Philosophy Part II

Philosophy Part II

Spiritual Growth Project “No one in the world can change truth. What we

can do and should do is to seek truth and serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hecatombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depths of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we are ourselves defeated in our innermost personal selves?” St. Maximilian Kolbe

Daily Examen – See handout

Moral dilemmas

To make it more real, I need input: What moral dilemmas do you face

that you would like to discuss with the class and your parents?

Write them on a piece of paper (no names) and turn them in.

Immanuel Kant 1724-1804 Similar to Aristotle’s focus on reason

Aristotle – rational overcoming the appetitive leads to virtue which brings happiness.

Kant – reason is what sets us apart from other creatures; to be human means to reason fully

Kant denies that happiness is the point of life If we were meant to be happy, we would not have

been given free will! Virtues are morally neutral – courage, intelligence,

self-control can all be used for good or bad

Kant and Freedom

Freedom – autonomy from outside influence

Seeking pleasure and avoiding pain makes one a slave to appetites and desires and therefore not free

True freedom is to follow reason, which dictates we have a duty to follow moral law.

Using reason to follow moral law makes us free.

Moral Law

How do we know the moral law? Categorical Imperative – universal

principles that are good in themselves, not for the sake of something else To test it: what if everyone did this?▪ Cheating-if everyone did, there would be no

truth. Humanity as an end

Humans have absolute, intrinsic value Can never be used as a means to an end

Obedience to moral law

Humans must obey moral law for the sake of moral law. Why?

Doing good for good results (or to avoid bad ones) is not morally good. Shopkeeper – honest to uphold reputation BBB – Honesty is the best policy and is good

for business. The ends never justify the means

Circumstances and consequences do not affect moral principles.

Does this hold up?

Critiques? Murderer at the door Should you tell the truth?

Lie vs. misleading truth - lie (white lie) - Do you like the tie? Yes misleading truth - Do you like the tie?

It’s unique Kant – it is ok to mislead while telling

the truth - still fulfill duty to truth; dignity of moral law

Jim and Kant

According to Kant, were Jim’s actions morally good? Why?

Kant and Christianity both affirm… Universal moral principle is similar to

the golden rule The intrinsic value and worth of

humans The ends do not justify the means

There are intrinsically evil acts

Christianity disagrees with Kant… The reality is that people need more

than pure reason to do the right thing.

Kant’s morality is ultimately selfish - do good to fulfill one’s duty toward reason.

Christianity disagrees with Kant… Revelation teaches that truth that goes

beyond reason to include relationship & love. God is a community of love who created

humanity out of love Love - doing something for the good of others -

more important than duty Love is gift and not always reasonable - see

crucifix. Love (properly understood) is therefore

necessary in shaping morality.  

Is it moral?

Define the object, intention, and circumstance

Analyze in light of… Aristotle, Kant, & Locke

Jake and his wife have been happily married for eight years. They enjoy watching pornographic movies together. Is this moral?

Is it moral?

Beth and her fiancé are both in Law School. They are not yet ready to get married, but they would like to move in together to save money and see if marriage is a good idea. Beth’s parents were angry and hurt when they told them. Is it morally wrong for them to live together before they get married? Define object, intention, & circumstance What would Aristotle, Kant, and Locke

say? Why?

Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill 1806-1873 Rejected Christianity outright Focused only on the consequences

when making a moral decision Also called a consequentialist moral

philosophy Judge good or bad by the results of an

action

Utilitarianism Morality

Goal of morality - to make the world a better place

Results are more important than intention

Humans should do what brings the most benefit to all people

Right thing to do = greatest happiness for greatest number of people Flight 93 of 9/11 Lifeboat - who gets to go?  

Utilitarianism Morality

Requires moral agent to be unbiased. Good of many outweighs good of the few.

What if you are one of the few?    Moral decision making is like a

mathematical equation Weigh probable good and bad consequences Pick the option that equates to the most good.

The ends justifies the means No act if evil if it creates more goodness

Critique of Utilitarianism

Assumes we have no bias when making decisions

Assumes we never rationalize our decisions based on desire

Assumes we can reasonably know all the short and long term affects of our decisions

Sacrifice the weak for the good of the whole society

Critique of Utilitarianism

John Paul II - Veritatis Splendor - Circumstances or intention can never transform an act that is intrinsically evil by virtue of its object into an act that is good or defensible.

Romans 3:8 - “And why not say—as we are accused and as some claim we say—that we should do evil that good may come of it? Their penalty is what they deserve.”

Critique of Utilitarianism Catechism of the Catholic Church 1756 It is therefore an error to judge the morality of

human acts by considering only the intention that inspires them or the circumstances (environment, social pressure, duress or emergency, etc.) which supply their context. There are acts which, in and of themselves, independently of circumstances and intentions, are always gravely illicit by reason of their object; such as blasphemy and perjury, murder and adultery. One may not do evil so that good may result from it.

Principle of Double Effect How do we choose in difficult

situations where there is no good option? Such as self defense where moral law

conflicts (preserve being vs. not killing) Action may have multiple effects,

some of which are not intended.

Principle of Double Effect 1. Action must be good or morally neutral 2. Moral agent must not will the bad effects

If there was a way to get the good without the bad effect, they should do so

3.  The good effect must flow prior to or simultaneous with the bad effect If bad effect was prior that would be the case of

the ends justifying the means 4.  The good effect must sufficiently

outweigh the bad effect.

Review Compare and Contrast the moral philosophy of

Kant and Mill Define key terms

Utilitarianism, Categorical Imperative What aspects of Kant and Mill are helpful in

moral decision making? What aspects of Kant and Mill are problematic in

moral decision making? How does Longenecker critique Utilitarianism? How does the principle of double effect attempt

to take into account the good aspects of other moral philosophies.