Proportionalism Flashcards
What is proportionalism, and how does it relate to Natural Moral Law?
- a development of Natural Moral Law that holds there are absolute moral rules, but these may be overridden if a “proportionate reason” justifies it.
When and why did proportionalism arise?
in the 1960s among Catholic scholars in Europe and America, responding to concerns that traditional Catholic ethics were too rigid and deontological.
What conditions must be met for a proportionate reason to override a primary precept?
- sufficiently unusual and extreme
- in extreme cases, using reason might reveal that not following a precept better fulfils the goal of “doing good and avoiding evil,”
Why does the Catholic Church reject proportionalism?
- it allows for exceptions, which the Church argues undermines moral absolutes.
- For example, the Church holds that certain acts (like contraception or euthanasia) are intrinsically evil and can never be justified, regardless of intent or context.
What is the difference in how proportionalism and the Catholic Church view acts as “intrinsically evil”?
- Catholic church - wrong in all circumstances.
- Proportionalism does not label any acts as intrinsically evil; it suggests that moral evaluation should consider the agent’s intentions and the context, weighing values and disvalues.
What is the “value-disvalue” balance in proportionalist reasoning?
Proportionalism evaluates the moral value of an action by weighing its positive (“value”) and negative (“disvalue”) effects.
How does proportionalism apply to the example of a starving person stealing food?
- It might justify stealing food if it is necessary for survival, arguing that the value of preserving life outweighs the disvalue of breaking a precept against theft.
How is proportionalism similar to situation ethics?
proportionalism is flexible and considers context in moral decisions.
How does the catholic church critique proportionalism’s flexibility?
Catholic Church critiques this approach as it can lead to a “slippery slope,” allowing for justifications of various acts and potentially eroding firm moral standards.
What are the strengths of proportionalism in ethical decision-making?
- flexible
- practical application
- allows moral principles to be adapted to complex, real-world situations
- offers a balanced approach that considers intentions and consequences, aligning moral rules with common sense and practical needs.
How does proportionalism resolve conflicts between primary precepts?
Proportionalism provides a framework for resolving conflicts by weighing competing values (e.g., preserving life vs. honesty)
Summarize the Catholic Church’s stance on proportionalism as expressed by Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul II condemns proportionalism for denying that certain acts can be intrinsically evil. He argues that proportionalism undermines moral absolutes by allowing exceptions, which compromises the objective, God-given nature of morality central to Catholic doctrine.
