Chapter7 130130085559-phpapp01

- Man is not only an animal; he is a person. No other corporeal
substance is a person. Only man is. Man is a person because he
has the gift of insight (intellect) and volition (will).
- The self is the first and most fundamental of values.
- Actions, for example, are values because they are the
result of intellect and will , motivated towards
something desirable.

1. Biological Values. These are necessary to the physical
survival of man as an organism:
Life and health

2. Social Values. These are necessary to the
sensual and fulfillment:
Leisure and Sex

3. Rational Values. Those are necessary to the functions
and fulfillment of intellect and will:
Understanding and Control of Nature
Guide and Control of Oneself
Solidarity with fellowmen
Religion

Von Rintelen
in his article “A Realistic Analysis of Value” defines moral
value as
“’A qualitatively determined value-in-itself which has a
normative character and presupposes the liberty of possible
decision to effectuate real value in concrete acts of varying
degree.”

CHARACTERISTICS OF MORAL VALUES
1. Moral Values are goods having intrinsic qualities of desirability.
2. Moral Values are universal, that is, they appeal to man as man
and to man as a specific individual.
3. Moral Values are Obligatory. They come as a natural duty, because
possession of them is expected as an integral quality to man as
rational creature directed by natural powers towards truth , beauty
and goodness.

Others values include what we functionally call religious ,
cultural, and social values:
1. Religious Values are those which pertain to
man’s relationship with the deity, guiding his
communion with Him.
2. Cultural Values are those man shares with
others in a given community of persons, shaping
their spiritual kinship, and directing their
attention to definite ideals of behavior.
3. Social Values are those that are necessary for the
promotion of human society as a whole, integrating the
motivation and interest of members towards the
common objective of goal.

The Hierarchy of Values
• Refers to the order of values from the
lowest to the highest in importance.
Values do not have the same degree of
desirability.
• Neither is it possible to incorporate all
values at the same time in our lives.

The Aristotrlian ranking of values appear justified
 The goods pertaining to the soul, that is, to the
intellect and will, occupies the highest level of
importance.
 The biological values occupy the lowest rank.
 That we should aim for the most essential values is
common sense enough.
Our choices should direct us to genuine growth
character.

Choosing our values
1. Every man has to choose his values. He is wise
indeed who chooses values according to their
intrinsic worth.
2. Values favored by a greater number of people must be preferred
over those that appeal only to a few, e.g., discipline over personal
freedom.
3. Values that are essential must be preferred over those that
are accidental ,e.g., health over beauty.
4. Values that greater satisfaction must be preferred over
those that provide short-lived pleasure ,e.g., pursuing your
artistic hobby over fanatical devotion to a movie star.

Ethical Theories
1.Plato,
- believed that man is free. Thus,
man deserves to be punished for the
“sins” he freely commits .
2. Aristotle.
- Man has threefold nature: vegetal, animal, and rational .Man
must realize his nature by cultivating all his natural tendencies
.The highest good correspond to the tendency of the soul.
3. St.. Thomas Aquinas.
- The Highest Good, or, Summum Bonum consists
in “beatific version of God. No earthly good can fully
satisfy human desires Man, because of his rational
appetites of intellect and free well, can only be
completely happy in God Himself.

1. Islamism
- is a philosophy of life, a complete system of living,
based on the Word of God revealed to Mohammed.
Islam teaches that the Greatest Value is one’s
surrender to God.
This consists in the fulfillment of the Five Pillars:
(1) Confession of Creed : “There is no God but Allah
,and Mohammed is his prophet “.
(2) Prayer brings man in the right relationship with God.
(3) Charity.
(4) Observance of the Ramadan.
(5) Pilgrimage to Mecca.

2. Buddhism.
- The Greatest Value according to Buddha is the liberation of
man from suffering though the abandonment of all egoistic
desires.
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are:
(1) Life is the root of all sufferings;
(2) suffering are caused by desires;
(3) Desires can be eliminated by negating life;
(4) Elimination of desires can be achieved by
accumulating karma or deeds that eventually
free the
individual.

3.Utiltarianism.
- The Greatest Value ,according to Jeremy
Bentham, one of its proponents , is
pleasure. But man, being a sociable animal,
must conduct his affairs in a ways that
would benefit others.
John Stuart
- defines the greatest good:
“By happiness is intended
pleasure and the absence of
pain; by unhappiness, pain
and the privation of
pleasure”.

4. Communism.
- is based on the
teachings of Karl Marx.
The Greatest Good is
absolute equality. The
mission of communism
is the production of
material wealth by
means of collective
labor, so that the goods
of this world might be
enjoyed in a paradise
where each would give
according to his needs.
Karl Marx.

5. Christianism.
- Christianity is based on the
teachings and life of Jesus
Christ. Christ taught that the
Greatest Value is Love . God
is Love. ”And behold, a
certain man came to Him and
said, ‘Good Master, what
good work shall I do to have
eternal life ? One there is
who is good, and he is God.”
(Mattehew,19:16-17).
- Christian morality is
essentially based on love
which embraces even the
enemy..

Chapter7 130130085559-phpapp01

Prepared by:
Ariana M. Moises

Chapter7 130130085559-phpapp01

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Chapter7 130130085559-phpapp01