Chapter Two
Making Moral Decisions
Right Reason in Action p.48-49
Prudence
The moral virtue that inclines us to lead good,
ethical, and moral lives of action; “right
reason in action,” as St. Thomas Aquinas
said.
Right Reason in Action p.48-49
Prudence
St. Basil said: Prudence must
precede every action that we
undertake; for, if prudence be
wanting, there is nothing, however
good it may seem, which is not
turned into evil.
Right Reason in Action
Prudence is necessary for
correct judgment.
Prudence forms our
character and helps us to
more easily make good
choices and then act on
them.
Right Reason in Action
A decision-making process that
attends to the implications and
consequences of an action or
choice.
Discernment
Right Reason in Action
We’ll find that when we use
discernment in making decisions we
tend to follow the moral code that
we’ve set up.
Discernment
Yes or No?
Think about the following scenarios
and then answer yes or no.
-Is it okay to get drunk if you are not
driving
-Is it okay to cheat on a test if
everyone else is doing it?
-Is it okay to lie to a parent if you
know sometimes, your parent lies
too?
-Is it okay to shoplift something that
costs less than $5?
How would you make a decision?
How would you make a decision in
for each scenario?
i.e. Would you talk it over with
someone?
Would you think about the
consequences?
Abandon Ship Scenario
-Let’s read the following scenario
and discuss the decision making
process and outcome as a class
Right Reason in Action
Search out the facts
Pray to
the Lord
for
guidance
STOP
Think about
the various
alternatives
and
consequences
Others-consult them/consider how your
actions will affect them
Search Out the Facts- p. 50-56
The S of the STOP sign
method deals with-The Moral Object: “what”the content or matter of a
moral decision
-Intention: Why a person does
something
-Circumstances: when, where,
how the action took place
Search Out the Facts- p. 50-56
You are struggling with Calculus halfway through the semester.
Making moral decisions often requires
creativity. It demands looking at more
than one alternative and critiquing the
consequences of each possible decision.
Analyze alternatives for the above
scenario.
Search Out the Facts- p. 50-56
A morally good act demands
that the who, what, why,
when, where, how of a
situation all be good together!
Search Out the Facts
Moral Object
WHAT
What is the content or
“matter” of our moral
decisions
Helps reveal to us
whether the matter
of our action is
good or bad
Search out the Facts
Moral Object
Actions consist of some of the following elements:
•Actions express who we are (Girl visiting
grandmother expresses she is sensitive and caring)
•Actions make or form us into the persons we are
growing to be (i.e. consistently cheating on a test is
making you into a cheater
•Actions impact the world around us, doing good
or bringing about harm (A boyfriend encouraging
his girlfriend to get an abortion is impacting the
life of the unborn child.)
Search out the Facts
Moral Object
The moral content of
an action that suggests
whether the action is
directed toward the
true good.
Search out the Facts
Most actions are easy to discover if what
we propose to do conforms or does not
conform to our true good.
i.e. Student picking up neighbour to drive
to school
Some actions are intrinsically evil and are
always wrong because they go against
God’s will and destroy human good:
i.e. murder, adultery, theft, rape,
blasphemy
Search out the Facts
Two Rules of Morality
Your acts must promote the true
good of humans or they are wrong.
Make sure your actions always
conform to objective norms of
morality like the Ten
Commandments.
Search out the Facts
Make a decision if the following actions or moral or
immoral. Judge them to be moral if they promote the true
good of human beings and are in accord with God’s will;
judge them to be immoral if they are contrary to human
good.
-hastening the death of an aged, terminally ill cancer patient
-telling people what you think they want to hear rather than
what you truly believe
-posing for a pornographic magazine
Search out the Facts
Intention
The aim or
objective of a
course of action;
WHY?
Search out the Facts
Intention
Is targeted at the goal of an
action, what good (or evil) I want
to happen.
Why am I doing this?
Search out the Facts
Intention
Rules for governing intentions:
1. Keep the intention good – for something to be
morally good both the action and intention must
be good.
Example: A person gives money to a worthy cause
BUT the intention is to buy political favours. The
act may benefit a good charity, but the intention is
to gain power and buy votes, making it an immoral
act.
Search out the Facts
2. The end does not justify the means – for
an action to be moral, the means must be
moral
Means: A method, course of action , or
instrument by which something can be
accomplished
Example: A doctor performs experimental
tests on non-consenting patients in order to
develop a vaccine for a virus.
Search out the Facts
Read the section entitled:
Intention on p. 52-54.
Take special note of the examples used in
this section.
When you are done reading- complete the
activity on p. 55. “What is Motive?” Be
prepared to discuss.
Search out the Facts
Circumstances- p. 54-56
Search out the Facts
The answers
to questions
that begin
with who,
where, when,
and how
The conditions or
facts attending an
event and having
some bearing on it.
Can increase or
decrease the moral
goodness or evil of
an action.
circumstances
Search out the Facts
Circumstances
Circumstances of themselves cannot
change the moral quality of acts
themselves; they can make neither
good nor right an action that is in
itself evil (Catechism of the
Catholic Church #1754)
Search out the Facts
In other words..
Circumstances are secondary elements
of a moral act; they cannot make an
action that is evil in itself good.
Search out the Facts
Let’s read…
p.54-56: Circumstances
CASE: Courageous Sacrifice or an Old
Fool?
