ETHICS 1.

We cannot call out societal practices that

LESSON 2: Cultural Relativism promote harm:
2. We cannot justifiably criticize our own
ELLEMA, ARIANNE KENDRA P. | 1D culture’s harmful practices: This implies that
to decide whether your action is right or
Cultural Relativism: explains why one behavior or
wrong all you need to do is check whether
practice is completely acceptable by a particular
your action is in accordance with the
group of people, while it is taboo in another.
standards of your society. If your actions are
Cultural Relativism: refers to the idea that values, in line with your culture, then you have done
knowledge, and behavior of people must be nothing wrong even though your actions
understood within its own cultural context and not were harmful.
by the standards of other cultures. 3. The idea of social progress become
doubtful: Progress means replacing
Franz Boaz: (1887) first articulated “The word is
something old with something better. The
wide and huge”. “Civilization is not something
idea of social reform is now eradicated
absolute, but is relative, and our ideas and
because we are prohibited from judging one
conceptions are true only so far as our civilization
society as better over others. Ex. Spanish
goes”.
Colonial Era.

Alain Locke: (1924) a philosopher and social

theorist who first use the term “cultural relativism”. LESSON 3: Universal Values

Dr. James Rachels: A philosopher and University The dangers that cultural relativism present thinkers
professor. His book entitled “The Elements of Moral such ethics expert Dr. James Rachels to reject
Philosophy, laid out five claims of Cultural relativists cultural relativism because it is implausible. The
as to why right or wrong is only a matter of cultural empirical basis of cultural relativism is that cultures
Standards. are dramatically different in its views of what is right
5 CLAIMS: and wrong. (Rachels, 2004)
1. Different societies have different moral
codes. 3 UNIVERSAL VALUES
2. The moral code of the society determines • Caring for the youth
what is right or wrong. There is no objective • Murder is wrong
standard considered better than others. • Tell the truth
3. There are no universal moral truths.
4. The moral code of a particular society has
The theoretical point here is that “there are some
no special status. It is but one among many. moral rules that all societies will have in common,
5. It is arrogant for one culture to judge another because those rules are necessary for society to
culture. There should be tolerance among survive.
cultures.
POSITIVE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM
CULTURAL RELATIVISM: (according to
LESSON 4: The Filipino Way
rachels)
1. It warns us from assuming that our QUALITIES OF THE FILIPINO MORAL IDENTITY
preferences are the absolute rational The filipino culture is a mix of both eastern and
standard. western cultures. The beliefs and traditions of pre-
2. It teaches us to keep an open mind and to colonial Philippines was mainly indigenous Malay
be more amenable in discovering the truth. heritage. (Baringer, 2006)

DANGERS OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan: Psychologist, Educator,

and former chairperson of the commission on higher

ETHICS | ELLEMA, ARIANNE KENDRA P.

education, wrote that the strength and weaknesses violate the law and when there is lack of
of the Filipino character are rooted in factors such accountability for leaders who break the law,
as: the filipino mindset is hugely affected in a
• The Home Environment: filipino children negative way (Licuanan, 1994).
are taught to value family and give primary STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO
importance. CHARACTER
• Culture and Language: this depicts
openness to foreign elements with no basic The Filipino traits listed here is certainly not
consciousness of our cultural core exhaustive, but these are what we have in common
(Licuanan, 1994). The Filipino Colonial the most. The strong aspects of the Filipino
Mentality such as the importance of the character are:
English language in our educational system,
the wider following of Hollywood movies, Pakikipagpakapwa-tao: is demonstrated in the
foreign soap operas or tv shows, and foreign Filipino’s openness, helpfulness, and generosity; in
songs/singers over filipino movies, shows, the practice of bayanihan or mutual assistance; and
and music is a manifestation of our the famous Filipino hospitality (Licuanan, 1994;
attachment to foreign elements. Guevara & Gripaldo 2005).
Family Orientation: Filipinos also possess a
• Colonial History: regarded as the culprit genuine love for family. This love is not just for one’s
behind our colonial mentality. spouse and children but also to parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins (even very
• Educational System: is instrumental in distant one’s), and even to ceremonial relatives.
molding the strengths and weaknesses of This love is shown through giving honor and respect
the Filipino characters. to parents and elders , care for the children,
generosity towards kin, and the personal sacrifices
• Religion: taught us optimism and resilience. that a filipino endures for the welfare of the family.
However it is also instilled in us a fatalistic (Manuat & Gripaldo , 2005).
attitude. Since religious communities are
also highly authoritarian, this further Joy and Humor: Filipinos are also cheerful and fun
reinforced our being passive and conformist. loving . Our various fiestas and social gatherings
(Licuanan,1994) demonstrate the filipino joy and humor.

