How to deal with these issues and dilemmas?

Route #1:

Learn the WHAT

The Rules: The Do s & Don ts Suitable and eective for simpler issues and simpler people.

Route #2:

Learn the WHY & HOW

Moral Reasoning Suitable and eective for complex issues and more educated people.

Response #1: Response #2: Response #3:

Faithful ASSENT Reasoned & Faithful ASSENT Reasoned DISSENT

MORALITY: Choice between GOOD and BAD

GOOD

BAD

Its not as SIMPLE as that! Three COMPLICATIONS...

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
GENERAL PRINCIPLES or LAWS
PARTICULAR SITUATIONS or CONTEXTS

Phronesis
GENERAL PRINCIPLES or LAWS
PARTICULAR SITUATIONS or CONTEXTS

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 RELATIVIST EVALUATIVIST YES only to NO to YES GENERAL GENERAL to both PRINCIPLES, PRINCIPLES, GENERAL SITUATION NO to YES only to and PARTICULAR PARTICULAR PARTICULAR SITUATION SITUATION SITUATION

Complication #2: The Potholes of Morality GOOD BAD

PLEASURE

PAIN

Which PRINCIPLE rules your life?

Complication #3: SHADES OF GRAY

Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

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.

Not all wrong actions are sinful.

SINFUL if and only if:

1) Grave Matter: Serious harm if & only if: 2) &/OR Adequate Knowledge ALL OF THE ABOVE 3) &/OR Adequate Freedom
Serious harm has been caused. The actor knew that the act was wrong and harmful.

GRAVE SIN

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

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

SINFUL

MORAL DECISION vs. SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT If & only if: If and only if: 1) RIGHT vs. RIGHT 1) RIGHT vs. WRONG 2) NEUTRAL vs. RIGHT 2) WRONG vs. WRONG ( The Lesser of 2 Evils ) (The Greater Good)

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

GREATER GOOD

SINFUL

Primacy of Conscience
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 eects of every moral option.