Lesson 6.Norms of Morality

8/10/2019 Lesson 6.Norms of Morality

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Norms of Morality

Prof. Fernandino J. Pancho


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Definition

Norms of morality is the criteria of judgment about the sorts of person

we ought to be and the sorts of action we ought toperform.

the quality of things manifesting their conformity ornon-coformity with the norm or criteria. (that whichconforms is good or moral, that which do not conform is evil orimmoral)

The subjective norm of moralityConscience The objective norm of moralityLaw (natural)

Both natural law and conscience are rooted on EternalLaw, the ultimate norm, thus, there is only one norm.


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Conscience

The subjective/proximate norm ofmorality. It is proximate because it is what directly confronts an

action as good or bad.

Function:to examine/investigate, tojudge, to pass punishment on our moralactions.

It approves & commends; reproaches &condemns; forbids & commands; accuses &absolves.

Synderesisit is the quality by whichman naturally perceives the truth of the


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Conscience - definition

Derived from the Latin words con plusscientiawhich means with knowledge of

what is right or wrong or trial of oneslfboth

in accusation and in defense.

It is the inner or little voice of God in man

crying out mans moral obligations and telling

him what to do and what to avoid in the moral

order.

It is an act of the practical judgment of reason

deciding upon an individual action as good and

to be performed or as evil and to be avoided.


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Conscience - Kinds

Antecedentjudgment is passed before anaction is performed.

Consequentjudgment is passed after anaction is performed.

Right/Truejudges what is really good asgood and waht is really evil asevil according to thetrue principles of morality.

Erroneous/False judges what is really badas good and vice versa accordingto a false interpretation of themoral principles.


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Conscience - Kinds

Certain consciencea subjectiveassurance of the lawfulness or

unlawfulness of certain

actions to be done or to be

omitted.

Doubt fu l consc iencea vacillating

conscience, which is unable to forma definite judgment on a

certain action.

A doubtful conscience must first be allowed to

settle its doubts before an action is performed.


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Conscience - Kinds

Lax conscienceis one which refuses to bebothered about the disticntion of

good and evil. It tends to follow the easy way and to find excuses for omissions

and mistakes. These are people who act on the impulse of bahala na on

matters of morals.

Scrupulous consc ienceis a rigorous

conscience, extremely afraid ofcommiting evil. A scrupulous conscience is meticoulous and wants

incontrovertible proofs before it acts . It is frequently the result of

a stuborn character.

For some, it merely means a serious concern about moral

perfection.


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Formation of Conscience

One has the obligation to cultivate a trueand certain conscience.

1. By studying and searching for truths in the

laws and in the sciences. Overcomingignorance and error in moral matters.

2. Cultivating good habits. Overcomingdoubts.

3. By militating against evil,condemning andfighting against it.

4. One must learn how to use properlyhis/her freedom.


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Causes of Erroneous

Conscience1. A mistake along the process of practical

reasoning especially with regard to remote

conclusions of the moral principles.

2. Ignorance of law3. Ignorance of the fact and other

circumstances modifying human action

4. Ignorance invoving future consequences,

especially those dependent on the free willof others.


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Law - definition

It is an ordinance of reason directedtowards the common good and

promulgated by the one who has the careof the community or in authority.

Elements:1. Ord inance/mandatebecause it contains a

decisive command to perform or to avoid theperformance of something.

2. Reasonab lea law should not be dictated by adespotic desire or momentary whim of anauthority. It must not be capricious, arbitrary,discriminatory and whimsical.


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Elements:

3. For the common good means that that lawshould benefit all citizens and not the exclusivebenefit of some favored groups.

- it is the sum total of benefits derived by individualsfrom the government and from the nation as a whole.

- it is the universal happiness all men seek (St.Thomas).

4. Promulgated means the law must be officiallypublished for the porpuse of informing the people.(published in official gazzette ornewspaper ofgeneral circulation)

5. Enacted by a competent author i ty a personwho is elected or appointed to make laws. (Congress)


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Law - Kinds

1. Eternal Law

it is the Divine reason or the will of God

commanding that the natural order of

things be preserved and forbidding that itbe disturbed (St. Augustine)

- it is the exemplar of Divine wisdom as

directing all actions and movements.

(St. Thomas)

Properties/Features: Unchangeable & Universal


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Law - Kinds

2. Natural law- it is mans participation in the eternal law of God.- it is an extension of the divine order of things as

apprehended by human reason.

