Christian ethics Flashcards
who was proportionalism populated by?
Bernard Hoose and McCormick
why is proportionalism condemned by the catholic church?
too consequentialist
describe the revival of NL
Finnis-Grisez NL; made through inductive logic and practical reason is prioritised over prohibitions, especially from facts to values
two people that reject the synderesis principle on the grounds of a theological objection
Karl Barth: questions faith of fallen human nature; Bonhoeffer: ethics is an attempt to drift from God by creating or own morality
why is natural law not holistic
Fails to consider human being as a psycho-physical unit; doesn’t consider complexity of human relationships; diminution of human rights
Cicero’s quote on NL
true law is right reason in agreement with nature
who is KN and why does he reject NL
Kai Nelsen- science, history, anthropology reject idea of a single human nature
eg recent studies show homosexuality to be genetic and it can be seen in animals
suspicious link of NL and Catholic Church?
singer: NL is a veiled attempt to present church teachings as common sense
4 working principles of SE?
pragmatism, relativism, positivism, personalise
mark on sabbath
Mark 2.23-27: “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath”
why is SE not fully reflective of NT?
“thou shalt not steal” and other non-love based absolutes; biblical view that mere mortals are void of sufficient wisdom to guide their earthly activity
Barclay’s critique of SE?
easier to agree that extraordinary circumstances need special measures than to think there are no laws to ordinary life - Fletcher’s examples e.g. Nazi mother show that his ethic is one adapted to extremities, not the norm; environmental factors have a huge impact on our decision making, foolish to think selfless agape is only driving force in us
who said hat SE as a theological theory of ethics it looks distinctly thin? who defects SE as opposing NL and God’s will in scripture?
Neil Messer; Pope Pius XII- too individualistic and subjective
evaluate natural law
- evolution - nature not purposive
- fact value gap; JAMES RACHELS facts are one thing values another
- basic human goods vary - KAI NELSEN science anthropology dismiss idea of a single human nature e.g. homosexuality
- absolutism has negative consequences e.g. spread of HIV but proportionalism accounts for this
- Singer - too tied to catholic church
- theological rejection
- not holistic
two ethicists who comment on SM
NOUMANN: the ethic taught in sermon is impossible to be carried out in a capitalistic society
LUTHER: sermon hard to fathom, often mishandled
which pple is important to NL
synderesis pple –also dharma in hinduism
what can be said about absolutism of love
TILLICH absolutism of love is its power to go into concrete situations
sermon quote on adultery
‘everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart’
sermon on enemies
‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’
sermon rejecting lex talionis
‘if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek also’
how is Paul’s ethic practical
it is no longer ‘do this and live’ but ‘live and do this’
pharisaism
the desire to condemn others ; interested in rules not people
bibliolatry
worshipping the bible, not god
cliche
domestication and turning scripture into aspiration rather than strict obedience e.g. ‘eye for an eye’ overused
literalism due to depravity
because our reason is corrupted by the fall, we can’t rely on own capacities and must rather follow the letter of the law
What are the 8 Beatitudes?
- Poverty of Spirit
- Meekness
- Mournfulness
- Righteousness
- Mercifulness
- Purity of heart
- Peacableness
- Persecution for righteousness’ sake
