Morality A Unit 3 Flashcards
action/object
- The doer → The person doing the action
- The done → What was done
- The doee → Who the action was being done to
intention/end
The intention is the “why” behind the action… the purpose of the action.
A good action must have a good intention. However, the ends do not justify the means.
Circumstances
Are such things as the person involved, the time, the place, the occasion, which are distinct from the object, but can change or completely alter its moral tone. Can make an otherwise good action evil
Formal Cooperation with Evil
one interiorly wants/intends the evil action to be performed.
Material Cooperation with Evil
assisting in another’s wrongdoing without approving it.
Intrinsic Good
Actions is good by its very nature and can’t be immoral
Intrinsic Evil
Actions is evil by its very nature and can’t be moral
Moral Relativism
A philosophy that denies moral absolutes. Includes: Morality is changeable. Morality is subjective Morality is individual.
Consequentialism
An act is deemed morally permissible only depending on the consequences (as opposed to the intrinsic nature of the act/object)
a. The outcome determines the moral goodness/badness
b. Either have to do the action then decide (what if it was evil???) or predict (how certain are you???)
c. Error: Allows you to do evil
d. Error: Ends will always justify the means (including pure evil means)
e. Error: Only look at what is good for you and not those around you
f. Denies the importance of sacrifice
Situation Ethics
Decision-making should be based upon the circumstances of a particular situation, and not upon fixed law/principle.
a. Each situation decides for itself what is right
b. Same action can be right for one person and wrong for another (e.g. abortion)
c. Denies principles
d. Reduces the object to your opinion
e. For morality to work, the principle must guide the situation
Utilitarianism
is a theory of ethics which is a form of consequentialism.
One ought to act so that the consequences of one’s act will produce the greatest possible total welfare across all members of the population.
is the doctrine that an action is morally permissible insofar as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.
Proportionalism
an action is morally good if… some truly proportionate reason is present to justify this choice (after weighing various positive and negative values).
Ex. You break the law because there is a good enough reason for doing so.
What are the steps to making a moral choice?
- Prayer - asking for God’s assistance, asking to hear your conscience (His voice)
- What is the action you want to take?
- What do God’s law and teaching of the Church say about it?
- What will happen as a result? What are the possible consequences?
- Is the object or action one that is good?
- What is your intention? What do you want the end to be?
- What are the circumstances? Am I able to make the choice freely?
- Seek wisdom from others.
- Consider how it will affect your relationship with God & others.
Define the Principle of Double Effect
When a good or neutral action has an unintended evil result
Four requirements:
1. The initial action must be good
2. The intention must be good (and the bad must not be willed)
3. There must be no other choice
4. The bad must not outweigh the good
What are the flaws of Moral Relativism?
- We have no basis to say anyone else is wrong.
- Therefore we can not hold anyone accountable for any action.
- When man feels wronged he will quickly recognize it. But this is impossible unless there is a measure for right and wrong.
- Claims there is no such thing as objective truth… however, this definition must be objectively true