How to deal with moral controversies/dilemmas?

Route #1: Learn the WHAT The Rules: The Do’s & Don’ts What the Authorities SayAdequate for simpler issues and simpler people.

Suitable for complex issues and more educated people.

Route #2: Learn the WHY & HOW Moral Reasoning Why the Authorities Say What They Say How You Assess Their Claim (Conscience)

FOUR POSSIBLE RESPONSES

ASSENT DISSENT

BLIND

REASONED

Blind Assent

Blind Dissent

Reasoned Assent

Reasoned Dissent

Which are acceptable responses?

GOOD BAD

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

MORALITY: Choice between GOOD and BAD

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 #1: SHADES OF GRAY

Basis for Decision: Authority (parents, religion, state, school), Opinion, or Reason

ForbiddenDuty

RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL

Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAY

Not all acts can be readily classified as wrong. Some are contested. Examples of acts that are not clearly wrong?

The ethic of CAUTION

Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAYReason cannot always determine conclusively whether some acts are right or wrong.

When we are unsure of the wrongness of an act, what would be the safer assumption?

When unsure of whether or not an act is wrong,

err on the side of caution.

GENERALPRINCIPLES or

LAWS

PARTICULARSITUATIONS or

CONTEXTS

Complication #2: 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              φρόνησιςMoral  issues  and  ques.ons  are  ambiguous  and  complex.    

Solu.ons  and  answers  are  o8en  not  self-­‐evident  or  obvious.

The two extremes of moral reasoning:

FUNDAMENTALIST RELATIVISTConsider onlyGENERAL PRINCIPLES,but notPARTICULAR SITUATION

No consideration for GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

OnlyPARTICULAR SITUATION

RATIONALISTConsider BOTH

GENERAL SITUATIONand

PARTICULARSITUATION

RIGHT WRONGNEUTRAL

“Not all wrong actions are bad/sinful.” SINFUL if and only if: Grave Matter: Serious harm &/OR Adequate Knowledge &/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.

Complication #3: RIGHT/WRONG and GOOD/BAD

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

GOOD BAD

The POTHOLES of Morality

PLEASURE

PAIN

Complication #4: Two Principles

The ethic of SUSPICION

Whenever your decision involves pleasure or avoids pain, cast some suspicion on your motive.

The ethic of SUSPICION

The ethic of CAUTIONWhen unsure of whether or not an act is wrong,

err on the side of caution.

Whenever your decision involves pleasure or avoids pain, cast some suspicion on your motive.

Two  simple  guidelines...

The conscience is what we use in making moral decisions.

Follow an informed conscience when making a moral decision.

The conscience carefully 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