flashcards
1
Q
kinds of conscience
A
- well formed conscience
- wrongly formed conscience
- lax conscience
- legalistic conscience
2
Q
well formed conscience
A
- formed by using scripture, church and community
- at times, having a well formed conscience means recognizing one’s guilt from past wrongdoings
ex. when sam was released from prison he turned down his friends offer for him to join back the crime ring. while in prison he read the bible and was counseled by a priest
3
Q
wrongly formed conscience
A
- formed on mistaken information
ex. paula was told her bf was cheating on her and broke up with him, later to find out it was a false rumour
4
Q
lax conscience
A
- not being concerned abt whether an act is right or wrong
ex. when joe finished building a basement apartment, he took the industrial garbage and threw it on the side of the road
“its not that much it wont hurt anyone”
5
Q
legalistic conscience
A
obeying rules perfectly
- following letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law
ex. beatrice goes to school every day even when she is sick
6
Q
4 kinds of guilt
A
- warranted guilt
- unwarranted guilt
- too little guilt
- excess guilt
7
Q
warranted guilt
A
when we know an act is wrong but we do it anyway, then recognize and accept the fact that it was wrong
ex. ron stole sarahs ipod even though he knew she loved it, then felt guilty afterwards
8
Q
unwarranted guilt
A
no real justifiable reason to feel guilty, this guilt occurs when we have a wrongly formed conscience
ex. hank helped jim escape slavery then felt guilty bc slavery was legal in the civil war
9
Q
too little guilt
A
feeling immune to wrongdoing and accustomed to sin
- this guilt occurs when we have a lax conscience
ex. after selling drugs for 10 years, toby said he didnt care and if people want to buy it thats their business
10
Q
excessive guilt
A
guilt out of proportion of the severity of the wrongdoing
- this guilt occurs when we have a legalistic conscience
ex. karen cried the first time she was late to class and felt like a bad student
11
Q
autonomy
A
the ability of a person to make their own choices and actions independently
12
Q
ethics
A
principles that govern a persons behaviour
criteria we use for making good judgments
13
Q
morality
A
a system of right conduct based on fundamental beliefs and obligation to follow certain codes, norms, customs, and behaviour habits
14
Q
action
A
The realization of the power of human freedom. When we engage the capacities of our freedom, we change the world around us.
15
Q
responsibility
A
being morally accountable for one’s actions
responsibility presumes knowledge, freedom, and the ability to choose and to act
16
Q
obligation
A
what one is bound to do by duty or contract
17
Q
revelation
A
people have the ability to come to know god through gods works, but there is a higher order of knowledge which not comes from human reason, but divine revelation. God makes himself known fully by sending his beloved son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
18
Q
determinism
A
a point of view that holds that human behaviour is not a product of free will, but of a complex array of physical, social, cultural, psychological, and historical causes
19
Q
intention
A
that which motivates me to act - values. the reason for doing something that appears, at least to me, good.
20
Q
agent
A
a person who acts freely and knowingly, who chooses to do or not to do something, a person who is accountable for their actions or omissions
21
Q
apocalyptic literature
A
a genre represented by Revelations 1:9-11 and Daniel 7:15-18 involving visions, symbols, and the end times
22
Q
beatitudes
A
a form of pronouncement that presupposes that a good or happiness has already been given or is about to be recieved
23
Q
eschatological
A
pertaining to the end of time in a sense of its fullness
- the coming of the kingdom of god at the end of time, according to jesus, has already begun in his life, death, and resurrection
- eschatological ethics insists that we can already live what God will realize or reveal at the end
24
Q
exegesis
A
the analysis of text in their original context
- uncovering the historical, cultural, linguistic particularities that the author was dealing with in order to better understand the original meaning or intent of a text
25
social determinism
states that behaviour is not so much determined by your physical state, but by the influences of others upon you
- parents, culture, psychological state, any traumas that have happened to you
- history, social and economic status, race, gender, religion, education
26
hermeneutics
a way of interpreting text and events to help us understand what they mean for us in the 21st century
27
predestination
the view that our behaviour is predetermined by God or other causes
28
humanism
worldview centered on human interest and values, and the individuals capacity for self-realization through reason and action
- humanists generally reject reference to the divine
29
secularism
worldview that rejects religion and religious considerations
- secularists only accept critical reason
30
commitment
promise or pledge
- resolve to carry something out in the future
31
habit
manner of behaving acquired by frequent repetition, prevailing disposition or character
32
identity
distinguishing character of a person
- my identity is determined in large part by the moral stance I take in life
33
judgment
concrete decision of what i must do in the situation based on personal perception and grasp of values
34
moral stance
my moral orientation or direction in life
- what do i stand for
35
narcissism
disorder marked by self absorption to the exclusion of others
36
psychiatry
branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders
37
psychology
study of the mind, mental states, and behaviour
- psychology tries to explain why people think, feel, and behave the way they do
38
trinity
the central mystery of the christian faith and christian life
- god alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as father, son, and holy spirit
39
call story
bible contains a number of stories of god calling people and imparting to them a mission
- they follow the pattern of encounter with god, god speaks, god gives a mission, the person being called objects, god reassures them and god gives a sign he is with them on their mission
- when god calls us god does not leave us alone
40
covenant
- binding agreement between 2 parties that spells out the conditions and obligations of each party
- biblical notion of a covenant arose from this contractual notion but its far more
- gods covenant is a bond of love that calls to us in our freedom to respond in love
- gods commitment to us is forever and found in love
41
