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Contemporary on Moral Problems:

12 reflections on moral problem

Bernas, Albert T,

De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons

Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Philippines License.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to all of the people who completed my life, because without them
I’m not who I’m today.
To God who gave me strength to complete this book.
To Mr. Paul Pajo who gives us the experience to make our own book and learn about the
Contemporary on Moral Problems
And also to my family and friends who supported me through this book, with their kind
help that without them this book is impossible.
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Preface

Contemporary on Moral Problems help me understand the basics of ethics and

moral, that change my negative view to a balance, it helps me understand the positive and
negative of the morality.

I hope this book would help you understand more about morality and ethics that
we need in everyday of our life, because it help us from being bad to good and help us
understand what we should do. Now we must learn from it and use it as a sample for
other people to change our world to a better one.
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Table of Contents

Title Page ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Dedication ....................................................................................................................................2

Preface ..........................................................................................................................................3

Table of Contents .........................................................................................................................4

Chapter 1 - Egoism and Moral Scepticism .................................................................. ................5

Chapter 2 - Religion, Morality and Conscience .................................................................. ............. 6

Chapter 3 - Master and Slave Morality .................................................................. ..........................7

Chapter 4 –Trying out one’s new sword .......................................................................................8

Chapter 5 – Utilitarianism .............................................................................................................9

Chapter 6 – The Debate over Utilitarianism .................................................................................10

Chapter 7 – The Categorical Imperative....................................................................................... 11

Chapter 8 – Happiness and Virtue ................................................................................................12

Chapter 9 – The Nature and Value of Rights ............................................................................ ...13

Chapter 10 – Taking Rights Seriously ..........................................................................................14

Chapter 11 – A theory of Justice................................................................................................... 15

Chapter 12 – The Need for More than Justice ...............................................................................16

References...................................................................................... ................................................17
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Chapter 1: Egoism and Moral Scepticism

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote:”No one, it is commonly believed, would have such iron strength of mind as to stand fast in doing right or
keep his hands off other men’s goods”.
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “Egoism and Moral Scepticism”.
Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 1 which is The Egoism and Moral Scepticism, James Rachel is the author
of this chapter 1. Egoism is something that someone does for their self interest which means they will possibly do
something that can hurt others for their self. And Moral Scepticism are doubts or collection of denies to morality.
For Egoism James Rachel has give an example of a story which I read in the chapter about a guy name
Gyges who has a magical ring which he used it badly to murder the king and seduced the queen and become the
owner of the throne. What the story means is that he is doing bad for his self interest even it will cost killing and
seducing other people, the morality which everyone should have was gone because of greed of power or wealth. But
there is also what she said about the ethical egoist which is not that but because he or she has self interest but done it
ethically which is better than only self interest, what this means is that he or she also thinks about the others but not
only himself or herself.
To end this chapter I would like to end it with my conclusion that ethically egoism is better than only
egoism, but I’m not saying it is always good because having self interest whenever there is ethics or not is not really
thinking for others. Imagine a world we live where all of the humans help each other and there is no greed in
everything, people share what they have to those who need it and that is what I would like to happen personally.
What I learned:
- Egoism can do bad acts because of self interest.
- Ethical egoism is doing for oneself but is aware other people.

Integrative Question:
1. What is the result of Egoism?
2. What are the pros and cons of ethical egoism according to the writer of this case study?
3. Is Egoism important?
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Chapter 2: Religion, Morality and Conscience

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote:”To have a moral code, then, is to tend to evaluate the behaviour of others and to feel guilt at certain action
when we perform them”.
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “Religion, Morality and Conscience”.
Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 2 which is The Religion, Morality and Conscience. John Arthur is the
author of this chapter 2. Religion in my own words is the personal beliefs or influence by other people in to
believing in their god and is what they treated as the perfect one whom they respect and follow. I personally believe
in God and Jesus Christ which thru them I also do good things and have to watch out for my bad actions or thoughts.
Morality is one behavior which is what he or she is and is personally accepted by oneself.
That’s also John Arthur said that he believed morality and religion are connected in way they have the
same outcome of moral acts. I personally believe that I have good moral and strong faith to God that is why I respect
other people and also think of them but nobody is perfect and still I can do sins and that is why there is also
conscience to let us feel what we did is not right. People who have conscience are the one who have moral and faith
inside them and that would possibly change them in the future if they really regret what they did that cause bad
experience to others or to the one who did the act.
So to end this chapter 2 I would like it to end it with my conclusion that people mostly kind but because of
lack or moral and faith to God they are not scared to do something bad. So having morality and strong faith to God
will help one to change their morality and together with conscience.
What I learned:
- Morality comes from one acceptant of behaviour.
- Religion help people became more moral by having faith in God.

