Autonomy Flashcards
Question: What is a potential criticism regarding the selection of biblical texts?
Answer: Critics may argue that knowledge of Jesus’ teachings, such as those recorded in the Bible, depends on decisions made by the Catholic Church regarding which texts to include.
Question: How do Catholics justify their interpretation of Christian doctrine?
Answer: Catholics argue that the Holy Spirit guides their Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church), ensuring their interpretations and teachings are in line with divine guidance.
Question: What did William Barclay think about situation ethics?
William Barclay thought situation ethics had some validity but didn’t agree with it fully.
Answer: Barclay believed situation ethics had some validity but disagreed with it fully because he thought it gave moral agents too much freedom, which could lead to selfishness and cruelty if love is not perfect.
Question: According to William Barclay, what is necessary for freedom to be considered good?
William Barclay thought situation ethics had some validity but didn’t agree with it fully.
Answer: Barclay argued that for freedom to be good, love must be perfect. Insufficient love can lead to misuse of freedom, resulting in selfish or cruel actions.
Question: How did William Barclay critique John A. T. Robinson’s view on situation ethics?
William Barclay thought situation ethics had some validity but didn’t agree with it fully.
Answer: While Robinson viewed situation ethics as the only ethic for a mature humanity, Barclay argued that mankind has not yet matured (“come of age”) and still requires the structure and protection of moral laws rather than relying solely on situational judgments based on love.
Question: According to Fletcher and Robinson, what does it mean for humanity to have “come of age”?
Fletcher and Robinson would respond
Answer: Fletcher and Robinson, influenced by Bonhoeffer, argue that humanity has matured to a point where people are more educated, self-controlling, and capable of understanding and acting on moral nuances and complexities. This maturity allows for greater autonomy in ethical decision-making.
Question: How did Fletcher and Robinson view ethical rules in medieval and ancient times?
Fletcher and Robinson would respond
Answer: They viewed ethical rules in medieval and ancient times as necessary because people were less educated and less self-controlling.
Fixed and rigid rules were needed to guide behavior since individuals couldn’t be trusted to understand or appropriately handle moral complexities.
Question: Why do Fletcher and Robinson advocate for granting more autonomy in ethical decision-making today?
Fletcher and Robinson would respond
Answer: They believe that granting more autonomy will increase love and moral responsibility without risking the stability of society.
They argue that contemporary society is more civilized and capable of handling ethical decisions with greater nuance and sensitivity.
Question: How does the concept of humanity “coming of age” relate to autonomy in moral decision-making?
Barclay disagrees however,
Answer: The idea of humanity “coming of age” suggests that as societies become more educated and self-aware, individuals can handle ethical decisions independently and responsibly, relying less on fixed rules and more on situational ethics guided by love and understanding.
Question: What influence did Bonhoeffer have on Fletcher and Robinson’s perspective?
Barclay disagrees however,
Answer: Bonhoeffer’s idea of “ethics of responsibility” and his emphasis on situational ethics influenced Fletcher and Robinson to believe that mature societies should move beyond rigid moral codes to allow for more nuanced and context-sensitive ethical decision-making.
Question: What is William Barclay’s view on granting people more freedom in moral decision-making?
Barclay disagrees however,
Answer: Barclay believes that although people may appear improved, granting them more freedom and power to do as they please may lead them to choose selfish or even cruel actions instead of acting with love. This aligns with the classic argument that power corrupts.
Question: How does Barclay’s perspective relate to the debate about human nature and corruption?
Barclay disagrees however,
Answer: Barclay’s view suggests skepticism about the inherent goodness of human nature. He argues that without external supervision or legalistic laws, humans are prone to make selfish or cruel choices, highlighting the potential corrupting influence of power.
Question: What psychological and literary examples does Barclay reference to support his argument?
Answer: Barclay cites examples such as the Stanford prison experiment and literary works like “Lord of the Flies” to illustrate how power can corrupt individuals. These examples underscore a well-known feature of human psychology where increased freedom and power often lead to unethical behavior.
Question: How does Barclay’s critique contrast with Fletcher and Robinson’s view on human maturity and autonomy in ethics?
Answer: Barclay’s critique contrasts with Fletcher and Robinson’s optimistic view that mature societies can handle more autonomy in ethical decision-making. Barclay argues that without external constraints, human nature tends toward selfishness and cruelty, challenging the idea that increased autonomy leads to more loving behavior.