vocation
call from god, jesus calls all people into the family of god
- jesus calls all people into the family of god
- god also calls us personally to a way of life that is founded on the love of god and the love of neighbour
- for some this way of life leads to priesthood
- for others consecrated religious life
- for others service in the context of family life or the broader community
42
parousia
refers to the second coming of christ at the end of time
43
kingdom of heaven
central image of jesus' message, pertains to gods position and power, the kingdom of god is just god
- heaven stands for god, another example of awe due to the holy name of god
44
grace
gods self-gift of love in us
- our participation in the relationship of love that is the trinity
- active presence of god in our lives
45
torah
5 books of moses that contain the core teachings
- genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, deuteronomy
46
teleologically
to act ethically, therefore is to engage our capacity to reason as we develop good character
47
deontological
our will to do our duty for no other reason that it is our duty
48
decalogue
ten words, and known within our traditions as the ten commandments
49
the 4 ethical experiences
1. personal response
2. responsibility for the other
3. duty
4. contrast
50
the scream - personal response
- urges you to not think but act immediately
- a call for help
- deeply felt almost as an automatic response
- not a decision you make
- uniquely human experience
51
the beggar - the experience of the other
- comes to us from levinas
- starts with the face of someone in need
- something happens to us when we are face to face with someone "the other"
- all face to face encounters are ethical because they remind us of our responsibility of the other
- the others face has taken hostage and made you responsible
52
"I have to" - the experience of obligation
- feeling obligated to obey a rule or law has everything to do with your ethical side
- something in you obliges you to follow the law and to do what is right
- someone who you consider to have authority over you can convince you to follow their wishes
- Kant worked out an ethical theory for this experience of duty or obligation
53
the experience of contrast - this isnt fair
- you have a healthy built in capacity to see what the world ought to look like and how situations ought to be
- when faced with senseless violence and disregard of others you naturally recoil from this destruction
- shocked because of how the terrible event contrasts with what you expect from fellow humans
54
1. blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
- admit their own strengths and weaknesses
- recognize their need for god and others
- do not think they are better than others
- are not attached to material goods
55
2. blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted
- feel sad when things are not going well for others (sickness, suffering, death, depression)
- show compassion and sympathy
- respect feelings and emotions of others
56
3. blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
- do not force others to change
- have temperance and humility
- do not try to get their way through physical, emotional, or verbal abuse
57
4. blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied
- stand up for others who are being treated badly or unfairly
- stand up for what is socially just in all aspects of life (work, home, with friends)
58
5. blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy
- are forgiving and show mercy to others
- give people a second chance
- do not make judgment on others
- love others the way god loves us
59
6. blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see god
- are committed to the ones they love (friends, family, neighbours)
- are always loving, caring and supportive (no bad intentions toward anyone)
60
blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons and daughters of god
- bring people together
- seek to bring peace and justice to others in the world
61
blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
- are not afraid to stand up for the ones they love even if they may get hurt
- are willing to sacrifice and take a risk for justice
62
in his theory of practical reason, he says that humans act not only on impulse but out of conscious choice, based on principles
kant
63
looking toward what we ought to do
kant
64
like aristotle, he believed that the good was the ultimate goal of a moral life
kant
65
god, freedom, and immorality, we need them to pursue and attain the supreme good
kant
66
his ethics were more focused on the individual, and the presence of personal goodwill as duty
"a human action is good when it is done for the sake of duty, not because you feel like doing something good"
kant
67
relating to a persons own perception and understanding of reality, arising from the individuals own mind, feelings, perceptions
kant
subjective
68
relating to a sensible experience that is independent of any one's individual thought, and that can be perceived by others
kant
objective
69
concerned with what we out to do, or should do, not what we want to do, and cannot be based on personal desires
kant
70
he believed that ethical principles should be applied to everyone as a universal law in his ethical maxim (principles by which we should act)
kant
71
imagined of a world where everyone did their duty
kant
72
worked with plato
aristotle
73
his ethical approach was less concerned about the person and more about the community as a whole (the polis, person outside the polis is a beast or god)
aristotle
74
happiness is not the same as pleasure. happiness is an enduring state of someone who does well the tasks that are typical of a human being. happiness is the condition of a person who succeeds in living and acting well
aristotle
75
in the polis, someone is happy if and only if, over some considerable period of time, that person frequently performs with some success in the most perfect of typically human tasks
aristotle
76
his style of ethics has been called teleological because it aims toward what we intend to be in this life, our ultimate good (the good has been defined in which all things aim)
aristotle
77
our rational mind or intelligence is our personal means for reaching this goal, as we develop our character for acting ethically as we control our actions based on reasoning
aristotle
78
our mind must control our desires, not the other way around
aristotle
79
we must be moderate in all things
aristotle
80
the good person is one whos actions as a rule are solidly based on excellent reasoning and who spends a great amount of time thinking
aristotle
81
believed the central question in philosophy is "where is the good?"
