Transcript I - Moral Act

Understanding the
Moral Act
Arsenic and Old Lace
good act
$1,000,000
O I C!
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1750
The morality of human acts depends
on:
—the object chosen;
—the end in view or the intention;
—the circumstances of the action.
The object, the intention, and the
circumstances make up the “sources,” or
constitutive elements, of the morality of
human acts.
Sources of Morality:
One Moral Whole
Internal Act:
the will’s consenting to
an act with its
object, end, and circumstances
External Act:
the execution of the
will’s decision
END
Is it in accord with the Ultimate End?
Is it good?
Flawed Moral Theories
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Abelard and Heloise
Abelard = primacy of intention
Consequentialism:
i.e. the end justifies the means
basic consequentialism
 scenario
 egoism - utilitarianism
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deontology
kant and deontology
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuqF
A0QvC7o&feature=channel
 athiest kid on consequentialism and
deontology
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Crisis of truth (see VS)
Slippery slopes
Humanae Vitae – predictions of the effects of a
‘contraceptive mentality’ on the underwstanding of
‘woman’, the institution of marriage and the govt.’s
respect for conscience….
Eg. emotions
Too little=
neurosis
Too much =
hedonism
Eg. Virtue (hope)
Too little=
little=
despair
neurosis
Too much
much ==
presumption
hedonism
Some ‘isms’ found in Veritatis
Splendor
Relativism
 Individualism
 Absolutism
 Naturalism
 Secularism
 Etc…
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Relativism
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Says truth is subjective
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So…..what are the consequences?
Principle of non-contradiction
Something cannot “be and not be” at the
same time
Absolutism
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Exaltation of __________
Examples: In the name of tolerance and freedom ,
religious institutions are illegal if they
_______________
• Catholic Charities adoption agencies have been
closed b/c they don’t give babies to ‘everyone’
• HHS mandate
• Public buildings/ funds can’t be accessible to those
who ‘discriminate’
Individualism
Combo….all is subject to your opinion
 Moral autonomy
 N.B. – truth finds unity in diversity
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Naturalism (physicalism, scientism)
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Opposite of freedom
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Man is controlled by nature/environment
secularism
Religious freedom vs. freedom of worship
- Compartmentalizes ‘faith’
Faith
-a 24/7 thing
-Compatible with all truth
-give to Caesar what is Caesars