Morality

“We all think that morality is important, but we can't agree on what is moral.”*

To conservative Christians "moral values" tends to refer to sexual behavior and issues such as marriage and abortion.

To more liberal Christians, secular people, Jews, Muslims, that tends to oftentimes mean social justice questions -- poverty, the environment, war and peace.

*Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Nov. 7, 2004

What makes something moral? Is it a moral issue only if our action

affects others? Murder, stealing, rape, lying

or… Is it also a moral issue even if our action

does not have a negative impact on others? Hunting? Cheating/plagiarism?

Abortion? Suicide/Euthanasia? Prostitution? Polygamy? Doing drugs?

Ethics of Virtue vs. Ethics of DutyVirtue Ethics: Be good Internally motivated

– imposed from within (innate)

Punished from within (sense of shame, guilt)

Affects the self (even if not others)

Guided by principles

Duty Ethics: Do good Externally motivated

– imposed by others (told what to do by society, god)

Punished by others (society, god)

Affects others (even if not the self)

Guided by rules/law

Sources of MoralityHow do we know what is good?Cosmic/Natural Law An impersonal, external source:

The “Way” (Tao) of nature Dharma (Hinduism)

A personal, external source: Natural laws, created by God as good:

That which is natural = good, right That which interferes with nature =

bad, wrong Examples: homosexuality, abortion, birth control

Sources of MoralityHow do we know what is good?

Charismatic Leader as model Jesus teaches his “great commandment” and

the “Golden Rule” Buddha teaches the “Five Precepts”:

Do not harm/kill others Do not take what is not given (do not steal) Do not lie Do not ingest intoxicants/alcohol Do not have illicit sexual relations (be

chaste)

Sources of MoralityHow do we know what is good?Divine CommandGod says “do” and “don’t” (“thou shalt not”,

“thou shalt”) Is it good because God commands it (God

makes the rules)or

Does God command it because it is good? (God merely identifies and enforces the rules)

If God commands us to kill, does killing become the moral thing to do?

Examples of Divine Command Judaism: Halakhah

Based on 613 “commandments” in Torah Interpreted by Rabbis For practical application in everyday life

Islam: Shari’a Based on God’s direction in Qur’an Modeled after Muhammad’s behavior

(sunna) as recorded in Hadith Interpreted by Islamic jurists (ulama)

according to analogy and consensus

Questions to ponder: Does doing good (duty) make us good?Or: Do we do good because we are good (virtuous)?

Can morality be legislated?Is it still an issue of “morality” if we are simply

“obeying the law”“duty ethics” = yes“virtue ethics” = no

??? Is morality culturally relative and personally subjective?Or: is there any absolute and universal moral law?

Basic moral principles “Do unto others as you would have

others do unto you” “Love God and love others as you love

yourself” “Live in such a way as to love all and be

loved by all”

What basic moral principle guides your life?Or do you live according to the rules?

Explore more on the Web: BBC Religion & Ethics: explores ethical issues,

including positions held by various religions on various issues including: same-sex marriage, ethics of war, euthanasia, human cloning, genetic engineering, designer babies, abortion. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/

Online interactive philosophy games: Is your morality based on reason or gut level response? How consistent are you in applying moral principals?Taboo: http://www.philosophersnet.com/games/taboo.htm

Morality Play: http://www.philosophersnet.com/games/morality_play.htm