Ged 107:

Ethics

Chapter 4:
What is Culture?
How does it define
our Moral Behavior? 1
 MODULE 4
WHAT IS CULTURE? HOW DOES IT DEFINE OUR MORAL BEHAVIOR?

Introduction

This module intends to discuss culture in different perspectives, the influence of culture
in moral development, and partly include as well the characteristics of Filipino culture and the
weaknesses of Filipino character.

Learning Objectives

After studying this module, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate what culture is and how it influence moral development.
2. Apply the culture in a positive way and improve the Filipino character.
3. Discuss culture profoundly through analyzing the characteristics f Filipino culture.

4.0 What is Culture?

According to Kohak (1984), culture is at the root of human alienation from the
environment.It's not just a compilation of artifacts or reflection of people's preferences and
appreciation of beauty. He added that culture is derived from the Latin word, “cultus”, which
means giving respectto the sacredness of all. Originally, culture is not contrary to nature but is
commonly accepted as a human being's role in it.

Cole (2019) defined culture as a concept that refers to a broad and diverse collection of
often intangible areas of social life. According to sociologists, culture consists of ideals,
beliefs, language systems, communication, and behaviors that people have in common and
that can be used to describe them as a group. Culture also encompasses material objects which
are special to that community or society. Culture is distinct from the social structure and
economic aspects of society, but it is related to them both by educating and updating them on
an ongoing basis.

Lederach, (1995) introduced culture as the collective knowledge and schemes generated
bya group of people to perceive, view, convey, and react to the social realities around them.

Zimmerman explicated (2017) culture as the characteristics and awareness of a specific

community of people, including language, religion, food, social behavior, etiquette, fashion,
music, and the arts.

From the definitions above of culture, several characteristics were drawn:

1. Culture is analects of items with cultural or historical interest.

2. Culture is a remark of peoples’ choices and admiration of beauty.
3. Culture is in harmony with the environment and an individual has a role to play on it.
4. Culture is wider in scope as it includes beliefs, ideals, communication, language
systems,behaviors, and commonality of people within a group.
5. Culture embraces material objects that are significant to a particular group or society.
6. Culture is related to the social structure and economic aspects of society.
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 7. Culture is a combination of the skills, talents, capacities, and artifices brought about
by agroup of people to look at, relay messages, and respond to the realities of social
life.
8. Culture is the attributes and observation of a particular group of people which
includeslanguage, religion, social behavior, etiquette, fashion, music, and arts.

4.1 The Influences of Culture in Moral Development

Leano & Gubia-on (2018), shared five points in how culture influences the moral
development of the people and these are the following:

1. Culture is always social and communal by which the relationship of the people
towardsone another and their experience as people are the culture’s meadow.

Culture is social and communal in character where the people established and develop
their relationships with each other and learned from their experiences with them in the
community. Laws, norms, values, and attitudes serve as a binding force to enhance their
relationships. From that perspective then culture influence the moral development of the
members of the community.Yes, culture passes from one generation to the other and probably
maintains or changes the systems, principles, and values due to transformation in society but
still retains the traditional waysthat the community has.

2. The culture defines the normative principles and behaviors of society.

This refers to the definition of the principles and behaviors to be maintained, preserved,
andchanged for the benefit and best interest of the members of the community. From the
relationship and experience of the members of the community where the community itself
would be able to form certain normative principles and behaviors to be relayed and to be taught
to the members ofthat community. This scenario influences the culture of that community in
moral development.

3. A culture, as best exemplified in the experience of the people, develops restrictions

and sets boundaries and limitations as they live and relate with one another.

The restrictions and boundaries will serve as the protection and security of the members
of the community. Laws, rules, principles, and norms will be the guidelines for the members
of the community to behave accordingly, and if not then they will be subject to the punishment
or sanction embedded in their culture. This shows that there will be an awareness of the moral
development of the members of the community.

4. As culture helps in generating the character and identity of its people, it also
includes theirmoral character.

Culture shapes the character and identity of the people in the community through the
norms, standards, rules, regulations, and laws. If the community is traditional or modern in
character thenthat is the way the members of the community will learn and experience but of
course, not all havegood implications.
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 5. The culture identifies the authorities or the governing individuals or groups.

The authorities serve as the maker, interpreter, and implementer of the laws, rules, and
regulations that they have in the community. Whatever form, a system of governance that they
have the roles and duties to play in the community and their moral judgment is important in
moralissues in the community. In the family, the parents have the moral authority over their
children which is also essential for the moral development of the members of the family as the
parents arethe first who have authority to their children, who have taught and learned from
them.

