Ch.12 Ethics

The Foundations of Moral Actions

Law

Halakhah:Shari’a:Canon law:

Dharma:

Natural law:

Jewish lawMuslim lawCatholic law Hindu & Buddhist (duty)

Western philosophical approach

written

unwritten

Authority

Scripture: Quran, Bible.Cosmic principles: the Tao,

dharma, Rta.Leaders: bishop, prophet, guru,

imam, sage, bodhisattva.

Philosophical EthicsOntology: the study of the nature of being.Deontological ethics: judges the morality of

an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules. It is sometimes described as "duty" or "obligation" or "rule" -based ethics. Ex: Kant’s categorical imperative.

telos = goal, purposeTeleological ethics: consequences

determine what is ethical. Greatest good for the greatest number. Utilitarianism (English philosophers John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Benthan).

Virtue ethics (Aristotle): morality that makes an individual person good.

Cardinal virtuesGreeks (4): wisdom, courage,

justice, temperance.

Buddhism(5): love, compassion, joyful sympathy, equanimity, patience

Christianity(7): Faith, hope and charity (the

theological virtues)Prudence, fortitude, temperance and

justice.

Cosmic or Natural LawEx: We assume these truths to

be self evident, natural rights, laws of nature, etc.

Assumes that right and wrong is not a matter of opinion.

Rather, right and wrong is built into our nature and part of reality itself. It cant be changed; it can only be discovered or revealed.

Truth and good are not relative.

Natural LawRoman: see Cicero, p.263Chinese Confucian: Menciushsin: heart-mind is the basis of all morality.It must be cultivated in a good environment.p.244 child in well.Chan Buddhism: enlightenment is

discovering a new moral outlook once you discover your true nature through meditation Chan Zen

Lao Tsu; p. 265: the Tao

Thomas Aquinas

Natural law isn’t just revealed through religion or scripture.

Its hard-wired into into the hearts and minds of all human beings by God

Reason helps us discover it.

See p.266

.

Moral Exemplars & Ethical Prophetscharis = greek for “gift”charisma: term coined by Max

Weber. Someone with spiritual gifts that makes them stand out as a leader or an example that inspires others.

Two types of charismatic leaders

MoralExemplars

EthicalProphet

Amos*Muhammad

Buddhabodhisattvas*saintsGhandi*

* These 3 leaders are talked about in detail on pages 267-276. Pick one to elaborate on for our next test, telling how he or she is an ethical leader.

The routinization of charismaWhen the

charismatic leader is gone, it leaves behind a vacuum which can be filled by….

This is what Max Weber calls “the routinization of charisma”

….the canon of writings of the leader.

….the institutions the leader founded.

An Ethics of Divine Command Ethics can be based on revealed

truths on what is right and wrong.Divine intermediator: Moses,

Jesus, Muhammad, sacred stories/writings.

It is right or wrong because it is commanded by God (so there is no need for teleology or ontology to explain why).

Examples in Judaism of Divine CommandAbraham commanded to sacrifice his sonin the Qur’an and Torah.Moses’ mitzvahs (commandments)Rabbinic Judaism explains the laws and

commandments in there everyday applications in the writings known as the Talmud.

Your textbook on pages 276-278 applies Jewish ethical teaching to abortion as a moral issue. Essay question for next test: Explain how Jewish ethics approaches the issue of abortion.

Islamic Law and Ethics Legal, ethical and religious law are united in

Shari’a.The fullness of divine law is unknowable: humans

can only have limited insight; fiqhFiqaha: legal scholars. Competing schools of

jurisprudence, no one of which presumes to speak exclusively for Allah. Direct divine revelation ended with Muhammad; what remains is interpretation.

Ulama: learned clerics who are leaders of the community and give guidance and set guidelines

4 Sources of Shariahthe Qur’anthe SunnaRecords of the words and deeds of

MohammadReason, especially analogical

deduction.Ijma: consensus

5 degrees of moral weight of legal actions

Actions mandatory on believersActions recommended or

desirableActions neutral or indifferentActions objectionable or blame-

worthy, but not forbidden.Actions prohibited

Shia Islam (Iran)Much of what we have said so far

applies to Sunni Islam (the majority of world Muslims).

Shia Islam adds the sayings of the 12 Imams who led the community up to 874 CE, and whose authority is infallible .

There is suspicion of “innovations” in jurisprudence.

JihadStruggleThe exertion of one’s effort to spread belief in

Allah.Peaceful persuassion: “the jihad of the tongue”

and “the jihad of the pen”.“Jihad by the sword” during war against attacks

by unbelievers. 20th century middle-eastern politics have

revived the military interpretation of jihad:1981: Tanzim al-Jihad group assassinated

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.Wahabi: Saudi Arabia