- are not written decrees; figuratively speaking, theyare writ ten in the hearts of m en. They are

impressed in human nature by the author of nature.

- it refers to the nature of all created things which is theprinciple of movements and action: chemical,

biological, psychological, or rational.

- it is recognized by all men regardless of creed, race, culture,

historical circumstances.- All agreed that there is an inner force that compels mantowards good and away from evil.

Properties/Features: Universal, Obligatory, Recognizable by reason,Immutable


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Law - Kinds

3. Human Positive Law

- are the laws which proceed from a

properly constituted authority such as the

state or the church.-this serve to supplement the provisions of the

natural law in view of the special needs

of the community.

-Laws o f the Statecontained in theConstitution and code of Civil

Law.

-Laws o f the Church compiled in the

Canon Law.


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Human Positive Law -

Properties1. A human law should be in accord with the divine

law.

2. A human law should be in accord with the natural

law.

3. A human law must promote the common good.

4. A human law must have a universal character.

Everyhuman law has just so much of the nature of

the law as it is derived from the law of nature.

But if, at any point, it departs from the law of

nature, it is no longer a law but a perversion of

law (St. Thomas). Thus, an unjust law, have no

moral binding force, and should not be obeyed.


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Defective Norms of Morality

Hedonism

Utilitarianism

Moral Rationalism

Moral Positivism

Moral Evolutionism

Moral Sensism

Communism


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Hedonism

It is an ethical theory which holds thatthe supreme end of man consists in

the acquisition of pleasure.

Sensible pleasures are the highest good of life.

Morality is grounded on the pleasure

or satisfaction that an act brings or

entails. The good action is the pleasant action.

The bad action is that which produces pain or

unhappiness.


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Utilitarianism

Is a theory very mush akin to Hedonism.

This norm of morality holds that actions are right in

proportion as they tend to promote happiness,

wrong as they tend to produce unhappiness.

It makes utilitythe norm of morality.

The goodness or badness of an action would

depend on the effects or consequences of the

action.

An act is good if and when it gives good results, if it

works, it makes you successful, if it makes you

attain your purpose, bad if it does not.


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Types of Utilitarianism

Ind iv idual/ego ist ic ut i l i tar ianism holdsthat the norm of morality resides in the

usefulness of an action for the production of

the temporal happiness of the individual.

An act is good when it redounds to the

temporal welfare and happiness of the

individual, and bad if it hinders or hampers this

happiness.

Social /al tru ist ic u t i l i tar ianism holds that

an act is good when it is conducive to the

social good or well-being


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Commentary (Hedonism & Utilitarianism)

Merits It explains very well the emotional basis

and aspects of human action.

It explains well the reason behind thedoing of action by most people

There is always some satisfaction accompanying the

doing of every good act.

There is no doubt that most people are motivated intheir action by their desire for satisfaction or happiness

or well-being.


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Commentary (Hedonism & Utilitarianism)

Defects

Both propose an earthly goal for man, that is, the

temporal welfare here on earth.

The ultimate and supreme purpose of man cannot befound in this life.

Both make or tend to make morality relative

What is pleasant or useful to one may be painful and

harmful to another. Relative morality leads to moralchaos and destruction.


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Commentary (Hedonism & Utilitarianism) Defects

Both theories make morality extrinsic because they

make it depend on the effect or on a concomitant

factor of an act.

Morality is intrinsic, that is, based on the very essence of things

and on the nature of the act itself.

Satisfaction/pleasure may indicate and accompany the

doing of a good act; but the act is good not because it

brings satisfaction, but rather, it brings satisfaction

because it is good. The pleasure follows from the goodness and not the goodness

from the satisfaction

The satisfaction/pleasure is merely an effect, and an indication

but not the cause or the reason of the goodness of an action.


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Moral RationalismImmanuel

Kant Is the theory which maintains that all knowledge

and all truths are derived from human reason.

Human reason, therefore, is the source of all truths, all

laws, and all principles.

Human reason is the source of all moral laws and all

moral obligations.

Reason commands, and the commands of reason are

absolute and unconditional, absolutely binding on all

men of all times (Categorical Imperative).

Therefore, good must be done simply because we want.

Virtue must be practiced for virtues sake; goodness, forgoodness sake.

