Unit 1 Morality

Question 1

definition of morality

Answer 1

the science of what humans ought to do by reason of who they are

Question 2

what is moral relativism

Answer 2

each culture/group has right to make up their own morality, there is no absolute moral code. laws are necessary to achieve a peaceful society but in personal life if it doesn’t hurt anyone, one can decide what is right for them

Question 3

problems with moral relativism

Answer 3

-doesn’t correspond w/ reality
-no criteria to judge different morality standards
-people’s decisions/actions DO affect other people
-who decides who creates the laws for a peaceful society?
-principle of non-contradiction: no view of morality is absolute except the view of morality that there are no absolutes

Question 4

what is Hedonsim

Answer 4

pleasure=greatest good
pain=greatest evil
feeling good is the goal of morality

Question 5

problems with Hedonism

Answer 5

it’s self-destructive and self-centered. what is good for is not always most fulfilling or is not always good for others

Question 6

What is utilitarianism

Answer 6

actions are moral when they lead to the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people

Question 7

problems w/ utilitarianism

Answer 7

majority can be wrong, great happiness for majority can mean great unhappiness for a small number
danger of only valuing those that are useful

Question 8

what is consequentialism

Answer 8

morality of an action is determined by its consequences

Question 9

problems w/ consequentialism

Answer 9

can justify bad actions that lead to god results, don’t always know the best consequences. how to weigh “badness” that is justifiable for the resulting “goodness”

Question 10

bottom level of happiness

Answer 10

physical pleasures

Question 11

2nd level of happiness

Answer 11

ego gratification

Question 12

3rd level of happiness

Answer 12

relationships/beyond self

Question 13

top level of happiness

Answer 13

ultimate perfect happiness

Question 14

what is physical pleasures

Answer 14

happiness derived from material objects and pleasure they can provide

Question 15

what is ego gratification

Answer 15

happiness derived from personal achievements

Question 16

what is relationships/beyond self happiness

Answer 16

happiness derived from doing good for others and making the world a better place

Question 17

what is the problem with relativism

Answer 17

it says that moral is something relative; subjective and changeable according to beliefs and circumstances, and it isn’t

Question 18

what is natural law

Answer 18

universal, permant and unchanging, can be discovered through humand reason and corresponds with our desire to preserve life, develop as individuals and communities and share life with others

Question 19

arguments for existence of natural law

Answer 19

1. universal human nature
2. humans inherently understand right and wrong
3. humans are morally obligated to use their reasoning
4. is passed to humans via God

Question 20

CS Lewis’ arguments for Natural Law

Answer 20

1. Selfishness has never been admired
2. We must behave in a certain way and expect others to do the same
3. People who argue both agree that there is a basline of right vs. wrong
4. none of us really live up to it
5. we think every culture has drastically different laws (this isn’t true)

Question 21

definition of virtue

Answer 21

habitual and firm disposition to do the good

Question 21

what does natural law show about objective/subjective truths in moral standards

Answer 21

You can’t take objective truths and make them subjective

Question 22

aristotle’s idea of proper functioning

Answer 22

everything has a function, a thing is good to the extent that it fulfills it’s function

Question 22

eudaimonia

Answer 22

a life well lived

Question 23

4 cardinal virtues

Answer 23

prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance

Question 24

cardinal in latin

Answer 24

hinge

Question 25

what is prudence

Answer 25

applies moral principles to particular situations (intellect)

Question 26

what is justice

Answer 26

consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor, it promotes equity with regards to persons and the common good

Question 27

what is fortitude

Answer 27

THE VIRTUE TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT THING!! the firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. it resists temptations to overcome obstacles in the moral life, even fear or death of persecution

Question 28

what were we created for

Answer 28

to love God and others

Question 29

how does what we were created for relate to happiness

Answer 29

when we do what God intended for us to do, we will happy for eternity

Question 30

what does morality teach us to do

Answer 30

honor god and life a life that seeks to please Him and help out others

Question 31

what is Christian's telos

Answer 31

a greek word meaning "end" or "purpose" our telos is for God and heaven

Question 32

what is Christian's GPS

Answer 32

reason and revelation

Question 33

creation story points

Answer 33

-humans created last, we are best thing God created -God created this world for us -God gives us free will to give us a chance to love Him -women are equal in dignity to men -male and female compliment each other -we were creatred to be in relationships

Question 34

results of original sin

Answer 34

suffering is a natural consequence, gives us a distorted image of God, men and women will never have a perfect relationship, we don't always know what's best for us

Question 35

what is eternal law

Answer 35

God's self revelation (who God is)

Question 36

natural law 4 basic aspects

Answer 36

1. universal (applies to all people in all places) 2. permanent (applies to all times) 3. unchanging (for all times) 4. reasonable (could be discovered through human reason)

Question 37

what is civil law

Answer 37

-particular application of the natural law for members of a given society -not always accurate

Question 38

can one disobey an unjust law

Answer 38

YES

Question 39

what is revealed law

Answer 39

God's law

Question 40

why do we need revealed law

Answer 40

our reason isn't enough, God gives us revealed law

Question 41

what is Old law?

Answer 41

10 commandments, meant to guide GOd's people in how to love him and one another

Question 42

what is New law?

Answer 42

Beatitudes, fulfill the divine promises by elevating and orienting them toward the kingdom of Heaven

Question 43

what is the meaning/purpose of the geatitudes

Answer 43

they deal with interior acts of the heart. having pure intentions, sincerity

Question 44

what is Church law

Answer 44

the full body of established rules governing the Catholic Church

Question 45

what is the Magisterium

Answer 45

the teaching body of the Church (bishops and pope)

Question 46

what are the precepts of the Church

Answer 46

"Laws"/"Commandments" of the Church that are considered binding for the faithful. the precepts of the Church are minimal obligations for Catholics in good standing

Question 47

the 6 precepts

Answer 47

1. attend mass on sundays 2. confess sins at least once a year 3. receive the Eucharist at LEAST during the Easter season 4. keep holy days of obligation 5. observe prescribed laws of fasting and abstinence 6. help provide for material needs of the Church

Question 48

why should we trust Church law

Answer 48

1. deposit of faith: church been around long time and has experience we lack 2. papal infallibility: god uses Pope to reveal things to use (without error) 3. god's goodness and love

Question 49

3 parts of the moral act

Answer 49

object, intention, circumstance

Question 50

do all the parts have to be good in order for the act to be moral

Answer 50

YES

Question 51

object part of the moral act

Answer 51

the action being performed a good object=good object=good object OR a bad object=bad=bad nothing can change if it's a good or bad action

Question 52

intention part of the moral act

Answer 52

subjective element, can make an object worse

Question 53

circumstance part of the moral act

Answer 53

who/where/when/how, all the details ONLY IN YOUR CONTROL, sometimes play no role in the moral act

Question 54

what is conscience

Answer 54

a sense of what is right/wrong in one's conduct or motives. it is a feeling of obligation to do the right thing

Question 55

christians are called to judge ________ but can never judge ________

Answer 55

christians are called to judge ACTIONS but can never judge SOULS