morality

Golden Mean

The middle course between two extremes/vices of an action

Exceptions to the Golden Mean

There are some actions that are always/objectively evil, which do not have a virtuous middle course of action.

The Golden Mean is both objective and subjective because...

The mean varies from person to person, but happiness is still attained through virtue for all

How do we acquire virtue?

Through practice

Example of the Golden Mean

For the action of fearing danger, the virtuous action of courage is the middle course between the excess of cowardice and the deficit of recklessness.

Aristotle's teaches that people have set characters. This means that we have...

Fairly stable sets of attitudes, opinions, and dispositions that result in fairly stable patterns or ways of acting and reacting.

The two main parts of a human being, according to Aristotle

Rational and Non-rational

Continent

People who follow reason's lead and who characteristically win their battles with their appetitive part.

Incontinent

People who characteristically lose battles with their appetitive part. This type of character is overwhelmingly marked by weakness toward pleasure.

Virtuous

A character type where people's appetitive part is in harmony with their rational part

Vicious

A character type where a person's ability to reason is corrupted and they are unable to judge right from wrong. According to Aristotle, they are incorrigible.

Appetitive

The Non-Rational Part of a human being that includes the various passions, desires, and emotions we feel.

Fifth Commandment

You shall not kill.

abortion

The deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn child.

euthanasia

A direct action, or a deliberate lack of action, causing the death of a person who is disabled, sick, or dying.

death penalty

What is inadmissible in today's world because we can keep dangerous criminals locked away for life?

just war

The teaching that a state may use war to protect its citizens only if strict criteria are met.

prenatal testing

Testing an embryo or fetus for diseases or birth defects while it is still in the womb.

genetic engineering

What is the manipulation of an ovum or fetus's DNA coding?

Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

9th Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife

Chastity

The moral virtue by which people act with sexual integrity. Through this people are able to healthfully integrate their sexuality into their total person.

Artificial Conception

Any procedure that separates the procreation of human life from the sexual union of man and woman

Adultery

Sexual activity between two persons, at least one of whom is married to someone else; a sin.

Artificial Contraception

The use of mechanical, chemical, or medical procedures to prevent conception from taking place.

The Dual Nature of Human Sexuality

Procreative and Unitive

Procreative

One of the purposes of marriage and the marital act, it refers to the couple being open to life.

Unitive

One of the purposes of marriage and the marital act, it refers to the communion and joy that a couple experiences through the conjugal act.

4th Commandment

Honor your father and mother.

7th Commandment

You shall not steal

8th Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10th Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Respect, gratitude, obedience, and assistance

The Four Attitudes children owe their parents to honor them and bring harmony to their families.

Civil Authorities

Leaders of public groups that are not religious institutions, particularly government leaders.

Other people of authority in our lives

Besides parents, to whom does the Fourth Commandment apply?

Civil Disobedience

Deliberate refusal to obey an immoral civil law or an immoral demand from civil authority.

Protect Basic Freedoms

What is a responsibility that states have for their citizens?

Detraction

Unnecessarily revealing something about another person that is true but is harmful to their reputation.

Calumny/Slander

Ruining the reputation of another person by lying or spreading rumors.

Adulation

Excessive flattery, praise, or admiration for another person.

Reparation

Making amends for something one did wrong that caused harm to another person.

Preferential Option for the Poor

A teaching of the Church, which means that the fulfillment of the basic needs of the poor is of the highest priority

Envy

Resentment that we direct at others who have some success, thing, or privilege that we want for ourselves.

Greed

The desire to accumulate earthly goods beyond what we need.

Spiritual Poverty

What is the commitment to put God above everything else, especially material wealth?

Almsgiving

Freely giving money or material goods to a person who is needy.

New Law

Also, called the Law of Love, this is revealed in the New Testament through the life and teaching of Jesus in which he fulfills and perfects the Old Law.

Forgiveness

Pardon or remission of an offense that allows us to restore broken relationships with God and our neighbors.