Why we must do good?

We must do good because we must, it is our duty to obey

unconditionally without questioning(Principle of

Deontology).


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Moral Rationalism

The command of reason is categorical and all areobliged to obey, it is our moral duty to obey

unconditionally.

Dutyis the very root, test and the mainspring of all

morally good acts.

All that is moral is motivated by pure sense of duty, by pure

reverence for the law.

Thus, morality is grounded on duty or moral obligation.

True morality, must be autonomous in character(Autonomy of Reason).

According to which theory: it is reason that commands and

at the same time it is reason that obeys.

Thus, reason will be the law-maker, the law-giver and law-

obeyer at the same time.


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Commentary (Moral Rationalism)

Merits It emphasized the absolute and immutable

nature of morality

It saves morality from the destructiveness and

insanity of moral relativity and skepticism.

Defects

On Autonomy of Reason

Reason is the absolute law-maker, law-giver, law-abider.

(Autonomy of Reason)

Morality comes not from reason itself but from a higher

and other source than human reason. (Heteronomy of

Reason)


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Commentary (Moral Rationalism)

Defects Based on Heteronomy of Reason

Human reason only sees things, but it does not make

things.

Human reason tells us the law, but it does not make thelaw.

Moral law is not from human reason, it is not our own

making, but it is impose on us from a higher source.

If the law were made by human reason, then everythingthat we would like to do could be approved by reason,

but the fact is that we have many things we like to do by

which we know are against the dictates of our

conscience.

Nothing can be superior and inferior at the same time.


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Commentary (MoralRationalism) Defects

Duty as a norm of morality

Duty cannot be sole motive in the performance

of an act. There are other motives that are more worthy and

more noble, such as love, pity, mercy, etc.

On Universalization of Reason

There are many acts which cannot be

universalized.

Ex. Dying a heros death by martyrdom


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Moral Evolutionism

This is the theory of all those who holds thatmorality is never fixed or absolute, but is

continually changing and evolving gradually

into a perfect morality.

Friedrich Nietzsche - believed that morality

the distinction between right and wrong

did not exist in the beginning or originallyunknown.

Good is that which anybody desired.


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Moral Evolutionism

Friedrich Nietzsche He was convinced that traditional values represented a

slave morality, a morality created by weak and resentful

individuals who encouraged such behavior as gentleness and

kindness because the behavior served their interests.

These are the laws/values derived and based on the teachings of

Christianity which stands for meekness, humility, suffering pity, mercy,

poverty, forgiveness and love.

These values glorify and favor the weak and produces weaklings

But, according to Nietzsche, we must produce the strong

The law of nature is the survival of the fittest.

The strong is destined by nature to live and rule.

The weak has no right from nature to live. The weak who form the

majority must be eliminated in order to give way to the aristocracy of the

strong.


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Moral Evolutionism

Thus, Nietzsche, developed an idea of theSuperman/Overman.

The Superman/Overman was an individual who

overcame the slave morality of traditional values, and

lived according to his own values/morality.

This superman is secure, independent, and highly

individualistic. The overman feels deeply, but his

passions are rationally controlled. Concentrating on

the real world, rather than on the rewards of the next

world promised by religion, the overman affirms life,

including the suffering and pain that accompany

human existence.


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Moral Evolutionism

He advanced this idea by saying that God isdead, or the traditional morality was no longer

relevant in peoples lives.

For him, the end of all morality and society toproduce the strong, the superman.

Thus, might, strength and power form the basis of

true morality.

Good, is that one which makes one strong, powerful, and

most of all super human, and bad is that which is

productive of the weak.


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The result the chaotic, horrific, barbaricand devastating World War II (German

Invasion).

Who thinks that they are the Aryan race (Whitesupremacy) superior to any other and destined to

rule and conquer the world.

They devoured weaker nations and justified allthe massacres, tortures, and bloodshed of

concentration camps in their occupied countires

on the theory that thay are the strong and,

therefore, can do no wrong.

Commentary (MoralEvolutionism)


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Moral Positivism This theory holds that the basis/source of all moral laws is the

laws of the State.

Good is that which is in accordance with the laws of the

State; bad is that which is forbidden by the State.

The proponent of this theory is Thomas Hobbes

Nature was in a state of universal war. Mankind was in a

state of war before the formation of the State.