Integrative Question:
1. What is the Morality?
2. Is religion and morality connected based on the author of this case study?
3. Is Religion important in part of life?
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Bernas, Albert T.
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Chapter 3: Master and Slave Morality

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote:”The superior person follows a “master-morality” that emphasizes power, strength, egoism, and freedom, as
distinguished from a “slave-morality” that calls for weakness, submission, sympathy and love.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “Morality in Master and Slave relations”.
Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 3 which Master and Slave Morality. Friedrich Nietzsche is the author of
this chapter 3. Morality is the accepted behaviour of oneself having good moral keeps a community happy and away
from greed of power, wealth and others. Master and slave relationship started in the history and is still happening in
the present.
The “slave” word is a negative word for me and for others because it is like treated like a animal which we
should respect them somehow because they are also human we can call them servant rather than slave. But
according to Friedrich Nietzsche there should be morality for a master to their slave because slaves are also human
which is just that they are unfortunate. Master should treat them also as friends who would help them in work or
other stuff but master should respect them and give them freedom because there are also laws and master should
have good moral. In our own experience we have own maid and some of them are already 5 years staying with us.
Why? I think my mother is a fair in treating them.
To end this chapter 3 I would like to end it with my conclusion that we should respect people who serve us
because they also have dignity and freedom. We must give them respect as long as they give us also. If that happen
the trade or transaction between the two will be successful and have morality and that ends my case study about
Master and Slave Morality.
What I learned:
- Slave is to be treated well too.
- Master should have good moral.

Integrative Question:
1. What is the Morality?
2. Should master respect their slave based on the author of this case study?
3. Is slave should be treated well?
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Bernas, Albert T.
OOB

Chapter 4: Trying Out One’s New Sword

Amazon Reference: //www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “Moral Isolationism would lay down a general ban on moral reasoning”.
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “Moral Isolationism”.
Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 4 which is “Trying out One’s New Sword”. Mary Midgley is the author of
this chapter which talks about moral Isolationism. As for me this kind of isolation is not good because you will be
stack in just what you have learned and it would not expand your thoughts and ideas about morality more.
Moral Isolationism is isolating your morality by believing only what you believe and look at the new ones
as “unmoral” or does not want to accept more. Trying out one’s new sword means that trying out other culture as
how they goes with the traditional that people are used to be, because getting more information or experience from
other people can change the view of the tradition one and can be changed into a better one for good purpose of
course.
To end this chapter 4, I would like to end it with my conclusion that moral isolationism might stop the
growth of improvements like morals or other learning, we should look at other culture and learn, understand about it
and how important it to them and of course why is it important to them. Then by that we could improve our own
morality and debate in ourselves whether what is right or wrong that can help the people more.
What I learned:
- Moral Isolationism.
- The effects of moral isolationism.

Integrative Question:
1. What is the effect of moral isolationism?
2. What are the cons of moral isolationism?
3. Is improving our moral important?
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Bernas, Albert T.
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Chapter 5: Utilitarianism
Amazon Reference: //www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “By Happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of
pleasure.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “Utilitarianism”.
Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 5 which is “Utilitarianism”. John Stuart Mill is the author of this chapter
which talks about Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism means Greatest Happiness as also stated in this chapter. When I
came up on this chapter, I had a thought about this utilitarianism that it could both have pros and cons on its
situation, well depending on the situation and how is it done morally.
I came across a realization that some people thinks that when there is something for the greatest happiness
then it is moral or it good, but I personally think that happiness should comes from oneself that they did not hurt or
cheated other people and that can be the true happiness for the greater, because we have to be morally and ethically
think about what we will do for others and for ourselves on how to make everybody including yourself happy.
Now to end this case study of this chapter, I would like to end it with my conclusion that we should think
morally and ethically on everything we are doing because what you done might influence other people or totally
change yourself onto it, what if it is bad? Then you will be always bad that make other happy including yourself but
at the same time hurting other people. You had achieved the greatest happiness but also sadness.
What I learned:
- Utilitarianism.
- The pros and cons of Utilitarianism.

Integrative Question:
1. What is the effect Utilitarianism?
2. What are the pros and cons of utilitarianism?
3. In this case study author, is Utilitarianism complete good for him? Why?
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Bernas, Albert T.
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Chapter 6: Debate over Utilitarianism

