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Unit 4: MoralityUnit 4: Morality
Section 1: Section 1: Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Read the following statements and consider:Read the following statements and consider:• What strikes you or comes to mind as you read What strikes you or comes to mind as you read
each statement?each statement?• Which statement do you agree with the most? Which statement do you agree with the most?
Why? Why?
1. Most people are morally good.1. Most people are morally good.
2. Most people try to be morally good, but 2. Most people try to be morally good, but sometimes people fail to live and act morally.sometimes people fail to live and act morally.
3. Most people have a sense of morality, but 3. Most people have a sense of morality, but people often fail to live morally exemplary or people often fail to live morally exemplary or even praiseworthy lives. even praiseworthy lives.
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
How would you define morality?How would you define morality?
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
How would you define morality?How would you define morality? Difference between Good and Bad, Right Difference between Good and Bad, Right
and Wrongand Wrong Theoretical – how we ought to actTheoretical – how we ought to act Practical – what we actually doPractical – what we actually do Involves both the Self and Relations with Involves both the Self and Relations with
Other PeopleOther People Universally Accepted Moral SenseUniversally Accepted Moral Sense Personal/Individual Moral SensePersonal/Individual Moral Sense
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Morality: A Basic DefinitionMorality: A Basic Definition The human decision making capacityThe human decision making capacity
Both theoretical and practicalBoth theoretical and practical Deliberately doneDeliberately done Based on an understanding of right and Based on an understanding of right and
wrongwrong Universal and Personal/IndividualUniversal and Personal/Individual
That affects self and othersThat affects self and others In positive or negative waysIn positive or negative ways
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Morality: Two ComponentsMorality: Two Components Universally Accepted Moral SenseUniversally Accepted Moral Sense
Law of Human NatureLaw of Human Nature Personal/Individual Moral SensePersonal/Individual Moral Sense
Situated in a person’s life context or the specific Situated in a person’s life context or the specific circumstances of lifecircumstances of life
Surface level factors Surface level factors gender, ethnicity, gender, ethnicity, nationalitynationality
Deeper level factors Deeper level factors social structures and social social structures and social institutionsinstitutions
Family, education, government, economic, religionFamily, education, government, economic, religion Generational factors Generational factors Gen-X, Millennials, Cyber Gen-X, Millennials, Cyber Cultural factors Cultural factors Classical, modern, post-modern Classical, modern, post-modern
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
• What is Morality?What is Morality?• The abstract or theoretical understanding of right The abstract or theoretical understanding of right
and wrongand wrong• A general or universal sense (The Law of Human A general or universal sense (The Law of Human
Nature)Nature)
• Major question – “Who ought I to be?”Major question – “Who ought I to be?”• Focus is on “good v. bad” personFocus is on “good v. bad” person
• What is Ethics?What is Ethics?• The practical application of moral theory to The practical application of moral theory to
specific situations or topicsspecific situations or topics• Major question – “What ought I to do?”Major question – “What ought I to do?”
• Focus is on “right v. wrong” actionsFocus is on “right v. wrong” actions
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Moral ReasoningMoral Reasoning Return to Epistemology (O’Malley)Return to Epistemology (O’Malley)
““Your subjective opinion is only as good as the Your subjective opinion is only as good as the objective evidence which backs it up.”objective evidence which backs it up.”
This still applies now more than everThis still applies now more than ever Be precise with your languageBe precise with your language
Ex. Is ≠ SeemsEx. Is ≠ Seems Listen closely to the opinions of othersListen closely to the opinions of others
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
• Moral DistinctionsMoral Distinctions• Moral – a decision that positively affects othersMoral – a decision that positively affects others
• Promotes human welfarePromotes human welfare
• Immoral – a decision that negatively affect othersImmoral – a decision that negatively affect others• Harmful and destructiveHarmful and destructive
• Nonmoral – a decision that has neither a positive Nonmoral – a decision that has neither a positive nor a negative affect on othersnor a negative affect on others
• Neither harms nor hurtsNeither harms nor hurts
• Amoral – a person who has no sense of right or Amoral – a person who has no sense of right or wrong; the person is insensitive to the moral wrong; the person is insensitive to the moral effects of actions or doesn’t have the capacity to effects of actions or doesn’t have the capacity to decidedecide
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
• Identify and briefly describe 10 Moral Identify and briefly describe 10 Moral Issues that the newly elected and Issues that the newly elected and appointed government officials must appointed government officials must addressaddress
• Create four short cases that illustrate Create four short cases that illustrate moral distinctions that can be moral distinctions that can be described as each of the following: described as each of the following: Moral, Immoral, Non-moral, and Moral, Immoral, Non-moral, and AmoralAmoral
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Christian MoralityChristian Morality What is it? How is it different from morality?What is it? How is it different from morality?