levinas
82
each thing or person is a unique expression of the good, and the good is related to what makes us different from one another (its good to be different)
levinas
83
all things and people carry a trace of the infinite god with them
levinas
84
the face of another calls us to respond, especially within the eyes (assist/help)
she can only ask that you assist her in her misery
levinas
85
the face and look requires us to recognize it and provide hospitality
levinas
86
goodness always translates to a personal responsibility of the other
levinas
87
true goodness knows no limits and translates to the responsibility of the other
levinas
88
conceptual framework of action
1. agent (who, the person taking action)
2. the intention (what, why they act)
3. motivation (why, reasons behind the action)
4. means/how (the action itself)
5. circumstance (context surrounding the action)
6. outcome (the results of the action)
89
6 aspects of the human person
1. the importance of others
2. the importance of having a direction in life
3. the importance of communication and language
4. the importance of character and one's body
5. the importance of conscience
6. the development of one's conscience
90
6 aspects of the human person: the importance of others
- am i my brothers keeper?
- can you be a free, unique individual while bearing responsibility of the other
- the story of cain and abel sheds light on this question
- are you responsible for your siblings
- critical we find a balance between the love of oneself and the love for others
- we are relational beings, we need one another
- caring for others allows us to realize this truth
91
6 aspects of the human person: the importance of having a direction in life
- 2nd anthropological trait
-knowing who you are means knowing where you stand
- you need to know where you stand and your commitments
- your identity lies first in a commitment to certain values
-
92
6 aspects of the human person: the importance of communication and language
-1st anthropological trait
- you are part of a community that shares a common language
- your stance in life is not shaped by you alone
- what you value, aspire to, plan for, dream of, hope for and work for was first made known to you as good and desirable by others in your life
- your parents and teachers tell you what is right and wrong
- language contains and shares with others common experiences
93
6 aspects of the human person:the importance of character and one's body
- not only do you become a self with others, not only do you need to stand somewhere and not only are you shaped by your response to others, you do so with your body
- through your body all these human traits become possible
- 4th trait of the moral self
- character is developed by repeated demonstration of these qualities
- by acting in predictable ways we create a reputation for ourselves
94
6 aspects of the human person: the importance of one's conscience
- conscience is a voice that calls us to love and to do what is good and avoid evil
- we should not confuse our conscience with our superego, our conscience does not lay feelings of guilt upon us
- when we do things because we feel like we have to, that is our superego
- when we do things out of love and because we want to, its our conscience
95
6 aspects of the human person: the development of one's conscience
- no simple recipe for developing conscience
- your conscience develops as you mature, as you follow values and virtues of christian life, discover your faults and weaknesses, recognize your need for help from others and god
- as you grow in humility
- as you participate in eucharist
- onces conscience can be malformed through immoral acts, faulty reasoning, faulty values and misinformation from others
96
symptoms of a misinformed conscience
- rationalization (its ok to do this bc)
-trivialization (its no big deal)
-misinformation (someone told me it was ok)
- the end justifies the mean (i had no choice or else)
- means to an end (itll be better in the long run)
- difficult to reason (i should have thought abt this first, maybe there was a better way)
97
3 senses of capacity
1. Habit - a pattern of behaviour that develops over time
2. Virtue - a good habit, is an inner readiness to accomplish moral good
3. Vice - a bad habit, an inner readiness to accomplish moral evil
98
10 commandments
1. I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
4. Honour your father and your mother
5. You shall not kill
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
9. You shall not covet your neighbours wife
10. You shall not covet your neighbours goods
99
Core value: I am the lord your god, you shall have no others gods before me
love for god only one true god
100
core value: you shall not take the name of the lord your god in vain
honour for god
101
core value: remember the sabbath day to keep it holy
prayer and our relationship with god is important
102
core value: you shall not kill
life is sacred
103
core value: you shall not commit adultery
faithfulness in relationships
104
core value: honour your father and your mother
respect for parents
105
core value: you shall not steal
honesty
106
core value: you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
integrity and fairness
107
core value: you shall not covet your neighbours wife
