religion exam Flashcards
deontology
an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong.
Who is the philosopher associated with deontology?
Immanuel Kant. Kant believed that ethical actions follow universal moral laws, such as “Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t cheat.”
categorical imperative
A concept by Immanuel Kant that asserts an action is morally right if it can be universally applied as a rule for everyone. It emphasizes acting according to principles you’d want to become universal laws.
maxim
a principle or rule that an individual uses to guide their actions. Kant believes we should act only on maxims that we would want to apply universally.
3 strengths for deontology
- Emphasizes fairness and justice, principles that respect individual rights.
- Provides clear rules, easy to determine right from wrong.
- Prioritizes duty over consequences, prevents justifying harmful actions for “greater good.”
3 weaknesses for deontology
- disregarding the possible consequences of our actions when determining what is right and what is wrong
- Can be inflexible, ignoring specific circumstances
- May lead to conflicting duties without guidance on how to resolve them
utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes.
Who is the philosopher associated with utilitarianism?
John Stuart Mill
Act Utilitarianism
Evaluates the consequences of each individual act.
Rule Utilitarianism
Follows rules that generally lead to the greatest good, believing
3 strengths for utilitarianism
- Flexible and adaptable to different scenarios.
- Prioritizes overall happiness, which aligns with societal well-being.
- Considers consequences, making it practical for decision-making.
3 weaknesses for utilitarianism
- Can justify morally questionable actions if they maximize overall happiness.
- Difficult to accurately predict outcomes.
- Overlooks individual rights in favor of the majority’s happiness.
Virtue ethics
An ethical theory focused on building good character traits (virtues) like courage, honesty, and compassion.
Pluralist Society
A society where multiple groups coexist and are recognized, like Australia, where different religions are practiced freely
9 Aspects of Religion:
Beliefs: Catholicism (Trinity), Islam (Monotheism – Tawhid).
Sacred Stories: Catholicism (Creation story in Genesis), Islam (Stories of the Prophets).
Spaces, Places, Times, and Artifacts: Catholicism (Churches), Islam (Mosques).
Texts: Catholicism (Bible), Islam (Qur’an).
Rituals: Catholicism (Eucharist), Islam (Salah – prayer).
Symbols: Catholicism (Cross), Islam (Crescent and Star).
Social Structure: Catholicism (Pope, clergy), Islam (Imams, scholars).
Ethics: Catholicism (Ten Commandments), Islam (Sharia).
Spiritual Experiences: Catholicism (Sacraments), Islam (Hajj pilgrimage).
Authority
Having the power or right to give orders.
Authoritative
Respected and considered accurate or definitive but not necessarily holding power.
Definitions
Adherent: A follower of a particular religion or belief system.
Ethical Issue: A problem with a moral dimension requiring a choice of action.
Ethical Authority: Source that guides moral decisions (e.g., religious texts).
Ethical Principles: Core guidelines for ethical behavior.
Moral Values: Beliefs about what is right or wrong.
Social Norms: Expected behaviors within a society.
Secular: Separate from religious or spiritual matters.
Pluralism: Acceptance of multiple views or beliefs within society.
Islam: A monotheistic religion with the Qur’an as its sacred text.
Catholicism: A branch of Christianity under the authority of the Pope.
Key Catholic Concepts:
Apostolic Succession: Transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles.
Church Council: Assemblies to decide doctrinal issues (e.g., Council of Trent).
Magisterium: Teaching authority of the Catholic Church.
Bible: Sacred text of Christianity.
Qur’an: Sacred text of Islam.
Ethical Authorities in Catholicism:
Bible, Catechism, Magisterium, and Church Councils.
Infallibility
The doctrine that certain teachings of the Church are free from error.
Sacred Tradition:
Beliefs passed down through generations, forming part of Catholic teaching.
Sacred Scripture as Ethical Authority:
Considered divinely inspired, guiding Catholic moral decisions.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
A summary of Catholic doctrine, teaching on faith, morals, and ethics.
Muhammad:
The Prophet of Islam, regarded as the last messenger of God.
Ethical Authorities in Islam:
Qur’an, Hadith, Ijma, Qiyas.
Christian Ethical Perspectives in Australia:
Influence on education, healthcare, legal system, charitable organizations, and public holidays.
Natural Law Theory:
Asserts that morality is based on inherent human nature and purpose.
7 Basic Goods of Natural Law:
Life, Reproduction, Education, Worship, Sociability, Avoiding Offense, and Pursuit of Knowledge.
Divine Command Theory:
Ethics are based on God’s commands, significant in Islam as guidance from Allah.
Human Dignity:
Inherent worth of each person, foundational in human rights and ethics.
Capital Punishment:
Government-sanctioned execution as punishment for crimes.
Arguments For and Against Capital Punishment:
For: Deterrence, justice, closure for victims’ families.
Against: Risk of wrongful execution, moral objections, ineffectiveness as deterrent.
Catholic Teaching on Capital Punishment:
Historically varied; recent teachings oppose it as incompatible with human dignity.
Sr. Helen Prejean:
Catholic nun and activist against the death penalty; advocates for dignity of all life.
Scriptural Support for Catholic Teaching on Capital Punishment:
“You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) emphasizes sanctity of life.
Pope Francis on Capital Punishment:
States the death penalty is “inadmissible” due to respect for human life.
Islamic Teaching on Capital Punishment:
Permits it under strict conditions (e.g., murder) but emphasizes mercy.
Islamic Sacred Text on Capital Punishment:
Qur’an allows for capital punishment in cases of murder but encourages forgiveness.
