Activity 1 – Ethical Dimension of Human Existence
1. In your own experience, which of the three – law, religion, culture – do you think has
been the most influential, in terms of its directing you to act in certain ways rather than
others? Explain your answer.
2. Our discussion of these three institutions – law, religion, and culture – in order to assess
their status as determinants of our ethical thinking discloses an ever thornier problem.
Generally, everything is fine as long as these three are telling us the same thing, but what
happens when they disagree? What do we do when the clerics of a religious tradition
object to a law being proposed? What do we do when a law disadvantages certain
cultures? What do we do when emerging cultures claiming legitimacy stands at odds with
certain religious communities? Try to do some research on one such actual conflict.
Explain your answer.
3. We have all struggled, at one time or another, with the question: why should I bother
being good? Why should I care for others, beyond my own self? Recount the
circumstances surrounding your own experience of feelings this question most acutely.
Explain your answer.
4. Corruption in the form of nepotism (the act of granting an advantage, privilege, or
position to relatives or friends in an occupation or field) and cronyism (the appointment
of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their
qualifications) have long been recognized as one of the most pernicious social and
political problems in this country. We are so accustomed to it, and some even go so far as
to find ways to justify it, more or less saying that it is only a person in power to protect
those around him or her.
Could it be said that looking after the benefit of one’s own- one’s family and one’s
friends-without regard to the welfare of others is basically another form of egoism?
Discuss briefly.
Rubrics: 10 points each
Answers must be comprehensive. Each item is equivalent to 10 pts and you will be graded based
on the following:
a. Knowledge of concepts – 4 pts
b. Clear and in-depth explanation – 4 pts
c. Insight/Critique (where needed) – 2 pts