morality exam

morality

science of human happiness - the way to achieve a happy life

human nature

dependent rational animals

nature

what the thing is made of

authority

any influence that shapes the way we live our lives

telos

final cause of an object; the thing it exists to do

real goods

perfect or fulfill the human person; stuff that is actually good for you; leads to human flourishing

apparent goods

only seem like they will perfect/fulfill us, but in fact, don't; stuff that we want but aren't good for us

Freud thinks these 3 make up the soul

memory, intellect, and will

intellect

pursues the Truth; naturally curious

will

pursues the Good; "engine" of wishes/desires

eudaimonia

deep sense of joy or fulfillment

intention

goal or purpose we have in mind for doing an action

object

the actual thing that is done

circumstance

context surrounding the act; affects our understanding of other parts of moral action

transitive effect

actions change the world around us

intransitive effect

actions change who we are (character) and our intentions

morality of obligation (Glaucon)

follow rules to avoid punishment or receive future rewards

morality of happiness (Socrates)

follow rules to achieve happiness/human flourishing

duress

external force or pressure that leads you to do something; lessens or removes your responsibility for act

freedom of indifference

it doesn't matter what you choose to do as long as the action is truly your own

freedom for excellence

you have to make your own choice AND it has to be the right choice

habit

stable quality of a person's soul, shaped by repeated choices; forms them into a certain sort of person

virtue

good habit; firm and habitual disposition to choose what is truly good

vice

bad habit; habit that is either excessive or deficient to the point that it forms a person's character toward doing what is morally bad

vice of deficiency

not doing enough

vice of excess

doing too much

cardinal virtues

basic hinge points; doing good when interacting with the world around us "innerwordly activity"

theological virtues

object is God & our relationship with Him

prudence

see rightly and act accordingly

2 vices of prudence

thoughtlessness and irresoluteness

4 sub virtues of prudence

memory, docility, solertia, and humility

memory

being able to see the past accurately

docility

seek and willingly accept guidance or advice

solertia

"nimble decisiveness" quick thinking based on new circumstances

humility

seeing the self rightly/self awareness

formative communities

people around us shape how we see the world

character

moral identity of a person that develops over time through their consistent habits, virtues, and vices

conscience

part of a person that is able to make moral judgements about specific acts

erroneous conscience

person is unaware that they're doing bad and truly believe that they're doing good

moral relativism

moral judgements are true or false, depending on the situation

moral realism

moral truths are objective and aren't dependent on personal feelings

synderesis

general capacity to judge right and wrong

vincible ignorance

not knowing but could've known, so blameworthy because you could be more attentive

invincible ignorance

not being able to know, so not blameworthy because there was no way of knowing

justice

giving each what is due to them; good relationships with others

Aquinas' 4 key elements of just laws

dictate of reason, clearly made known, made by proper authority, and directed to the common good of the people

common good

sum total of social conditions which allow people to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily

primary rights

basic universal needs to the human person; cannot justly be lost, taken away, or forfeited

secondary rights

rights differ depending on each person's vocation or responsibility

temperance

moderates desires for pleasure and creates balance in the use of created goods; good actions and good intentions/desires; right things in right proportions

3 key pleasurable activities that temperance concern

food, drink, and sex

intemperance

bad actions and bad intentions/desires

incontinence

bad actions but good intentions/desires

continence

good actions but bad intentions/desires

cognitive manipulation

process of reimagining one's grasp of a situation; perceives the event in a new way that changes his or her emotional response to the situation

emotions

intelligible responses to particular types of situations

malleable

we can shape our desires subtly over time

suum cique

to each his due

ius

the way things are meant to be

fortitude

enables one to face difficulty well

martyrdom

someone who is killed for their faith; most perfect example of fortitude because God is greater than all

2 variables to evaluate fortitude

cost (hardship faced) and purpose (the cause for which it is faced)

2 vices of fortitude

cowardice and foodhardiness

cowardice

one realizes the value of what may be lost in the face of difficulty; unable or unwilling to face that difficulty at all

foolhardiness

one doesn't fully understand what is at risk; overly confident

2 parts of fortitude

attack and endurance

attack

one proactively seeks to eliminate or remove the difficulty being faced

endurance

holds onto what is threatened and hangs in there

which part of fortitude is more important and why

endurance because there are some situations where attack is not possible, but endurance is always possible

2 key principles of Catholic Social Teaching

solidarity and subsidiarity

solidarity

accompany our fellow humans even if they are different from us

subsidiarity

matter is to be handled by the smallest authority possible

atomism (Lucretius - an Epicurean)

denies the existence of any spiritual reality; all of reality is purely material; seek pleasure (sex) and avoid pain (feelings)

proto-evangelium

first gospel

kerygma

central message of God

imago dei

human beings are unique among creatures (naturally creative); we have rational minds and free will

agape

self giving love

storge

fondness/attachment love

philia

mutual belonging in a community/brotherly love

eros

attraction or desire love

sin

an offense against reasons, truth, and right conscience; it is a stance we voluntarily adopt; counter to what we're made for/contrary to our nature and telos

mortal sin

severs our relationship with God in a deeply serious way; grave matter, full consent, and full knowledge

venial sin

still harmful to our relationship with God, but does not completely sever or destroy thatrelationship

pride

selfishness; root of all sin (original sin)

concupiscience

inclination toward sin

scrupulosity

excessive preoccupation with one's own sinfulness; infatuation/obsession

Incarnation

to take on flesh; Son of god coming into flesh

4 reasons for the Incarnation

reconcile humanity with God, reveal God's love for us, show us a model of holiness, and enable us to be like God/participate in His life

hypostatic union

Jesus is both human and divine

christology

study of who Jesus is

wholesomeness

empty, surface level faith; prioritizes neat, tidy, orderly lives in which the goal of life is to be well-mannered, polite, and kind

holiness

participation in divine life that God calls us to and makes possible through his gift of self

grace

gift of God; perfects nature/helps us live a more holy life