THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY IN

ETHICS

Joëlle 2012

The Greek world/or the perfection of the COSMOS 3 major concepts:

The Cosmos

The Logos

Theoria

…..Which will become: Cosmetics- Logic and Theory

THE COSMOS The COSMOS is the organised structure of the

whole universe It is compared to an animated and organised

being (everything has a place and a function). We all living and non-living are part of this

Cosmos, part of this Divine entity.* It is in itself harmonious, perfectly organised and

beautiful (…If we know how to contemplate it!)

=*Pantheism/Hylozoism= ”materia is a living animal” (”hyle”+ ”zoon”= materia + animal)

The Cosmos

THEORIA = ”The contemplation of the Cosmic order” ”THEION + ORAO (= the Divine+ I see)

We must contemplate the Divine *in the reel world which surrounds us, (the Cosmos)

For example, studying physics or astronomy or bology should help us see this Divine organisation of the world

”In theory” means in its modern version in a perfect situation*”The Divine” here means what is not human but marvellous.

THEORIA = TO CONTEMPLATE

The LOGOS The structure of the universe is not only

”Divine ” and perfect, but it is also ”RATIONEL”.

THE LOGOS IS THE ADMIRABLE ORDER OF THINGS And this is precisely the role of our reasoningsskills: To be able to discover, like a biologist dissequating a rat… looking into the perfection and arrangment of all organs)

*Logos= Will become Logic!/ REASON

Conclusion ?NATURE IS THE NORM

Since The logos is the admirable order of things…

THE GREEK WORLD WAS AN ARISTOCRATIC WORLD WHICH INTRISIQUELY CONTAINED

THE NOTION OF HIERARCHIES OF VIRTUES ( Talents) =Some are born to rule (Men!) others to obey (Slaves)!

The nature of NATURE Nature is fondamentaly

inegalitarian and hierarchical:

We are more or less naturly talented….

….From very strong, beautiful, intelligent, healthy, fast, tall,etc… to ….. Less talented, tall, beautiful, intelligent, etc …..

THE CHRISTAN REVOLUTION

The moral value of an individual does not depend on his talent, natural gifts….

….. But what he does with it !

Beauty can be used at the service of good… and evil

A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA!

We have the liberty to choose

(how to use what nature has given us! )

So, a modern inheritageIs found in the Declaration of the Human Rights (1789)

IT IS OUR LIBERTY AND NOT NATURE WHICH IS THE MAINSTAY OF OUR MORAL CODEX

“All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.“ (Art. 1)

THE CHRISTIAN REVOLUTION Major concepts

LIBERTY (given by our free-will)*

EQUALITY (of rights. All can use their free-will, )

CONSCIENCE (personal choice to use or misuse our nature)

UNIVERSALISM ( only one human nature )

CONSCIENCE

We should follow the spirit rather than the letter of a moral code

”Parable of the adulterous woman”

=

Use your conscience ! (internal forum!)

Christ and the Adulterous Woman

UNIVERSALISM If free will is at the basics of our moral actions

Then we are all equal = we have equal dignity

We are all ”BROTHERS”

Then, we only have one humanity

The Christian religion is then the first to have defined A UNIVERSAL MORALITY