Christian Ethics: Test 2

deontological theories

1. non-consequentialist
2. whether an act is good or evil is determined by following rules
3. emphasis on rules

divine command theory

God establishes certain moral laws/guidelines that are naturally binding and are expressed in that religion’s sacred writings

advantage of divine command theory

morality has a more objective/individual grounding because it is independent of an individual/societies beliefs

problem of divine command theory

different sacred scriptures exist so which one truly expresses God’s wishes if the texts overlap

problem of divine command theory

interpretation is necessary which creates a subjective element

natural law

rules of morality/guidelines of norms are built into nature itself therefore rules are universally available

Thomas Aquinas

1. 13th century
2. wrote the Summa Theologica

Summa Theologica

1. God’s laws can be learned in part through solely the use of human reason (not just through scripture)
2. people are created with natural inclinations to certain “ends” (purposes)
3. “ends” are the fulfillment of actions and are governed by laws
4. God only gives good inclinations
5. God’s laws are eternal but can be known as they exist in humans as natural laws
6. natural laws are in everyone and cannot be erased

biblical basis for natural law

1. Romans 1:18-20
2. Romans 2:12-15
3. Martin Luther King Jr.s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

Humanae Vitae

1. human life
2. encyclical by Pope Paul VI (1968)
3. addresses regulation of birth

encyclical

essay written by the Pope about Catholic faith and is offered to Catholics to believe

Humanae Vitae points

1. economic pressures and technological advancements make is desirable and easier for families to regulate the number of children they have
2. marriage and sex are by nature ordained for procreation and for the union of husband and wife
3. parents must acknowledge it is their duty to God, themselves, and society
4. marital union and potential procreation cannot be separated


1. cannot *intentionally* avoid conception through *unnatural* means
5. sex itself is noble and is not illegitimate in the case of infertility

implications of the Humanae Vitae: ruled out

1. abortion - even for therapeutic purposes
2. sterilization - permanent or temporary

implications of the Humanae Vitae: ruled in

observing natural cycles of reproductive system like natural family planning

negative consequences of artificial birth control

the potential abuse by public authorities to control population growth

strength of the Humanae Vitae

not limited by competing religious texts

strength of the Humanae Vitae

universal scope that applies to all humans regardless of religion

strength of the Humanae Vitae

affirms moral standards are based in reality and are “objective”

problem of the Humanae Vitae

just because something is a certain way doesn’t mean that it is good

problem of the Humanae Vitae

though it is “objective” our subjective understanding of implications vary

how is covenant ethics different from divine command theory?

1. not just a list of rules from scripture
2. relationships of lasting commitment in which rules are part of faithfulness to the covenant

how is covenant ethics different from natural law?

1. not just locating moral laws in an order that is a part of reality


1. locates the moral rules in a relationship of faithfulness between people or between individuals and God

covenant ethics

1. covenant rules often require more specific things of a person and impose obligations that are not universal
2. moral standards you must oblige to be a part of a group

deontological ethics are compatible

1. divine command: rule presented in Bible and directly commanded by God
2. natural law: people recognize the rule as a violation of consequences and natural order of a human relationship
3. covenant: rule is a part of a covenant relationship in which the tradition of interpretation helps people understand its meaning

divine command theory emphasis

1. God’s authority distinguishes between right and wrong
2. God’s revelation tells us which is which

natural law emphasis

connection between how we live as reasonable humans and natural order in which God placed us

covenant emphasis

calls attention to how the rules shape our identity as persons in a community

what do deontological theories have in common?

1. moral rules are objective
2. we are obliged to follow them whether or not they fit with our preferences of who we want to be