• Economic Environment: Several filipino Flexibility, Adaptability, and Creativity: Filipinos

traits are rooted in here. The hard life drove are tremendous in adjusting and adapting to any
filipinos to work hard and take risks, such as circumstances. We can improvise and make use of
leaving our families to work abroad. This whatever is at hand to create and produce. Our
further developed our ability to survive. flexibility, adaptability, and creativity are reasons
why many filipinos thrive in various parts of the
• Political Environment- and government world. (Licuanan, 1994).
structures and systems are fraught with
problems. Hardwork and Industry: This trait is the most
Note: The economic and political environments noticeable in our willingness to take risks and work
are among the elements that developed the in other countries.
culture of corruption in the Philippines.
• Mass Media: reinforce our colonial Faith and Religiosity: This can be related to our
mentslity. “bahala na mindset”. There is actually a positive
side to this fatalistic trait. For the Filipinos, the
• Leaders & Role Model: filipinos highly “bahala na” attitude could serve as the “kickstarter”
respect authority. Thus, when our leaders or a “pampalakas loob” to move him or her into
action (Gripaldo, 2005)

ETHICS | ELLEMA, ARIANNE KENDRA P.

 Kanya-kanya syndrome: is related to the filipino
Ability to Survive: This contribute to all our positive traits of extreme personalism and extreme family-
traits. The salawikain or proverb “matutong centeredness; this damped our sense of community
mamaluktot habang maikli ang kumot” aptly depicts and cooperation- and we trample on each other’s
our survival instinct. We can endure, make do, and rights as a result.
get by on so little while looking forward to the Crab Mentality: this expression is when we
coming of better days. This trait is the reasons why tend to pull others down in order for us to
Filipinos continue to carry on even through our climb up, exemplify the kanya-kanya
harsh economic and social circumstances (Tianco & syndrome.
Gripaldo, 2005; Licuanan, 1994).
Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection is the
WEAKNESS OF THE FILIPINO expression that Filipinos are “madaling makalimot”
CHARACTER or have a short memory. This means, as a nation,
we easily forget the mistakes we made; hence we
make the same mistakes again. This is one reason
Extreme Personalism: As Filipinos, we find it
why traditional politicians or “trapos” are always re-
difficult to separate objective tasks and emotional
elected into office.
involvement. This is where the palakasan system
spring from. Filipinos wants to get special treatment
and will always look for inside connections in most
of transactions; This is another element that led to
the prevalence of graft and corruption in the country.

Extreme Family-centeredness: flaw; family is

valued above anything and everyone else. Thus,
concern for the rest of the community and for the
common good is less important; is manifested in our
political system where political dynasties lord over
our elected government posts starting from the
barangay level all the way up to the national
positions. (McCoy, 1994; Licuanan, 1994)

Lack of Discipline: is characterized by our

idiomatic expression “ningas cogon”. Another
related characteristic is “Filipino time”. Filipinos are
known to be always late- we arrive late or we start
late. This trait disregard the importance of time is
adversely affecting Filipino productivity (Tan, 2016)

Passivity and Lacking Initiative: Filipinos have

high respect for authority. This trait is also related to
our lack of discipline. Example is our traffic problem.

Colonial Mentality: Filipinos love anything foreign.

Foreign elements are adapted and incorporated into
our image. In the process, we are also losing our
cultural identity; Colonial Mentality is connected to
our general feelings of inferiority, where we think
foreigners- especially western, are superior.
(Licuanan, 1994).

ETHICS | ELLEMA, ARIANNE KENDRA P.