The way a person lives his life in response The way a person lives his life in response to being in a loving relationship with God to being in a loving relationship with God through his son Jesusthrough his son Jesus
Based on the Creation Stories of GenesisBased on the Creation Stories of Genesis ““God created man in his image; in the divine God created man in his image; in the divine
image he created him; male and female he image he created him; male and female he created them.”created them.”
• ““God blessed them, saying to them: ‘Be fertile God blessed them, saying to them: ‘Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.’”earth.’”
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Christian MoralityChristian Morality Based on the Creation Stories of GenesisBased on the Creation Stories of Genesis ““God created man in his image; in the divine God created man in his image; in the divine
image he created him; male and female he image he created him; male and female he created them.”created them.”
• Mankind is divine (good, holy, sacred, revered)Mankind is divine (good, holy, sacred, revered)• Mankind is intrinsically and fundamentally Good (all of Mankind is intrinsically and fundamentally Good (all of
creation has value and worth)creation has value and worth)• Recognize the dignity and worth of the human person Recognize the dignity and worth of the human person
and that each person deserves a minimal level of and that each person deserves a minimal level of respectrespect
• Man and woman are created at the same time and are Man and woman are created at the same time and are equals in status before Godequals in status before God
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Christian MoralityChristian Morality Based on the Creation Stories of GenesisBased on the Creation Stories of Genesis• ““God blessed them, saying to them: ‘Be God blessed them, saying to them: ‘Be
fertile and multiply; fill the earth and fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.’”living things that move on the earth.’”
• Dominion – power/sovereignty over and Dominion – power/sovereignty over and responsibility for the well-being of God's responsibility for the well-being of God's creationcreation
• Stewardship – the careful and responsible Stewardship – the careful and responsible management of the Created World which God management of the Created World which God entrusted to our careentrusted to our care
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality
Christian MoralityChristian Morality• Not just a list of rules to followNot just a list of rules to follow
• The 10 Commandments, The BeatitudesThe 10 Commandments, The Beatitudes
• The search for the whole personThe search for the whole person• Being a “good” person, not just doing the “right” actionBeing a “good” person, not just doing the “right” action
• The every day response to God’s offer of GraceThe every day response to God’s offer of Grace• Listening to Jesus and the Spirit through prayerListening to Jesus and the Spirit through prayer• Acting in loving service to othersActing in loving service to others
• A continuous cycle of Reflection and ActionA continuous cycle of Reflection and Action• How does my belief in God’s love and the How does my belief in God’s love and the
redemptive power of the Cross and Resurrection redemptive power of the Cross and Resurrection impact how I live and act every day?impact how I live and act every day?
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality Christian MoralityChristian Morality
Just because God freely offers the Grace of Just because God freely offers the Grace of redemption and salvation to all of humanity, it does redemption and salvation to all of humanity, it does not mean that humans are free to act in any way not mean that humans are free to act in any way they desirethey desire
Humans achieve salvation through faith and good Humans achieve salvation through faith and good worksworks
Romans 3: 21 – 4: 25; Galatians 2: 15 – 3: 14; Ephesians 1: Romans 3: 21 – 4: 25; Galatians 2: 15 – 3: 14; Ephesians 1: 3 – 2: 22; James 2: 14-263 – 2: 22; James 2: 14-26
Cheap GraceCheap Grace A relationship with God that is comforting and taken for A relationship with God that is comforting and taken for
granted and results in the belief that “God loves me no granted and results in the belief that “God loves me no matter what; therefore I can do whatever I want.” matter what; therefore I can do whatever I want.”
Costly GraceCostly Grace A relationship with God that is challenging and A relationship with God that is challenging and
necessitates a response that is costly, but which also offers necessitates a response that is costly, but which also offers support, inspiration, and strength and leads to support, inspiration, and strength and leads to empowerment.empowerment.
Introduction to MoralityIntroduction to Morality