MoralitySetting the Stage

Trolley example Michael Sandel - Harvard University

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plpp&v=kBdfcR-8hEY

How would you respond in each situation?

What is important, here?

Important consideration – we had similar reactions as the situation changed.

What basic assumptions do we all share that caused this?

Life should be preserved (it has meaning, purpose)

We should choose what is best for self and others.

How we acted on these assumptions was at times different.

How did we respond?

You should!◦ Studying moral problems and solutions helps to:

Better understand situations we are faced with Build reasoning ability to do what is best for self and

others. Create a society based on sound principles that are

good for all.

Who cares?

Moral worldview is affected by how we view the purpose of life.

What is the purpose of life? What qualities do we have that make us

distinct? In order to fulfill our purpose, we need to

know what it is, have the option to follow it, and receive help along the way

Morality and purpose

Life is worth living. We should choose what is best for our self

and others.

Assumptions in morality

What is the purpose of life?   What qualities make us distinct creatures?   Purpose of life is to seek goodness We will focus on three important qualities of

humanity: Intellect, Free will, and the soul.

Human purpose…

What makes something good? How do we know what is good? Are things good because they are pleasing

to God or are things pleasing to God because they are good?

Case of Euthyphro

If things are good because they are pleasing to God then:◦ Goodness is arbitrary◦ Goodness is not a universal truth (especially if

one does not believe in God◦ We can never really know what goodness is.

If things are pleasing to God because they are good then:◦ Goodness exists apart from God, so God is not

needed for goodness or morality.

What is the problem?

God is goodness. Goodness is not external to God. Goodness is universal, and knowing God

helps us to know what is good.

The Christian worldview

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity The problem of evil in the world. How does Lewis account for evil if he also

believes God is goodness itself?

Why is there evil?

Two possible responses to problem of evil: Christian View:

◦ The good world has gone wrong◦ However, the memory & possibility of good remains

Dualism: ◦ Two independent, equal powers of good and evil exist

in the world. Assumption:

◦ good and evil cannot be a matter of preference (I prefer lying, cheating, killing)

◦ Therefore, one must be right and the other wrong

C.S. Lewis – Good and Evil

How do we know what is right and wrong? There must be a standard or rule of good prior

to the two powers of good and evil. Good is having the right relation to this

standard or the Being who made it. Why do humans choose bad things? No one likes badness for its own sake. Humans do bad things because they go against

natural order or because of the end they will get out of it:

power, money, safety.

C.S. Lewis – Good and Evil

Wickedness is the pursuit of goodness in the wrong way.

badness is only spoiled goodness To be bad, one must have intelligence and

will, which are good things. To be effectively bad, one must have good

qualities (resolution, clever, existence) evil is a parasite on goodness, not a thing of

its own

C.S. Lewis – Good and Evil

Augustine - Stealing pears Evil is not a thing of its own but an absence

of good.

Bible – Adam and Eve and the fruit The world is was made good, but later sin

and death entered the world through a choice to not do the good thing.

Pride – self over God.

Why is there evil – other responses

Read chapter one, take notes, and define terms in your notebook.

Homework

Explain the C.S. Lewis view Good/right vs. Evil/wrong Act vs. Being distinction In class (as in life) all discussion of good/bad

and right/wrong are on the level of act, not being.

Summary and Review

Comments or questions? God created humans to live in loving relationship Humans were made for love, not mere survival.   Made in the image and likeness of God:

◦ Intellect – To see and understand the order of things that God established. Ability to know what is good and right.

◦ Freewill - Ability to choose the good and to love; each individual is held accountable for their

actions.◦ Soul - our innermost principle, animates our body, our

reaching out toward God

Textbook article One

In order to fulfill our purpose as humans, we need to know what it is (intellect), have the option to follow it (free will), and receive help along the way (soul).

Living a moral life

Journal entry (to be discuss in class): What is freedom? Why is it important? How can it be described as a gift or

blessing? How can it be described as a burden or

responsibility?

Freedom

The ability to choose what is good and loving in order to achieve true happiness.

Going against the divine law harms our free will as bad actions turn into bad habits.

Free Will

What brings you happiness? It’s like Christmas. Wii or Will? Wealthy or wooed? Aristotle: The purpose of humanity is

happiness which is achieved through friendship

Friends of utility, pleasure, virtue

How do we choose between apparent goods?

Happiness comes through fulfilling what we desire and seek

The essence of the object of our desire relates to the amount of happiness it gives us◦ Things we use vs. people we love

The only thing that can fulfill us is that which is perfect in itself.

Only God can fulfill completely. ◦ All other things and people point toward this reality

Putting others before self can lead to greater happiness as we focus on greater goods.

Aquinas and happiness

Read article 2 & 3. Write and define terms in notebook.

Finish Freedom worksheet and bring in example from culture (one page total).

Homework