-step moral reasoning model offers a
structured approach. For example, in the case of a company deciding between
environmental sustainability and maximizing profit, this model encourages gathering
relevant facts, identifying affected parties, considering potential consequences, and
acting in accordance with principles of fairness and responsibility. Through this process,
the company might balance short-term financial interests with long-term ethical
obligations to the environment, showing how reason and integrity can guide difficult
decisions.
My moral foundation has also been shaped by the cultural values instilled by
parents, teachers, and friends. Values such as respect for elders, community-oriented
thinking, hard work, and hospitality reflect the influence of these early role models and
have guided my ethical framework. When it comes to job satisfaction, my priorities align
with these values, as I seek roles that allow me to contribute to society, exercise
creativity, and pursue independence and moral fulfillment. These elements are critical to
my sense of purpose, as they align with both my ethical convictions and personal
aspirations for meaningful work.
EXERCISE 1:
Direction: In a letter size paper, write your answer to the following questions
A. List the principles you feel you received from your parents, teachers, and friends that
reflect your cultural values.
B. The list below describes a wide variety of satisfactions that people obtain from their
jobs. Look at the definitions of these various satisfactions and rate the degree of
importance that you would assign to each, using the scale below:
1 – Not important at all
2 – moderately important
3 – important
4 – very important

4
Help Society: Do something to contribute to making the world a better place in
which to live.

3
Help Others: Be involved indirectly helping other people, with individuals or small
groups.

3
Public Contact: Have a lot of day-to-day contact with people.

4
Work with Others: Have close working relationships with a group; work as a team
toward common goals.

2
Competition: Engage in activities that put my abilities against others in a situation
where there is clear win-lose outcomes.

4
Make Decisions: Have the power to decide courses of action, policies, etc.

3
Work Under Pressure: Work in situations where time pressure is prevalent and/or
the quality of my work is judged critically by supervisors.

2
Power and Authority: Control the work activities or (partially) the destinies of other
people.

3
Work Alone: Do projects by myself, without any significant amount of contact with
others.

3
Intellectual Status: Be regarded as a person of high intellectual prowess or as one
who is an acknowledged "Expert" in a given field.
 4
Creativity (general): Create new ideas, programs, or systems not following a format
previously developed by others.

3
Supervision: Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work done by
others.

4
Change and Variety: Have work responsibilities that frequently change in their
content and setting.

3
Precision Work: Work in situations where there is very little tolerance for error.

4
Security: Be assured of keeping my job and a reasonable financial reward.

4
Recognition: Be recognized for the quality of my work in some visible or public way.

3
Excitement: Experience a high degree of (or frequent) excitement in the course of
my work.

2
Profit, Gain: Have a strong likelihood of accumulating large amounts of money or
other material gains.

4
Independence: Be able to determine the nature of my work without significant
direction from others; be my boss.

4
Moral Fulfillment: Feel that my work is contributing significantly to a set of moral
standards that I feel are very important.

3
Location: Find a place to live (town, geographical area) that is conducive to my
lifestyle and allows me the opportunity to do the things I enjoy most.

3
Community: Live in a town or city where I can get involved in community affairs.

4
Time/Freedom: Have work responsibilities that I can work at according to my
schedule.