How to deal with these issues and dilemmas?

Route #1: Learn the WHAT “The Rules: The Do’s & Don’ts”

Route #2: Learn the WHY & HOW Moral Reasoning

Suitable and effective for simpler issues and simpler people.

Suitable and effective for complex issues and more educated people.

Response #1: Faithful ASSENTResponse #2: Reasoned & Faithful ASSENTResponse #3: Reasoned DISSENT

GOOD BAD

• It’s not as SIMPLE as that!• Three COMPLICATIONS...

MORALITY: Choice between GOOD and BAD

GENERALPRINCIPLES or

LAWS

PARTICULARSITUATIONS or

CONTEXTS

Complication #1: Application of Moral Principles

Practical Wisdom: One can learn the principles of action, but applying them in the real world, in particular situations one could not have foreseen, requires experience of the world.

Phronesis              φρόνησις

GENERALPRINCIPLES or

LAWS

PARTICULARSITUATIONS or

CONTEXTS

Phronesis              φρόνησις

Moral  issues  and  ques.ons  are              ambiguous  and  complex.    Solu.ons  and  answers  are  o8en  not            self-­‐evident  or  obvious.

Avoid the two extremes of moral reasoning:

ABSOLUTIST RELATIVISTYES only to GENERAL PRINCIPLES,NO toPARTICULAR SITUATION

NO to GENERAL

PRINCIPLES,YES only to

PARTICULAR SITUATION

EVALUATIVISTYES

to bothGENERAL SITUATION

andPARTICULARSITUATION

GOOD BAD

Which PRINCIPLE rules your life?

PLEASURE

PAIN

Complication #2: The Potholes of Morality

RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL

A WRONG ACT is an action--or inaction--that violates an accepted norm and generally causes some harm to one’s self, to others, or to society in general.

Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.Complication #3: SHADES OF GRAY

RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL

“Not all wrong actions are sinful.”

SINFUL if and only if: 1) Grave Matter: Serious harm 2) &/OR Adequate Knowledge 3) &/OR Adequate Freedom

GRAVE SIN if & only if:

ALL OF THE ABOVE

SINFUL

Serious harm has been caused.The actor knew that the act was wrong and harmful.

The actor could freely choose to do or not to do the action, and was not influenced by coercion or fear.

RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL

MORAL DECISION vs. SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT If and only if: 1) RIGHT vs. WRONG 2) WRONG vs. WRONG (“The Lesser of 2 Evils”)

If & only if: 1) RIGHT vs. RIGHT

2) NEUTRAL vs. RIGHT(The Greater Good)

SINFULGREATER GOOD

The conscience is what we use in making moral decisions.

Follow your informed conscience when making a moral decision.

The conscience considers: 1) the concrete circumstances of the moral situation, 2) the important values that need to be protected, 3) the relevant moral teachings and norms involved, 4) the good and bad effects of every moral option.

Primacy of Conscience