REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

CITY UNIVERSITY OF PASAY

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
118 Pasadeña St., F.B. Harrison, Pasay City

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE TITLE ETHICS

COURSE CODE GEC 108
NO. OF UNITS 3 units
SCHEDULE TBA
PROFESSOR Prof. Jethro V. Pancubit, LPT, M.A.Ed.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts, principles, and debates in
ethical theory. Topics include moral reasoning, the major ethical frameworks, and the
application of ethical principles in contemporary issues. Students will critically engage
with ethical dilemmas, reflecting on how ethics shapes personal, social, and
professional life. The course is designed to foster critical thinking, self-reflection, and
an appreciation for diverse moral perspectives.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand and differentiate between major ethical theories, including

deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and relativism.
2. Apply ethical principles to real-world moral dilemmas.
3. Critically evaluate moral arguments and identify logical fallacies.
4. Articulate and defend their own moral views, while respecting alternative
perspectives.
5. Analyze ethical issues in social, political, and professional contexts.

PRE-REQUISITE None
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK TOPIC/S TEACHING/LEARNING ASSESSMENT
ACTIVITIES
Week 1 Introduction to Ethics  Classroom Sharing  Introduce oneself.
 What is Ethics?  Debates  Expectations
 The Importance of Ethical  Recitation
Reasoning
 Ethical Relativism vs. Ethical
Objectivism

Ethics and Religion
 The Relationship Between Religion
and Morality
 Divine Command Theory
 Secular Ethics vs. Religious Ethics
Week 2 Moral Philosophy and Theories  Classroom Discussion  Class Participation
  Deontological Ethics (Kantian  Group-Sharing  Quiz No. 1
Ethics)  Debates
 The Categorical Imperative
 Criticisms of Deontology
Week 3 Utilitarianism  Brainstorming  Recitation
 The Principle of Utility  Lecture  Output No. 1: Skit
 Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism  Film Critique
 Key Theorists: Jeremy Bentham &
John Stuart Mill
 Evaluating Utilitarianism

Week 4 Virtue Ethics  Classroom Discussion  Quiz No. 2

 The Role of Character and Virtue  Recitation
 Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics
 Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)
Critiques of Virtue Ethics
Week 5 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Week 6 Ethical Relativism and Cultural  Focused Group  Output No. 2: Venn
Differences Discussion Diagram
 The Relativism Debate  Lecture
 Cultural and Ethical Relativism 
 Universalism vs. Relativism
 Case Studies in Cultural Ethics
Week 7 Social and Political Ethics Brainstorming  Recitation
 Social Contract Theory (Hobbes,
Locke, Rousseau)
 Justice and Fairness: John Rawls'
Theory of Justice
 The Ethics of Equality and Rights
Week 8 Bioethics and Medical Ethics  Lecture  Recitation
 Ethical Issues in Medicine:  Group Activity  Quiz No. 3
Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-
Maleficence
 The Ethics of Cloning, Genetic
Engineering, and Euthanasia
 Case Studies: Ethical Dilemmas in
Healthcare
Week 9 Environmental Ethics  Discussion  Recitation
 Anthropocentrism vs. Ecocentrism  Simulation  Output No. 3: Clean-
 The Ethics of Climate Change Up Drive
 Rights of Nature and
Environmental Justice
 Sustainable Development and
Ethics
Week 10 MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Week 11 Business Ethics  Lecture  Class Participation
 Corporate Social Responsibility  Quiz No. 4
(CSR)
 Ethical Issues in Marketing, Labor,
and Profit
 Case Study: Ethical Dilemmas in
the Corporate World
Week 12 Ethical Issues in Technology  Lecture  Class Participation
 Artificial Intelligence and Ethics
 Privacy, Surveillance, and Data
Ethics
  The Ethics of Autonomous
Systems
Week 13 Moral Responsibility and Free Will  Lecture Output No. 4: Ethical
 The Problem of Free Will in Ethics  Classroom Activity Dilemma
 Moral Luck and Accountability
 Ethics of Punishment and Justice
Week 14 Metaethics  Lecture  Recitation
 What is the Nature of Ethical  Classroom Activity
Statements?
 Moral Realism vs. Moral Anti-
Realism
 The Is-Ought Problem (David
Hume)
 The Role of Language in Ethics
Week 15 FINAL EXAMINATION
CLASS POLICIES The classroom policies are the same as to the prescribed by the University.
EVALUATION Attendance – 5%
AND GRADING Recitation and Class Participation – 10%
POLICIES Quizzes – 10%
Activities and Outputs – 15%
Preliminary Examination – 15%
Midterm Examination – 20%
Final Examination – 25%
Total – 100%
REFERENCES  Reyes, R. C. (2023). Ground and Norm of Morality: Ethics for College
Students. Bluebooks, Philippines.

Prepared:

PROF. JETHRO V. PANCUBIT, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Subject Professor
The Contemporary World

Approved:

ENGR. MARCOS B. GERONGA

Dean
College of Arts and Science