HRE 4M1

MORALITY  Is concerned with human conduct  Is concerned with “what should be done”  Judges right and wrong in light of what humanity is  Is a sense of right and wrong

CHRISTIAN MORALITY  Is the ability to respond to God  Is the ability to love  Is the ability to say, “yes” to God

MORALITY is not just about religion, it’s about FREE HUMAN CONDUCT and making choices to do good.

MORAL PERSON  Can distinguish between right and wrong  Has the ability to behave the way humans should behave  Obeys the laws for the right reasons (not just so they don’t get caught)  Is “good” according to the standards of society

AN IMMORAL PERSON  Opposes the moral principles of society  Doesn’t act the way humans were meant to act  Knowingly and freely treats others in an unloving way

AN AMMORAL PERSON  Is not concerned with moral standards at all  Does not accept any concept of right and wrong  Acts without paying attention to what is right or wrong; choices are random

MORAL PRINCIPLES  Are basic truths that we use to determine rules of conduct  These principles enable us to measure our moral obligation or figure out how we should act in the different situations we encounter (C.C.C.B., 2004)

What is a VALUE?  Qualities, characteristic, or ideas about what we feel strongly about  Our values affect our decision, goals and behaviour  A belief or feeling that someone or something is worthwhile  Values define what is of worth, what is beneficial, and what is harmful  Values are standards to guide your actions, judgments and attitudes

VALUES = DIRECTION Value  Goals  Behaviour  Self-Value  Values give us direction and consistency to behaviour.  Values help you know what to and what not to make time for.  Values help establish a relationship between you and the world.  Values set direction for one’s life.

WHERE DO WE GET OUT VLAUES FROM?  Home, school, society, friends, church, T.V., music, books, family, culture, time period, employers, etc…

HAPPINESS comes from letting your values decide your behaviour goals. VALUES can change over your life-time as your experiences change your views

Ethical Relativism Any view that denies the existences of a single universally applicable moral standard. In other words, morality is “relative” from person to person.

Ethical Absolutism  The view that affirms the existences of a single correct and universally applicable moral standard Moral Absolute/Universal  Believe that morals are inherent in the laws of the universe, the nature of humanity, and the will or character of God, or some other fundamental source  The regard actions as essentially moral or immoral  For example, slavery, dictatorships, child abuse is absolutely immoral regardless of the beliefs and goals of a culture that engages in these practices  They believe that moral questions can be  judged regardless of the context of the act

NATURAL LAW  Catholics use ‘natural law’ to determine is an action is right or wrong  According to Pope Leo XIII natural law is “written and engraved in the soul”  The Catechism says “The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth and the lie (CCC, # 1954) (C.C.C.B., 2004)

THOMAS AQUINAS & NATURAL LAW  Aquinas believed that humans are naturally inclined to do good and avoid evil  A misinformed conscience can make a mistake that leads to evil action without evil intent

FOUR PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL LAW 1. Do good and avoid evil. 2. Preservation of life. 3. Propagation and education of offspring. 4. The pursuit of truth and a peaceful society.

TEXTBOOK WORK Read page 155 and complete the following: 1. Answer Guiding Questions Summarize Jacques Maritain’s view of natural law. 3. Summarize Thomas Aquinas’ view on natural law and reason. 4. Summarize Thomas Aquinas’ view on natural law and human law.