respect and trust
108
core value: you shall not covet your neighbours goods
gratitude
109
the structure of a call story
1. the confrontation (encounter with god)
2. the introductory speech
3. the imparting of mission
4. the objection of the prophet to be
5. reassurance by god
6. the sign
110
the sermon on the mount
- jesus proclaims the fulfillment of the torah
- the primary recipients of the sermon are the disciples
like moses, jesus proclaims the divine law
- where as moses recieved the 10 commandments from god, jesus speaks as god
- the beatitudes were given
111
salt and light
we must be jesus on earth for others
112
the law and the prophets
- follow and exceed the requirements of the law in the old testament
113
concerning anger
- god will judge us according to our wrongdoings
- but if we have done wrong, we must ask for forgiveness from others or our judgment on earth may be more severe
114
concerning adultery and divorce
- adultery is from lust, which is merely viewing another as an object for one's own sensual selfish desires
- if you cant experience happiness because of lust, then cultivate the virtue of chastity to get rid of lust
115
concerning oaths
- let your word be yes or no, anything more from this comes from the evil one
- in short, speak in truth at all times without relying on oaths
116
concerning retaliation
- dont retaliate against those who offend you (dont turn your cheek)
- give to everyone who begs from you and do not refuse to anyone who wants to borrow from you
117
love for enemies
- love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of our father in heaven
- be perfect therefore as your heavenly father is perfect
118
concerning almsgiving, prayer, and fasting
- when you give to charity, pray, and fast, do it in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you
- do not use words that mean nothing to you when you pray, your father knows what you need when you ask
- pray humbly, as the words in Our Father
119
concerning treasures and worry
- for where your heart treasures is, there will your heart be also
- meaning whether it is a boast of worrying, god calls us to the present to live of lives in him
- he is with us here now, to find him there can be no dreaming or worrying about tomorrow, he will be there too
120
judging others
- do not judge so that you may not be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get
- first judge yourself and take away your sins, and then you will be more able to see others in a just light
121
ask, search, and knock
seek out what you need and god will surely give it to you
122
golden rule
do to others as you would have them do to you
123
narrow gate
- dont take the easy way out
- jesus describes the pathway to life as something requiring effort and focus to enter
124
concerning self-deception
- the only people going to heaven are the ones who will do the will of my father in heaven rather than going through the motions
- we can read the bible cover to cover, but we deceive ourselves unless we practice its commands and lessons
125
hearers and doers
a warning, those who have read and listened to the sermon on the mount are to follow what jesus said
126
3 ways of pursuing the good
1. teleological (natural ethics)
2. deontological (obligation)
3. impact of the gospel
127
what makes for a good and happy person?
the search to be happy lies behind every human vocation (our calling, mission, lifes work, purpose) and every choice we make
- the christian tradition has always believed that we are created for happiness, which is intimately connected to ethics and morals
- when we act, we do so to obtain the good
128
the standard of excellence in the good life
we each possess our own standards for outlining 'the best' of what we were meant to be
- each of us has our own unique purpose and reason for being and we must strive for excellence in fulfilling this special role
- when striving in this way we lead to living a virtuous life
129
the role of the other in attaining the good life
- aristotle noted the importance of friendship in attaining the good life
- he emphasizes the importance of a special kind of friendship, one that is hopeful, open, without limits or barriers, loving and giving
- solicitude is a feeling of concern for others, for their suffering and for their needs as people
- the good life is lived with and for others giving and receiving
130
the good life needs institutions
- ethics is very much interested in the way that institutions (hospitals, schools, family, work places) promote and stabilize our search for the good
- institutions are the backbone of the common good
- whatever you do in society, you are drawn to an institution
- they direct how things get done in order to protect social good
131
laws
st aquinas defined law as
- a reasonable decision promulgated (made known) by a competent authority for the common good
- meaning - the judgment of a lawmaker about the means necessary to promote and protect the common good
- can come from god, church, society, government
ex do not kill
132
rules
a prescribed guide of conduct or action
- a rule is an authoritative statement of what may or may not be done : regulation
ex the rules of a hockey game
133
maxim
general truth or rule of conduct
ex dont date you best friends ex bf
