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Lecture 8 Adolf Hitler Campbell Dale and Shannon Hickman… Clearly the parents felt they were following some higher moral dictate, and leaving the fate of their child to God. Travis asks: -If God exists, do you think that God would consider what they did a sin, or a strong faith? -If God doesn't exist, is what they did morally reprehensible enough to deserve 6 years in prison? Question that Plato put into the mouth of Socrates Did the gods discover or invent the moral order? Is conduct right because the gods command it? or do the gods command it because it’s right? Beginning with basics... What are values? Beginning with basics... What are values? Promise keeping Equality Friendship Fairness Honesty Good health Honour Courage Kindness Owning nice things A lucrative job A challenging career Etc…… Beginning with basics... What are values? Promise keeping Equality Friendship Fairness Honesty Good health Honour Courage Kindness Owning nice things A lucrative job A challenging career Etc…… Which are moral values? Which are not? The Ten Commandments. Josip Turkalj Notre Dame Campus What I learned in Kindergarten.... What I learned in Kindergarten.... Don’t take things that don’t belong to you Return what you borrow Take turns Don’t hit or bite or bully Don’t lie Respect other people Respect yourself Mind your own business Don’t tattle-tale The Flood...The Sistine Chapel God’s promise by the rainbow... The boys were throwing the stones in jest. But the frogs were dying in earnest… Westboro Baptist Church Topeka, Kansas West Wing: Dr. Jacobs and the Bible The Sermon on the Mount... The moral teaching of Jesus Eight Beatitudes (blessings) But then.... The Scapegoat... Friedrich Nietzsche... Master and Slave Morality Nietzsche condemns the triumph of slave morality in the West... Friedrich Nietzsche... “The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad.” The Gay Science, section 130 German philosopher (1844 - 1900) Rachels’ conclusion... Religious considerations do not provide definitive solutions to most of the specific moral issues we face Demonstrated in regards to homosexuality Demonstrated in regards to abortion Rachels’ conclusion... Religion doesn’t have a special place at the discussion No special insight No special knowledge No special gift Communism... Communism....OED definition... A theory which advocates a state of society in which there should be no private ownership, all property being vested in the community and labour organized for the common benefit of all members; the professed principle being that each should work according to his capacity, and receive according to his wants. (originally called Equalitarianism...) Communism...other defs... A Maoist view: Communism is the abolition of power of people over people. This means abolishing "oppression," whether the oppression be of nations by nations, classes by classes, women by men or any other division in society. Communism is based on mutual cooperation, peace and justice instead of oppression. Communism...other defs... A Capitalist view: Communism is a type of totalitarianism. It has the following characteristics: 1. a massive repression system run by a well established secret police force 2. an official and far-reaching system for denunciatory activities, single party rule, censorship 3. imposition of an official (“the only correct”) state ideology and appearance of newspeak Early (communist) Christians... "Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.....There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." [Acts 4:32-5] Communist Idealism… From each according to his ability. To each according to his need. Dorothy Day... Dorothy Day Dorothy Day Social Activist, Journalist, 1897-1980 "The biggest mistake sometimes is to play things very safe in this life and end up being moral failures." The condom // AIDS debate What values are the participants calling on? The condom // AIDS debate What values are the participants calling on? Right to health Obedience to church doctrine First, do no harm Protection of the immortal soul Free choice Freedom of information Fairness What did Stephen Lewis say to the Church? Sam Harris: Science can answer moral questions: Attendance Question: explain or respond…