The Great Commandments

Jesus' summary of the entire divine Law as the love of God and the love of neighbor.

1st Commandment

I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.

2nd Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3rd Commandment

Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.

Loving God

What is the common theme of the first three commandments?

Heresy

The conscious and deliberate rejection by a baptized person of a truth of faith.

Idolatry

The worship of other beings, creatures, or material goods in a way that is fitting for God alone.

Superstition

Attributing to someone or something else a power that belongs to God alone and relying on such powers.

Sacred

The quality of being holy, worthy of respect and reverence; set apart for God.

Blasphemy

Speaking, acting, or thinking about God in a way that is irreverent, mocking, or offensive.

Sabbath

In the Old Law, the weekly day of rest to remember God's work. Christians observe this day on Sunday, the Lord's Day. This is also referred to as the Lord's Day.

Venerate

To show respect and devotion to someone or something.

Unnecessary Work

What are we called to abstain from on the Lord's Day?

Service and Charity

What works are Christians encouraged to do in honor of the Lord's Day?

Conscience

A judgement of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.

Truth

The key to correct conscience formation.

Right Conscience

Makes correct judgements based on the moral law.

Erroneous Conscience

Makes a false moral judgment.

Doubtful Conscience

Occurs when we are unsure about the morality of a choice.

The Two Obligations of Conscience

To develop a well-formed conscience and to follow our well-formed consciences.

Natural Law

The natural human ability to understand the difference between good and evil, that we have due to reason.

Example of Natural Law

The Golden Rule

Social Sin

Structures of sin that corrupt society and its institutions.

Example of Social Sin

Discrimination

Object of an Action

The specific thing the person is choosing to do.

Intention of an Action

The motive for which a person commits a good or evil act.

Circumstance(s) of an Action

Factors that contribute to the morality of an act.

The ends do not justify the means

A teaching of the Church which means that the goal/desired outcome a person has does not justify any action to achieve it.

Humans are made in the image and likeness of God

A teaching of the Church which means that human beings have special gifts and capabilities, such as free will, intellect, immortal souls.

Original Sin

The fallen/wounded state of human nature into which all generations of people are born.

Concupiscence

The tendency/inclination/temptation toward sin that human beings experience, even after baptism, as a result of Original Sin.

Freedom

The power rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility.

Sin

Any word we speak, action we perform, or desire we have that is contrary to the Law that God has inscribed in our hearts.

Venial Sin

A type of sin that damages our relationship with God, but does not destroy or sever it.

Mortal Sin

A grave offense against God that destroys a person's relationship with Him by severing him or her from divine love.

3 Requirements for a Mortal Sin

Grave Matter, Full Knowledge, and Full Consent.

Invincible Ignorance

Ignorance that cannot be overcome by ordinary diligence

Vincible Ignorance

Ignorance that can be overcome by ordinary diligence.

Grace

The free and undeserved gift of God's loving and active presence in the universe and in our lives

Sanctifying Grace

The grace received at Baptism. It is a permanent disposition, that orients us toward God and is also called the "state of grace"

Actual Grace

God's intervention and support for us in the everyday moments of our lives

Charism

A special grace associated with one's state in life that helps build up the Body of Christ

Virtue

A habitual and firm disposition to do good

Cardinal

Comes from the Latin meaning, "pivot" or "hinge"

Prudence

Also called wise judgement. It is the inclination toward choosing the good and avoiding evil

Justice

The commitment, action, and attitude to ensure that all people receive what is due to them

Temperance

The virtue of moderating your appetites to achieve balance in the use of goods

Fortitude

Also called courage. It includes maintaining sound moral judgment in the face of difficulty

Faith

The theological virtue by which one believes in God, all that he has said, and all that he has revealed

Hope

The theological virtue by which we desire and expect from God both eternal life and the grace we need to attain it

Love

The theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God

4th Commandment

Honor your father and mother.