Theology Mid-Terms

Unit 1 Central Question

What does it mean to be human?

3 Common Criteria for Personhood

Cognitive, Social, Genetic (all have their own problems)

Determinism

You are the product of external factors rather than an internal state (no free will)

B.F. Skinner

You run on a schedule of positive reinforcement (you’re a smart pigeon) - you choose to be aware, but internal states are fiction

James Fallon

You are your genetics (Although you have no free will, you still have responsibility)

Fallon’s 3 Ingredients for Psychopathy

\+1 high-risk genes, loss of brain function, abuse

Rationalism

Human reason is the best source of knowledge (Descartes)

Ideas

Propositions that can be known through pure reason

Deductive Truth

Premise - Premise - Conclusion

Who said, “I think, therefore, I am”

Descartes

Empiricism

Human senses are the best source of knowledge (John Locke)

Tabula Rasa

We are born as a blank slate (Empiricism)

Primary vs. Secondary Qualities

Primary qualities are objective visible things while subjective qualities are subjective mental things

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs

Physiological, Safety, Love, Esteem, Self-Actualization

Epistemology

Study of Knowledge

Ontology

Study of a thing in its essence

Scientism

Science is the only path towards truth

Reductionism

Everything is physical

Nihilism

Belief that life has no meaning

Catholic Personhood

Soul, Thought, Choice, Love, and Agency

Why did God make us?

He wanted to share/receive love, while wanting us to do the same (look at Michelangelo’s Creation of Man)

How to be a moral person?

Praising and worshipping God

Biblical Responsibilities

Reproduce, take care of the earth, establish God’s kingdom

Complementarianism

Men and women complement each other through marriage in order to reach their true potential and fulfill their purpose

Sacred

Anything of supernatural value

Profane

Anything of utility

Sacrament

A ritual that leads one towards God

Sacrificé

To make holy (Latin)

Agency

Free Will

Nephesh

Hebrew belief that you are your soul (monism)/literally means throat (

Dualism

Common Christian belief that your body and soul are separate

Concupiscence

The fallen state of humanity as a result of original sin

What does Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics say about earthly pursuits?

All pursuits are aimed towards a greater good

What does Aristotle like about the study of politics?

It is aimed towards the good of the whole

Theological Virtues

Faith, hope, and charity

God created humans as…

Social beings

Solidarity

Virtue of social charity and friendship

Common Good

Sum of social conditions that enable people to reach their fulfillment more easily

Subsidiarity

Higher units of society should not take over the role of smaller units of society

Paschal Mystery

Saving love of God revealed through Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection.

Transcendent Goods

Love, truth, beauty, goodness => above earthly goods

Theology of the Body

1. God made you and the universe on purpose
2. Humans are made in God’s image
3. Your soul is your body
4. What you do with your body matters (makes visible the invisible)
5. Jesus reveals God’s innermost secret (He is love)
6. Jesus came to restore brokenness

Moral relativism

Belief that morality is subjective (we choose morals)

Hedonism

Pursuit of pleasure

Consumerism

Negatively replaces religion in society by distracting humanity from true purpose

Secularism

Separation of Church and state (often seen as anti-religion)

Maximilian Kolbe

Lived by Christian values

STOP

1. Search out the facts, 2. Think, 3. Others (seek help), 4. Pray for guidance

Discernment

a decision-making process that attends to the implications and consequences of an action or choice

Prudence

the moral virtue that inclines you to discern a moral life and to choose the means to accomplish it. It forms your character

St. Thomas Aquinas on Prudence:

Right reason in action

Cardinal Virtues

Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance

Small decisions...

can have big consequences

Objective Norms of Morality

Ten Commandments (things objectively good or bad)

Three aspects of every moral action

moral object, intention, circumstances

Intention

1. Keep the intention good (why), 2. The end does not justify the means (how)

Circumstances

Can diminish or increase one's responsibility for an action (who, when, where, how)

What teaches about moral circumstances?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Circumstances cannot change the immorality of something inherently wrong)

Think

Think about the consequences and alternatives to an action

Others

Others can help you make moral choices.

How to seek advice from Jesus?

Magisterium

The Church's Magisterium is...

infallible (Holy Spirit)

Pray

Conversation with God:


1. Praise
2. Thank
3. Repent
4. Pray for others
5. Pray for self

Meditation

mental search or quest

Contemplation

mental prayer

Consolation

To be comforted and close to God

Desolation

To be hopeless and far from God

The Holy Spirit...

aids you in distinguishing between trials (necessary for growth in virtue) and temptations (lead to sin and death)

Which ancient philosopher do modern Christians love to cite?

Aristotle

Telos

Any thing has a defined form and a defined function (the end goal that guides our actions)

Why is telos significant for humans?

It means that we have rational thought and needs

Phronesis

Prudence (practical wisdom)

Ultimacy

final goal

Aristotle's Belief on Rational Choice

We aim for good, but it is connected to emotion and desire

Arete

A virtue that inclines us towards excellence (can become excessive)

Does belief or knowledge drive our choices?

Belief (Knowledge itself is useless)

Eudemonia

Flourishing (true happiness, not pleasure)

Techne

Life skills

Akrasia

Incontinence

Incontinence

Doing the wrong thing despite knowing the right reason

Full virtue

Doing the right thing, the right way, with the right reason, and the right feeling

Continence

Doing the right thing, the right way, with the right reason, but wrong feeling

What does Chapter 1 of Nicomachean Ethics state?

1. Every human pursuit aims at good
2. Different actions have different ends
3. Aim for the greater ends, not the minor ones

What does Chapter 2 of Nicomachean Ethics state?

1. The thing that motivates your actions is good, and knowledge of this would provide an aim for one's life
2. The study of ethics and politics are related given that they both aim for the good
3. The good of the whole is better than that of an individual

Moral Exemplar

A person that displays practical wisdom and or eudemonia

Why is the story of Medea important?

It is an example of incontinence. ("I know indeed what evil I intend to do")

Beatitudes

Supreme happiness (Manifestation of the Gospel message)

Where did Jesus present his Beatitudes?

The Sermon on the Mount

Why did Jesus give us the Beatitudes?

He wanted us to embrace the coming of his kingdom, the Beatific vision, entrance into the joy of the Lord, and entrance into God’s rest

How is Jesus the moral norm?

When you live morally, Christ’s life is incorporated into yours

6 Qualities of Jesus

Compassion, Truth-seeking, egalitarianism, acceptance, sensitivity to childhood innocence, prayerfulness

Agape

selfless love

Kingdom of God

Reign of God’s peace

Metanoia

Repentance

What is the 1st step towards accepting God

Faith

Corporal Works of Mercy

Charitable actions centered on care for others

Anawin

Poor in spirit

Meekness

Not weakness. Humility

3 pillars of purity

Love, chastity, orthodoxy

Shalom

Peace