1. they exist independently of our own thinking about them

areteological ethics

1. virtue ethics
2. emphasis on kind of person one is

history of areteological ethics

1. greek philosophy


1. Plato wrote about virtues but more significant in works of Aristotle
2. Christian appropriations


1. Christian moral theology incorporated Greek ideas of virtues
2. Thomas Aquinas

virtue ethics

1. 3rd kind of normative ethics but can be combined with teleological/deontological

virtue ethics combats modern period

1. gained popularity in the late 1950’s because of dissatisfaction with other approaches to ethics
2. modern ethics did not pay attention to the kind of person one becomes but more attention on consequences
3. Alasdair Macintyre: modern ethics produced only disagreements

what is virtue ethics: basis

1. what I ought to *do* is related to who I ought to *be*
2. emphasizes character of person who makes the decision or acts

virtue

1. desirable character trait that guides individual decisions over a period of time
2. example: honesty, compassion

what is virtue ethics: learned skill

1. moral life should cultivate virtues that ultimately influence decisions/actions and make decisions based on the virtues they cultivate
2. it is acquired through practice/repetition to form a habit
3. it is acquired in communities that shape character
4. influence the way a person tends to act

Christian contribution to virtue ethics

1. sin is the primary obstacle for living a moral life
2. sin means something is fundamentally wrong with humans and they cannot remedy the problem on their own
3. cultivating virtues does not “happen” just because someone wants it
4. virtues are attainable because God offers grace to humans through Christ and the Holy Spirit

Christian contribution to virtue ethics summarized

any Christian approach to virtue ethics considers both human sinfulness and God’s grace

cardinal virtues

1. moral life turns on these 4 virtues like a hinge
2. prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance

prudence

1. wisdom, insight
2. practice of sound judgement/decision making
3. process of deliberation and execution
4. necessary for all other virtues to be practiced to perfection

justice

1. giving to all what is due to them
2. 2 aspects: abstaining from evil towards others and doing good to others
3. foundation of perfect love

fortitude

1. courage
2. doing good despite obstacles (even at risk of own life)
3. manifests both as counteracting evil and enduring evil
4. related to perseverance and patience
5. not rash or impulsivity

temperance

1. restraining natural desires/appetites
2. allows experience of pleasure within reasonable limits


1. moderation not abstinence

theological virutes

1. Christian moral theology adds them to moral virtues
2. given to us by God to assist our relationship with God and others
3. 1 Corinthians 13:13
4. those practicing these virtues are described as “beginner”, “advanced”, “perfect”
5. faith, hope, and love (most important)

faith: beginner

strengthen the basics of belief by studying Christian teaching and avoid anti-Christian ideas

faith: advanced

be able to evaluate all things in life through the lens of Christian values and belief

faith: perfect

experience gifts from the Holy Spirit affecting knowledge, understanding, and insight

hope: beginner

place confidence in God and shift attention from earthly things to eternal things

hope: advanced

no longer preoccupied with anxiety about the future

hope: perfect

unshakeable peace and serenity and does not fear death - only reverence for the Lord

love: beginner

since charity is love in which we love God, one performs basic acts of worship

love: advanced

loves others “in God” - loves everyone without exception

love: perfect

love of even enemies and can have complete forgiveness of others

advantage of virtue ethics

emphasizes character traits and importance of developing virtues in our own lives

advantage of virtue ethics

encourages one to consider larger scope of moral life, not just isolated decisions

advantage of virtue ethics

reminds us of importance community and early training of virtues

problem with virtue ethics

cultural relativism

response to objection of virtue ethics

cultural relativism is a challenge, but it is also a problem for the other 2 normative approaches

response to objection of virtue ethics

through cultural understanding of the virtues may vary, the virtues themselves are not relative to culture

response to objection of virtue ethics

so be it, any account of virtues must derive from community in which those virtues are to be practiced

problem with virtue ethics

virtue ethics does not tell people exactly what they should do, but this is usually what people want

Holy Spirit

Paul declares this - rather than the law - gives life

Scripture

Christian ethics is based primarily on this

cross and ressurection

Paul saw this as the new moral dynamic that Christians enjoy

salvation

in the early church (especially Paul) this is the basis of moral life

Ethic of the Kingdom

Jesus replaced the ethic of his contemporaries with an ethic associated with this

righteousness

Instead of searching for the good life and cultivating virtues, the Hebrews were concerned with this

covenant with God

this is the basic theme of the ethical life in the Hebrew scriptures

Christlikeness

Paul saw this as the goal of a moral life

Jewish religious leaders

the context of Jesus’ ethical teaching is his conflict with these people

1. foundation of ethical life
2. human merit and divine rewards
3. who actually are the people of God
4. intent of the law

list the four ethical issues over which Jesus disagreed with his contemporaries