Obviously, culture greatly influences the moral development of an individual. Based on

the discussions above, several points were given emphasis. As culture considered to be as
social and communal in nature, then the people within the community able to establish and
develop their relationships through learnings and experiences in the community. Their
relationships are bound by the rules, regulations, principles norms, laws, and standards that
the community has. There aredefined principles and behaviors that need to be kept, promoted,
and rejected for the best interest of the members of the community. Restrictions and
boundaries will serve as the security of the people which will be passed to them so that are
aware of them. Moreover, culture helps in generating the identity and moral development of
the members of the community through the standards, norms, rules, principles, and laws. The
maxims to be followed by them. The authorities direct the community for the proper
enforcement of the rules, regulations, and laws for the welfareof everyone.

4.2 Characteristics of Filipino Culture

Dumaraos (2018) expounded some of the characteristics of the Filipinos that set them
apartfrom any other culture and society:

1. The Filipino people are very resilient.

Despite the negative experience of the Filipinos particularly during calamities
and catastrophes, Filipinos able to manage and handle a difficult situation lightly. They
can stillsmile and always manage to rise above the challenge.

2. Filipinos take pride in their families.

Filipinos first and foremost priority is the family. Thus, whether you are part of
the immediate family or you belong to the third and fourth generation you are cherished
as a family member. Even the closest friends are regarded as a family too.

3. Filipinos are very religious.

There are so many religions in the Philippines, nowadays, different
denominations and yet they value their beliefs. For the Roman Catholics, they pay their
respect to the different cross, images of Sto. Nino, the Little Christ, and other religious
articles can be found in the house. Every almost all religion, they go to Church every
Sunday and sometimes twice or three times a week.

4. Filipinos are very respectful.

Filipinos used po and opo, words that usually at the end of the sentences when
addressing the elders. They also pay respect to someone older than them through
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 pagmamano which means raising the backs of the hands of their elders to their
forehands as a sign of respect.

5. Filipinos help one another.

Filipinos are known to bayanihan or community spirit where everyone helps each
otherto make the task easier without expecting in return.

6. Filipinos values traditions and culture.

Filipino traditions and culture are very important for Filipinos. They spent time
on celebrations such as birthday parties, reunions, festivals, etc. They dedicate every
gatheringfor continuing a good relationship with each other even over lavish food.

7. Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebration.

In the Philippines, Christmas songs started to play in the malls, restaurants,
respectivehomes from September and last until the second week of January the next
year. They hanga parol and assembling the Christmas tree with the decoration of balls
in different colors, toys, and others. Children and adults, any generation are excited to
sing Christmas carols to every house. They have misa de gallo and noche buena for the
celebration of Christmaswith the family.

8. Filipinos love art and architecture.

The gigantic and tall buildings everywhere signify Filipinos creativity in art and
architecture. They love to design, think, and have a passion for aesthetic value which
is unique and different.

9. The Filipinos are hospitable people.

The visitors whether foreigners or Filipinos are very much welcome for the
Filipinosduring festivities and even no occasions that when they arrive at the place, the
Filipinos entertain them wholeheartedly. Offer the best food, utensils, and the place to
stay. The visitors will feel at home.

4.4 Weaknesses of Filipino Character

1. Extreme Personalism
The Filipinos always try to give an interpretation of the actions or they take things
personally. They say thank you with "but" (compliment-criticism-compliment)

2. Extreme Family Centeredness

The Filipinos have very high family protection whether in good or poor
conditionand circumstance (consentidor) (overprotected)

3. Lack of Discipline
The Filipinos have a rather relaxed attitude, but bad time management (famous
Filipino time). They are impatient and unable to postpone incentives or rewards. They
want to take shortcuts or the 'palusot' scheme and careless.

4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative

They 're demanding someone's accomplishment, so they're not displaying the
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 same flag just because of race. They are rather complacent (relax) but they often have
a sense of urgency. The Filipinos have a positive personality, but a lack of self-
confidence and a deepdesire to achieve their goals. They are strong at the beginning,
but they have no sense of consistency (sometimes no direction at all or no strategy at all).
Besides, they are too patientwithout any plan (matiisin) "Bahala na System"-no matter
what, come what may, at least we tried (paconsuelo) attitude. They may have questions
and discussions or disagreement first, rather than analyzing the situation before
planning and action.

5. Colonial Mentality
Filipinos have what we call patriotism vs active awareness mentality. They
appreciate too much other nationality and foreign products than native ones (local vs
imported) They even lack love and appreciation for what they have. Furthermore, they
haveOpen outside but Side-open or Close inside character (it's ok and best to receive
more thanto share)

6. Kanya-kanya Syndrome
Filipinos have self-serving attitude that generates feeling of envy and
competitiveness towards others (status vs prestige).They have personal ambition but
insensitive to common will (people and own country). There is also a crab mentality
attitude (Hilahan and Inggitan System)instead of being happy to what are the
accomplishments of others they try to pull them down. Finally, they lack of
appreciation resulting unhealthy competition.

7. Lack of Self Analysis and Reflection

Filipinos are superficial and dreamy. They lack self-evaluation and reflection of
thesituation.
(http://evotistavenue.weebly.com/asean-youth-org/strengths-and-weaknesses-