Amazon Reference: //www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “First, actions are to be judged right or wrong solely in virtue of their consequences. Nothing else matters.
Right actions are, simply, those that have the best consequences.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “Debate over Utilitarianism”.
Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 6 which is “Debate over Utilitarianism”. James Rachel is the author of this
chapter which talks about the Debate over Utilitarianism. As what I had said in the past chapter which is the chapter
5, Utilitarianism means Greatest Happiness as also stated in this chapter. This quote that I read thru in the first page
of this book “First, actions are to be judged right or wrong solely in virtue of their consequences. Nothing else
matters. Right actions are, simply, those that have the best consequences.” This quote seems same to my thoughts
about Utilitarianism in the past chapter.
For me when there is something for the greatest happiness then it is moral or it good, but I personally think
that happiness should comes from oneself that they did not hurt or cheated other people and that can be the true
happiness for the greater, because we have to be morally and ethically think about what we will do for others and for
ourselves on how to make everybody including yourself happy.
Now to end this case study of this chapter, I would like to end it with my conclusion that since I had
already explained what I debate from the Utilitarianism in chapter 5. I will then say that in happiness we should
make sure everybody is happy and there is not a single individual hurt or had bad experience.
What I learned:
- Utilitarianism, should have good outcome.
- The pros and cons of Utilitarianism.

Integrative Question:
1. What is the effect Utilitarianism?
2. What are the pros and cons of utilitarianism?
3. In this case study author, is Utilitarianism complete good for him? Why?
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Bernas, Albert T.

OOB

Chapter 7: The Categorical Imperative

Amazon Reference: //www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/

Quote: “Power, Wealth, honour, even health and that complete well being and contentment with one’s state of
which goes by the name of “Happiness”.

What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the meaning of “The Categorical Imperative”.

Review:
This is my reflection on Chapter 7 which is The Categorical Imperative, Immanuel Kant talks about Good will, duty,
The Categorical Imperative. Now Good will means being good, kind or friendly. It can also be the luck you have in
doing something good. Everybody should have good will to help other people because having Good will can change
a person inside to a better in moral but also in what Immanuel Kant said that Good will results is not good because it
accomplish ones want.

There is also duty that is needed done for because everybody or every single person has a duty in life, and that duty
depends on what you are in a family, business, student, nationality and etc. For example a brother and in a family
though he is the oldest of the siblings, he has the duty to discipline the younger ones and protect them from any
harm that might happen to them. Duty is the responsibility to do what they should do. Categorical Imperative
describe how a duty is needed to be done and why, and it determines if the principle is proper or not.

So to end this case study about The Categorical Imperative I would like to end it with my conclusion that human
should have their duty in everything, because by this everything will be more in order. And fewer problems would
arise. For the Good will it is also important too because having a Good will would have a good community. But I
believed that in these present times being so kind is not that good because there are many people who take over your
kindness.

What I learned:

- Sometimes duty is being done because f the sake of there is a duty.

- Good will is not good because of what it affects or accomplishes.

Integrative Question:

1. What is the result of Good Will?

2. What are the cons of Duty?

3. Is Duty important?
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Bernas, Albert T.
OOB

Chapter 8: Happiness and Virtue

Amazon Reference: //www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “And goods also give rise to a similar fluctuation because they bring harm to many people.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand what Happiness and Virtue Aristotle is discussing.
Review:
In this chapter 8 which is Happiness and Virtue by Aristotle, I did not expect that he would also give
contribution to philosophy. Well everyone have their own happiness and it depends on what make them happy. For
example it can be a happy of Power which can be used for bad like for example a corrupt leader that uses his or her
power to fool people. So this means that happiness does not necessarily lead to goodness.
What is good is doing good things that is not for self interest and you are happy about it, for example my
own experience I am happy to help people because they are in need of help and I don’t need to let other people know
that how much I had help to make myself popular among others. A true happiness is doing it without self interest or
hurting others. Virtue is the character of one or trait which is good in self. Having virtue is a good moral because it
is that he or she is always good and not because of they are getting something for them self.
So to end this case study about the chapter Happiness and Virtue I would like to end it with my conclusion
that Happiness and Virtue should be in one when doing things because it helps you be a better person have moral.
Doing things that makes you happy should also make other happy and not because of self interest and self
enjoyment.
What I learned:
- Happiness is better when you make other happy also.
-Virtue is the goodness of character and which always stay good.

Integrative Question:
1. What is Virtue?
2. What can Happiness bring to other?
3. What did you learn in this chapter?
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Bernas, Albert T.
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Chapter 9: The Nature of Value Rights

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “Fill this imagined world with as much benevolence, compassion, sympathy, and pity as it will conveniently
hold without strain.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand the nature and value of rights.
Review:
In this chapter 9 which is the nature and value of rights by Joel Feinberg, talks about rights and imagination
of a place where people help another which is called the Nowheresville. Every people have their rights and rights are
to be respected and given to any of people so that your rights would also be given. Duty is also explained here and
what it is to the rights of people.
As what I said in the past case study about duty, everybody has the duty to respects every rights of a single
person in order to respect every right. Joel Feinberg also talks about God in his morality and connect it with his
thoughts, the reason why God is used is because God is perfect and he teaches us morality and values that we should
follow in order to be a good person and have peaceful community. But present times it is hard to control the people
on how they could follow what is right because of freedom to choose what they wanted to be and where they are
happy.
To end this case study, I would like to end this with my conclusion that having a value of rights is
important in every one of them because it gives us the best in us in loving other people. Respecting each other rights
returns back the respect for your rights so start it in yourself little by little influence other people and that would help
in the near future.
What I learned:
-Rights are gained when it is also given to others.
-Nowheresville is a imagination in which it could help give ideas.

