MY
MORAL
PHILOSOPHY

By: Charisse F. Aquisay
Philosophy 2 4:00-5:00 MWF P406
Mr. Glendon G. de Guzman
October 13, 2010
BA Comm 2
SLU

FAMILY The family is indeed the fundamental unit of a society. It is the basic institution which initially influences the growth and development of an individual. Whatever personality the individual has depends on how he was reared in the family. The early stages of one’s life are greatly influential to the overall individuality of a person especially when he has grown up. In the words of Sigmund Freud, “the child is father to the son” – childhood essentially shapes the person’s behavior or character in life. All the systems, feelings, insights and qualities he acquires from childhood is brought by him in one way or another until he grows up into an adult. It is, therefore, vital that a child must be nurtured with sufficient love and care. He must be guided and be exposed to situations which mold him into a better person. As much as possible, he must experience lesser negative, depressing, agitating or even saddening situations for it affects the way he sees things in life as well as his behavior towards certain these kinds of circumstances as he grows up in life no matter how trivial or complicated these may be. According to John Locke, the child’s mind is likened to a tabula rasa or a blank slate. When a child is born, his mind has nothing stored in it. He just knows the basic feelings of pain and comfort. Like a blank sheet of coupon bond, there is nothing written yet so whatever the parents or guardians who rear the child teaches him will be marked in his mind and eventually become part of his knowledge or mindset. Hence, it is but rational to consider that in order to raise a child and mold him into a fine individual as he grows old, it is important to feed his mind with things which are essential to strengthen his character and intellect. A parent who frequently hurts his child – verbal or non-verbal – is raising a child who will eventually become an adult who is aggressive or weak in challenging situations in life. On the other hand, a parent who exposes a child to modest words and actions as well as positive undertakings of situations will rear a child who is victorious in toppling tough situations in life. A child’s mind is, in essence, innocent as to what is to be integrated and what is not to be integrated into his system or beliefs. It is on that account that the parent must guide and protect the child. If the child keeps watching violent scenes or plays violent video games, he acquires the violence and eventually integrates this into his personality. He becomes aggressive, irritable, and violent towards others or even himself. The parents are then held responsible in whatever a child becomes. Corollary to the aforementioned ideas, it is also important to consider the background or, in this case, the family background of an individual in order to understand why he acts that why. It essentially explains why a person is rather irritating or acts opposite the norm. A person who is aggressive, rowdy, rough, ill-bred or has a feeling of inferiority may perhaps come from a dysfunctional or troublesome family. The problems in the family affect the way he perceives things and his attitude towards things and situations he is faced with in his life. A person who is modest, courteous, refined and controlled most likely may come from a peaceful or happy family where there are minimal problems. However, it is important to note that environment is only one factor that affects the personality of an individual. Heredity is equally as important. But the individual is still the captain of his life and his thoughts. It is up to him to synthesize the right and wrong, the good from bad and actualize or integrate such assessment into his daily life.

FRIENDS No man is an island. Every individual has the need to belong to a group no matter how small or big it is. Humans are relational beings and establishing relationships are but normal manifestations of this. Man needs a companion in his life. To live alone in solitude is superficial. In one way or another, man needs someone else to talk to, to work with or basically to relate with. Friends add spice and everything nice to the life of an individual. They serve as an extension of the family members though there is a difference in relation to certain levels of friendship. There are those friends who are mere acquaintances; there are those who are considered as colleagues; there are those who are considered as ‘close’ friends due to the familiarity established after quite some time of companionship; there are those who are considered as best friends as they are as close as being one’s siblings; and there are those which are considered as ‘more than friends’ given the intimacy and different or even special kind of intimacy established. No matter what level of friendship there may be, one must consider choosing his friend. By choosing, he must consider that friends, too, are very influential in the life of an individual especially starting from adolescence onwards. Good friends have fun with an individual but consider the right or good behavior. They consider the benefits and consequences of the things they get into. They value the bonding yet value the proper attitude towards things, situations or other persons. There is a sense of self-control, self-discipline and prudence instilled within their friendship. Bad friends are those that incorporate what is necessarily considered as wrong and all those considered as detrimental ideas and activities. Both good and bad friends affect the mindset of an individual as they tend to create the impression that the individual must catch up with the group in order for him to belong. He has to meet the demands of the group in order for him not to be left out and it is on that account that the individual tends to choose between doing the right thing and doing the wrong thing and whether he be influenced or he will be the one to influence the group. After what is said and done, he is still the person held accountable for his actions and decisions. He is still subjected to self-assessment and self-actualization.

EDUCATION Education is very important especially in a world where employment demands greatly for a satisfying educational attainment. Nowadays, it is not enough that one is a graduate of a four-year course in college. The higher educational attainment an individual has, the more he would be considered for a position. Education is one thing that can never be stolen from an individual. It is a tool for him to succeed in life. Even if others say that you only need to know how to put in the moves or the mojo or the ‘diskarte’ and skills in life, you can reach as far as reaching your goals but education should be considered as a vehicle to take you there. What one does with his intellect or education is one’s so-called ‘diskarte.’ One must value his education. Some parents work harder than their children think in order for them to make ends meet and have enough money to support their child or even children in their schooling. Some parents may not be able to provide everything their children need or want in life but education will be the single, most important investment for them to attain whatever they want in life, apart from enough love and proper nurturing, that is. Focus, dedication and hardwork are the essentials in order to excel in one’s education. It is not enough that one passes a subject. He must learn to aim for more. He must make the most of his education; thus, aspire for higher, above average grades in order to at least replace the efforts of their parents or guardians at the same time create a feeling of self-fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment. Education targets to inculcate optimum and holistic development in an individual. It aims to build up a person in every aspect – intellectual, social, physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional and so on. There are a lot of opportunities in a life of a student to maximize the said goal of education. It is important to note that learning is not only confined within the four walls of a classroom. There may be co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that are open for students to participate in. Furthermore, there are various organizations that may fit the interest of a student in order for him to best exercise as well as hone his innate prowess or capabilities.

INDIVIDUALITY “He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche. This is the very powerful and most influential line that influences me in every way. It speaks of the reason to live – the reason to continue on in life despite all the struggles, hardships, obstacles and challenges one is faced with in life. It speaks of knowing the purpose of existence and continuance of existence. Everyone has a reason why they are speaking. Everyone has a reason why they are acting. Everyone has a reason why they are breathing. Everyone has a reason why their heart is pumping. Everyone has a reason why they are living. A person who does not know his reason to live is nothing but a fool who needs help and guidance in judgment and discernment. To know one’s purpose in every endeavor or situation in life is imperative to continue and eventually end with success what has been started. It is essential in living a worthy life – a life that finds satisfaction and happiness amidst the despair, disappointments, pressures and stress in life. When one knows his purpose in saying things, doing things and even keeping things or persons, he becomes focused and determined. No matter what may come in the way – persons, things or events – he knows how to handle every situation and come up with many ways to overcome the factors that impede such strong conviction. Even if he fails, he knows how to come back and this time do better. Knowing the reason behind things will easily allow a person learn to let go and move on. In knowing the ‘why’ in things, one is capable beyond doubt in living life to the fullest.