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How to deal with moral controversies/dilemmas?
Route #1: Learn the WHAT The Rules: The Do’s & Don’ts What the Authorities SayAdequate for simpler issues and simpler people.
Suitable for complex issues and more educated people.
Route #2: Learn the WHY & HOW Moral Reasoning Why the Authorities Say What They Say How You Assess Their Claim (Conscience)
FOUR POSSIBLE RESPONSES
ASSENT DISSENT
BLIND
REASONED
Blind Assent
Blind Dissent
Reasoned Assent
Reasoned Dissent
Which are acceptable responses?
GOOD BAD
• It’s not as SIMPLE as that!• FOUR COMPLICATIONS...
MORALITY: Choice between GOOD and BAD
RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL
A WRONG ACT is an action--or inaction--that violates an accepted norm and generally causes some harm to one’s self, to others, or to society in general.
Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAY
Basis for Decision: Authority (parents, religion, state, school), Opinion, or Reason
ForbiddenDuty
RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL
Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAY
Not all acts can be readily classified as wrong. Some are contested. Examples of acts that are not clearly wrong?
The ethic of CAUTION
Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAYReason cannot always determine conclusively whether some acts are right or wrong.
When we are unsure of the wrongness of an act, what would be the safer assumption?
When unsure of whether or not an act is wrong,
err on the side of caution.
GENERALPRINCIPLES or
LAWS
PARTICULARSITUATIONS or
CONTEXTS
Complication #2: Application of Moral Principles
Practical Wisdom: One can learn the principles of action, but applying them in the real world, in particular situations one could not have foreseen, requires experience of the world.
Phronesis φρόνησις
GENERALPRINCIPLES or
LAWS
PARTICULARSITUATIONS or
CONTEXTS
Phronesis φρόνησιςMoral issues and ques.ons are ambiguous and complex.
Solu.ons and answers are o8en not self-‐evident or obvious.
The two extremes of moral reasoning:
FUNDAMENTALIST RELATIVISTConsider onlyGENERAL PRINCIPLES,but notPARTICULAR SITUATION
No consideration for GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
OnlyPARTICULAR SITUATION
RATIONALISTConsider BOTH
GENERAL SITUATIONand
PARTICULARSITUATION
RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL
“Not all wrong actions are bad/sinful.” SINFUL if and only if: Grave Matter: Serious harm &/OR Adequate Knowledge &/OR Adequate Freedom
GRAVE SIN if & only if:
ALL OF THE ABOVE
SINFUL
Serious harm has been caused.The actor knew that the act was wrong and harmful.
The actor could freely choose to do or not to do the action, and was not influenced by coercion or fear.
Complication #3: RIGHT/WRONG and GOOD/BAD
RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL
MORAL DECISION vs. SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT If and only if: 1) RIGHT vs. WRONG 2) WRONG vs. WRONG (“The Lesser of 2 Evils”)
If & only if: 1) RIGHT vs. RIGHT
2) NEUTRAL vs. RIGHT(The Greater Good)
SINFULGREATER GOOD
GOOD BAD
The POTHOLES of Morality
PLEASURE
PAIN
Complication #4: Two Principles
The ethic of SUSPICION
Whenever your decision involves pleasure or avoids pain, cast some suspicion on your motive.
The ethic of SUSPICION
The ethic of CAUTIONWhen unsure of whether or not an act is wrong,
err on the side of caution.
Whenever your decision involves pleasure or avoids pain, cast some suspicion on your motive.
Two simple guidelines...
The conscience is what we use in making moral decisions.
Follow an informed conscience when making a moral decision.
The conscience carefully considers: 1) the concrete circumstances of the moral situation, 2) the important values that need to be protected, 3) the relevant moral teachings and norms involved, 4) the good and bad effects of every moral option.
Primacy of Conscience
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