Answer questions with a partner
Search out the Facts
Lori’s Dilemma
Lori took her math final in the first period. At lunch, she runs into her
best friend Julie who says she didn’t have a chance to study for
the test because she had to take her mom to the hospital the
night before following an accident. Julie really needs to get a “b”
on the test if she is going to have any chance to get a college
scholarship. Her family is very poor and Julie needs the money in
order to attend college. Julie asks Lori to tell her some of the
problems given on the test or to at least help her compose a
cheat sheet with the formulas she can take with her to class.
For Lori, determine:
1. The moral object
2. The intentions
3. The circumstances
Search out the Facts
IN PAIRS, THINK OF THREE
SCENARIOS:
In one, make the intention and circumstances good, but
the moral object wrong.
In another, make the circumstances and action good,
but the intention wrong.
In the final case, make one of the circumstances wrong,
thus making the proposed action immoral.
*Each group will present one of their scenarios. Please
have it be detailed, creative, and plausible.
Think About the Alternatives
and Consequences
Alternatives
Until alternatives are considered, moral
decisions should not be made.
Thinking out alternatives involves
creativity and dreaming.
Think About the Alternatives
and Consequences
Consequences
We should never act without considering the
consequences of our actions.
Consequences are not the only or decisive factor
in the morality of actions; the moral object is the
decisive factor.
Ask the following question: Would I be willing
to allow everyone in a similar situation to act
this way?
Others- p.60-62
Others
• Fundamental aspect about humans is that
we are social beings.
• We depend on each other for most aspects
of our lives (education, employment, et
cetera).
• Logic dictates that our decisions should
take into account how it is going to affect
others.
• Ex. Smoking cigarettes – Smoking in an
enclosed area affects others who do not
smoke.
Others- p.60-62
Others
• If you had a major decision to make (in life,
about your own life goals), who is one
person you would most likely wish to
consult?
Others- The Boy and the Box
• A little boy was trying to lift a heavy box. He
could not even budge it. His father
happened to walk by and stopped to watch
his son’s struggle. The boy exerted all his
energy and them some, but still could not
get the box to move. Finally, the father
asked him: “Are you doing everything
possible to lift the heavy load?” The boy
yelled out in frustration, “Yes, I am!” The
father countered calmly, “I don’t think so.
You haven’t asked me to help you.”
Others- The Boy and the Box
• How hard is it for you to ask for help?
• How many of us see asking for help as a
sign of defeat?
• Is there any shame in admitting that you
cannot do something on your own?
• **Remember  Humans are social beings
and thus must rely on each other. Isolation
is contrary to the essence of humanity.
Others
Be Considerate of Others
We must always ask how our
proposed actions will affect others.
We must heed the advice of those
who are wiser than us.
Others
Be Consultive of Others
•
All people seek aid. Doctors consult, teachers work
together, athletes rely on coaches, singers on voice
coaches. Why should it differ for moral choices?
Consult with people who have made tough decisions before
and take their advice.
The Church and its Magisterium
Forming our consciences only after
considering the good of all, and paying
attention to the moral law as taught by the
Church’s Magisterium, is a proven way to
discern and do God’s will.
Others
• Questions to ask yourself when deciding
on a moral act:
• 1) Would I want what I am doing done to
me?
• 2)Would I be proud to do this in front of
my mom, dad or siblings?
• 3)Would I want my decision and action
broadcast on the evening news?
Others
• Regardless of how hard you try, you can
never escape the hard fact that we live in
communion.
• In order for life to continue and move
forward we MUST work with others.
• For our relationships to be meaningful
and fruitful we must take caution in how
our actions affect others.
Pray
Christian moral living is sustained by prayer.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
defines prayer as “the living relationship of
the children of God with their Father who is
good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus
Christ and with the Holy Spirit (2565)
An Example of Jesus
Praying
•
•
•
32
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his
disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and
John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and
troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a
little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the
hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f] Father,” he said, “everything
is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but
what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you
keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not
fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When
he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes
were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping
and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man
is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here
comes my betrayer!”
Prayer
• Jesus instructed us to pray often; alone and
with others, to be persistent and to pray
with forgiveness and trust in our hearts.
• “For everyone who asks, receives; and the
one who seeks, finds; and to the one who
knocks, the door will be opened” (Lk 11:10)
The Lord’s Prayer
• Taught to us by Jesus as the summary of
the gospel
• Two notable features:
• 1) We call God father and ask for his will to
be done. If he is our father then we are all
siblings and must act toward each other in
that fashion.
• 2) We should seek to do God’s will which is
the source of happiness. Helps us with
morality.
Conversation with God
• Conversation has two parts:
• 1) Talking – we praise God, thank God,
express our sorrow over our sins, pray for
others, and ask for various favours.
• 2)Listening – God guides us through our
minds, feelings, imaginations, emotions and
memories. Gives us “clues” through many
different ways – conscience.
How Can Prayer Help?
• Prayer teaches us to turn to the Lord for
help.
• Prayer reminds us that God’s help is all
around; in church leaders, teachers,
parents, friends.
Reflect..
• Please read p. 63- 65 including the section
entitled “Responding to Challenges”.
• 1. Answer the Review and Reflection
question in your notebook.
• 2. Ensure you have completed #1-3 on p.
63.
• 3. Compose a short 3 sentence prayer that
could help guide you in important decision
making in your life.
Ensure you know these terms: Prudence,
Discernment, Moral object, Intention, Means,
Circumstances
Vocabulary
Prudence
Discernment
Moral object
Intention
Means
Circumstances