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1. ( PEACE CHILD FILE) After reflecting on “Peace Child”, can you identify with elements of our culture that affect your moral perspective?
2. ( METHODS OF MORAL DECISION MAKING) After reviewing the “Methods of Moral Decision Making” can you identify a method you use more often than others?
3. (CONSCIENCE AND AUTHORITY) In “Conscience and Authority” there is a reference to the Sherman experiment that attempts to determine if prior reflection or education on an issue might make a difference in deciding to follow authority. Do you think this can make a difference with political authority today?
THERE IS BELOW A ATTACHEMENT WITH SOME NOTE WHICH YOU CAN REFERED TO.
Methodsof Moral Decision Making
REL 330 Christian Morality
Acquisition of Christian Based Ethical Truth comes from:
1. Written Revelation – the Bible
2. Natural Law
· Human reason is capable of divine ethical truth.
· Human kind made in the image of God is therefore capable of understanding ethical standards revealed in nature.
· Natural tendency for self-preservation, avoidance of pain, defense of children.
3. The Church – A. Narrative component : Stories and images,
B. Normative component: Rules/guidelines
C. Church functions to assist with character development by teaching,
through community, and imagination (raises to new acute awareness &
understanding)
How we decide is a matter of style:
Rule-Based or Deontological Theories of Ethics (Rule or duty based)
A. Divine Command/Absolutism –
Our behavior, actions and moral decisions are based on God’s will.
How do we determine the will of God?
Based on our experience of God and our understanding of the nature of
God.
God is good. We need an understanding of what the Good is.
Do we follow God’s command out of fear or out of love?
Which is more important the rule or the intention?
The problem with moral decision making arises when in a particular situation one needs to choose between protecting one’s own life and the life of another. Complex situations in our nuclear age make it difficult to determine the greater good or the lesser of two evils in many cases.
B. Immanuel Kant’s “Categorical Imperative” – another of the deontological or rule based theories of ethics that may help in ethical reasoning-
His theory states “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Also persons are not to be a means to an end. (Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, 1785; cited in Rachels, 115)
C. Social Contract Theories– a belief that moral judgments are simply conventions determined by a particular society. How this works is evident in the “Peace Child.”
D. Critical Realism- is a method that asserts that our knowledge of the world refers to the-way-things-really-are, but in a partial fashion which will necessarily be revised as that knowledge develops. Critical Realism attempts to find the real good through dialogue and reason between the ideal rule or norm and the reality of the present world.
Teleological or goal-based theories of Ethical Reasoning- (Also known as consequentialism)
A. Ethical Egoism- a moral act is what benefits me.
B. Utilitarianism- a moral act is what causes the greatest amount of happiness for the most people concerned, i.e.,
· Right actions are those with best consequences.
· In assessing “best consequences” the amount of happiness or unhappiness caused is the only relevant consideration.
· Each person’s welfare is equally important
C. Emotivism– moral judgments are simple emotional responses
Other methods of Ethical Reasoning:
Ethical Subjectivism/Relativism – Moral judgments are merely an individual’s opinions. The relativist believes there are no true moral absolutes.
Virtue Ethics– (Aristotle)
The ultimate good is happiness.
To achieve happiness one must lead a virtuous life.
Virtue is a mean between two extremes.
Strength of character or virtue is a habit involving both feeling and action. It requires that one
find a balance between excess and deficiency. WE find the mean through reason and human
nature.
Deficiency “The Mean,” Excess
Balance
or virtue
________________________________________________________________________
Cowardice Courage Recklessness
Holding a Grudge Forgiveness Being a doormat
Or overly permissive
Stingy Generous Extravagant, wasteful or
Over indulgent
Apathy Love Obsessive love
Methodsof Moral Decision Making
REL 330 Christian Morality
Acquisition of Christian Based Ethical Truth comes from:
1. Written Revelation – the Bible
2. Natural Law
· Human reason is capable of divine ethical truth.
· Human kind made in the image of God is therefore capable of understanding ethical standards revealed in nature.
· Natural tendency for self-preservation, avoidance of pain, defense of children.
3. The Church – A. Narrative component : Stories and images,
B. Normative component: Rules/guidelines
C. Church functions to assist with character development by teaching,
through community, and imagination (raises to new acute awareness &
understanding)
How we decide is a matter of style:
Rule-Based or Deontological Theories of Ethics (Rule or duty based)
A. Divine Command/Absolutism –
Our behavior, actions and moral decisions are based on God’s will.
How do we determine the will of God?
Based on our experience of God and our understanding of the nature of
God.
God is good. We need an understanding of what the Good is.
Do we follow God’s command out of fear or out of love?
Which is more important the rule or the intention?
The problem with moral decision making arises when in a particular situation one needs to choose between protecting one’s own life and the life of another. Complex situations in our nuclear age make it difficult to determine the greater good or the lesser of two evils in many cases.
B. Immanuel Kant’s “Categorical Imperative” – another of the deontological or rule based theories of ethics that may help in ethical reasoning-
His theory states “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Also persons are not to be a means to an end. (Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, 1785; cited in Rachels, 115)
C. Social Contract Theories– a belief that moral judgments are simply conventions determined by a particular society. How this works is evident in the “Peace Child.”
D. Critical Realism- is a method that asserts that our knowledge of the world refers to the-way-things-really-are, but in a partial fashion which will necessarily be revised as that knowledge develops. Critical Realism attempts to find the real good through dialogue and reason between the ideal rule or norm and the reality of the present world.
Teleological or goal-based theories of Ethical Reasoning- (Also known as consequentialism)
A. Ethical Egoism- a moral act is what benefits me.
B. Utilitarianism- a moral act is what causes the greatest amount of happiness for the most people concerned, i.e.,
· Right actions are those with best consequences.
· In assessing “best consequences” the amount of happiness or unhappiness caused is the only relevant consideration.
· Each person’s welfare is equally important
C. Emotivism– moral judgments are simple emotional responses
Other methods of Ethical Reasoning:
Ethical Subjectivism/Relativism – Moral judgments are merely an individual’s opinions. The relativist believes there are no true moral absolutes.
Virtue Ethics– (Aristotle)
The ultimate good is happiness.
To achieve happiness one must lead a virtuous life.
Virtue is a mean between two extremes.
Strength of character or virtue is a habit involving both feeling and action. It requires that one
find a balance between excess and deficiency. WE find the mean through reason and human
nature.
Deficiency “The Mean,” Excess
Balance
or virtue
________________________________________________________________________
Cowardice Courage Recklessness
Holding a Grudge Forgiveness Being a doormat
Or overly permissive
Stingy Generous Extravagant, wasteful or
Over indulgent
Apathy Love Obsessive love