Man is a wolf unto his fellowmen (Homo homini lupus)

Thus, there was no law, no morality, no distinction between

right and wrong. To end this state of war and anarchy, men came together to

form the State.

Thus, laws, rights and duties were then established.

Morality then has it source, its origin from the laws of the State.


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Commentary (Moral

Positivism) Defects

It makes morality relative.

There are State Laws which are legal but not

moral (Abortion, Death Penalty, Same Sex

Marriage).

It reverses the natural order of things.

Before there was any State there was already

human nature with all its natural and inviolablerights and the law (natural law) governing it.

Example:

Murder is always bad, even before there was any

State law prohibiting it. Murder is forbidden by law

and is wrong because it is clearly a violation againsthuman nature.


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Moral Sensism

Is an ethical theory which holds thatman is endowed with a special moral

sense (other than reason) by virtue of

which man distinguishes between rightand wrong.

The basis/source of morality is mans

senses; what a persons feel about the

human act.

Good if I feel it is good; bad if I feel it is

bad.

This view expressed when we say he has


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Commentary (Moral Sensism)

Defects It makes morality relative.

Morality is not based on feelings/senses.

Morality is not based on the mood of theperson.

A human act is good or bad based on the norms of

morality which is conscience and natural law.


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Communism

Its moral philosophy is the logicalconsequence of metaphysics or view

of reality known as dialectic

materialism. According to this theory, matter is the only

reality.

This sole entity or matter, is in constant flux or

motion and this accounts for all the events,motion and change in the universe; so that all

phenomena of nature, all history, are nothing

else but the manifestation of this dialectic

process inherent in the nature of all thingsmatter .


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Communism

It is founded on the theory of change,evolution and revolution.

Everything is progressing towards the goal of

perfection; man, society and history naturally

and necessarily tend towards the attainment of

the ultimate objective: the perfect state here

on earth, the Class less Society.

All these are involved in the inexorable laws of

dialectic materialism.

The goal of man is his earthly happiness in a

classless society.


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Communism

Morality is changing since all thingschanges.

Good is that which brings about and hasten to

bring about the realization of a classless

society; bad that which hinders or delays its

coming.

The end of man, which is the classless society,

is the norm of morality.

The end determines the morality of an act, the

means does not matter. Thus, the end

justifies the means.

Revolution, conflict, bloodshed, wars, espionage, etc.,

are good if they bring about the desired end: Classless


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Communism

Primacy of Economics Economics is the sole basis of all

civilization, all progress, all history, all

society. It conditions and determines ones religion and

even ones mode of thinking and living.

Morality is likewise determined by economics,

in such a way that different economicconditions give rise to different moralities.

Economics is the beginning and the ends of

all ethics/morality.


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Commentary - Communism

Merit Communism explains well the importance

and necessity of economics in life.

Man is an economic being. He has an stomach to feed, he has to earn a living to

support himself and his family, etc.

Defects

It is vitiated with the fallacy ofexc lus iveness and m isproport ion.


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While it is true that man can not live with bread,it is likewise true that he does nor live by bread

alone.

While he is an economic being, he is not an

economic being exclusively, nor principally.

While we cannot disregard economics in life,

we cannot make it the sole and the most

important thing in life.

It may be the basis or a sine qua non condition

of earthly life, but it is not the end of all human

beings, though it is a necessary means to it.


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Comparison between Morality of communism andChristian Morality:

1. Communism is based on the primacy of matter.

Christian morality is based on the primacy of the

spirit.2. Communism proposes an earthly goal for man

(temporal life).

Christian morality is primarily for the other world

(eternal life).

3. Communism denies the basic postulates of Christian

morality (the existence of God, freedom of the will,

immortality of the soul. It substitute matter for God; life

in a classless society for immortality, and the laws of

the dialectic for freedom.


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Comparison between Morality of communism and Christian

Morality:4. Communism adheres to the position that the end justifies

the means.

Christian morality believe that the end does not justify

the means.

5. Communism subscribes to the evolutionistic view of

morality.

Christian morality maintains that morality is absolute,

immutable and eternal.

6. Communism uses force, conflict, revolution for theattainment of its goal: the classless society here on earth.

Christian morality teaches love, patience, right living

and prayer for the attainment of its ultimate end:

eternal happiness in heaven, with God.


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Thank you! God

bless!

Lesson 6.Norms of Morality

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