The Basis for Morality

Moral Theology
 Aristotle and Happiness

• A thing achieves εὐδαιμονία or ( a moral philosophy that

defines right action as that which leads to the "well-being"
of the individual, thus holding "well-being" as having
essential value.) fulfillment/happiness when it performs with
excellence according to its telos
• According to Aristotle, the telos of a human being is to reason or choose
with excellence.
• Happiness is achieved with right moral choices

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Morality and Free Will
• Because of original sin
our ability to reason well
has been damaged
• We now suffer concupiscence -
tendency toward sin b/c of Original
sin.
• We have clouded mind, weakened
will and disordered passions

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 Morality and Free Will
• Free will is our potential or capacity to
choose the good
• To fulfill our function we must use our Free
will to choose good

• In as much as you choose good, you are experiencing

freedom
• Evil choices destroy freedom
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Sin diminishes freedom

• Evil choices are contrary to reason

and therefore diminish our freedom
• It also further clouds our ability to
reason and choose the good

• Weakened ability to choose good

represents a restriction in our
freedom 20
 Grace
• In order to aid the soul in
choosing good God supplies us
with Grace

• Grace: the divine life of God in the soul that

is freely given to us by God
• We cannot deserve or earn it
• Two Kinds of Grace:
• Sanctifying Grace and Actual Grace 21
Grace
• Sanctifying Grace: a
grace given to us through
the sacrament that gives
new life to our souls

• It is given in Baptism, nourished

by Eucharist and restored in
Reconciliation
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Grace
• Actual Grace: a temporary
grace given by God given to
obtain, preserve and grow
in holiness
• Gives us knowledge and strength to
do the good
• We can choose to ignore or
refuse the grace and act
contrary to it. 23
 Our Actions
• Aristotle: “you are what you repeatedly
do”
• What we choose to do expresses our
moral dispositions
• Our actions reflect the soul
• Interiorly our passions, thoughts and
words also begin to reflect our choices
and reflect the interior 24
Moral life
• The moral law shows us what a
person who loves God ought to do
• Commandments are the minimum
threshold for morality
• Jesus’ moral teaching focuses
mostly on what we must do

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 Moral Life

• Humans are a composite of body

and soul
• Therefore, moral law reflects laws that
effect both
• Sacraments help to build up the soul

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 Man in society
• Man is by nature a social being
• The moral law also calls us to
safeguard human dignity for all
• It also calls us to serve and love one
another
• Social morality seeks to distract from
the tendency to focus on ourselves only
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Sources of Moral Theology

• Draws from Divine

Revelation also known as
the Deposit of Faith
• Scripture, Tradition, interpreted
by the Magisterium
• Natural Law

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 Sources of Moral Theology

• Sacred Scripture
• Both Old and New Testament are used in moral law
• New Testament is used more because:
• Some OT laws were temporary
• Jesus was the fulfillment of the OT and therefore,
brings the fullness of the law

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Sources of Moral Theology

• Scripture cont…
• Christ’s life provides
examples of how a believer
should live the moral life
• Jesus’ teaching, preaching
and precepts give us the
“moral rule”
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 Sources of Moral Theology

•Tradition:
• This is the living transmission of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ
• Transmitted both orally and in writing
• The Church passes on her doctrine, life and worship.

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Sources of Moral Theology

• Magisterium:
• The pope and the bishops united with him
teaching the faithful in matters of faith and
morals
• The pope can define truths of the Faith and
of Morals
• These teachings are infallible (without error)
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Sources of Moral Theology

• Natural Law:
• The basic moral principles that are engraved in our
hearts
• Linked to the basic dignity of the human person
• Natural Science:
• Also aids in morality but only to enhance or elaborate on
moral doctrine
• It can only supplement moral theology
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 ASSIGNMENT

REFLECTION PAPER
1. IMPORTANCE OF MORAL THEOLOGY TO ONES
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