Integrative Question:
1. What is Rights?
2. How to gain rights?
3. What did you learn in this chapter?
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Bernas, Albert T.
OOB

Chapter 10: Taking rights seriously

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “The constitution fuses legal and moral issues, by making the validity of a law depend on the answer to
complex moral problems.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to understand what rights what Ronald Dworkin is talking about.
Review:
In this chapter 10 which is taking rights seriously by Ronald Dworkin, every person has their rights in short
every human has their rights and this rights are to be respected and taken seriously because rights are the what we
must have in order for us to live happily, Ronald Dworkin talks about Right to break the Law, Rights of citizens and
lastly why to take rights seriously.
Now we will start for the Right to break the law, nobody has the right to break the law because as what we
can hear almost every time from other people is that nobody is above the law. And if someone is above the law the
law will be nothing. Ronald Dworkin uses the US government as sample and the citizens. For me when the
government break the law then you can also break the law because they the leader itself is not following the law but
breaking the law will cause more trouble like here in the Philippines. Rights of citizens there are a lot of rights of
citizens and of them are to be protected by the law itself and the government from local and international threats that
is why citizens of a country is paying taxes.
Lastly is the taking rights seriously, whoever read this case study I made I just want to say that we should
take it seriously by respecting and following other rights because if you did not respect it other people might
disrespect it, we should have good moral and all of us are the same as one living thing the human.
What I learned:
- Rights should be taken seriously
-Virtue is the goodness of character and which always stay good.

Integrative Question:
1. Why it is that right should be taken seriously?
2. What is a right?
3. What are the rights of citizens (just a sample)?
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Bernas, Albert T.
OOB

Chapter 11: Theory of Justice

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “Men are to decide in advance how they are to regulate their claims against one another and what is to be the
foundation charter of their society.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to learn the Theory of justice.
Review:
In this chapter 11 which is the theory of justice by John Rawls, John Rawls talks about justice and the two
principles of it. Justice means ethically, morally, law, fairness. If there is law there is also justice for people who is
the victim of the violation of law. In the present times when you watch news of killings or victim of killings and
other violation to law that had damage a person’s thing or life. They are always saying that they should be given
justice.
For example someone died and the criminal escaped, most relatives would say that justice should be given
to their died love one, which is true because deep inside it really hurt them especially by not capturing the criminal.
If there is law there should be justice because justice serves as their shield for law. Justice should be ethically and
morally because it should not be given to the one who did the wrong deed but instead it should be given to the
victim of the situation.
So to end this case study I would like to end it with my conclusion that people should always have equal
right because we are all humans and we live in one world, being equal to all is the best that could happen but today it
is hard because of the poor and rich or what we called the classes which have class a, b, c, d and even e. Especially
for the lower ones they are not treated fairly because others have the money and other are greedy.
What I learned:
- Justice is important and fair.
-Society should have justice and law.

Integrative Question:
1. Why it is that justice is important?
2. What is the relation of law to justice?
3. Should justice have moral?
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Bernas, Albert T.
OOB

Chapter 12: The need for more than justice

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/
Quote: “justice is a social value of very great importance, and injustice an evil.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to learn more about justice.
Review:
In this chapter 12 which is the need for more than justice by Annette Baier, Annette Baier talks more about
justice and as what I said in the past case study, justice means ethically, morally, law, and fairness. If there is law
there is also justice for people who is the victim of the violation of law. In the present times when you watch news
of killings or victim of killings and other violation to law that had damage a person’s thing or life. They are always
saying that they should be given justice.
Annette Baier talks about the justice which is more than that and some of this issue are the issue until now
that is not solved yet. For example the black and white issue, men and women issue. Black and white issue are
mostly common and normal in the US because of discrimination and I heard one situation about a restaurant that
says that no blacks can come inside but dogs can, just look at what is happening they are treating the black people
less than animal it is really a shame for those who discriminate other people, no one is just perfect and each person is
unique. And for the men and women, men are mostly bad because of treating women unfairly and I think one of the
reasons is that men are more in brute force and they are the leader well mostly because now even women are leader.
To end this chapter I would like to end it with my conclusion that we should give justice to other people as
they would give us justice too. Justice is important in every aspect of life. And it should be respected.
What I learned:
- Justice is important and fair.
-Society should watch over the situation.

Integrative Question:
1. Why it is that justice is important?
2. What is that there is discrimination?
3. Should everyone have justice?
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Reference
http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/