Unit 4: Morality
Section 1:
Introduction to Morality
Introduction to Morality
Read the following statements and consider:
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What strikes you or comes to mind as you read each
statement?
Which statement do you agree with the most? Why?
1. Most people are morally good.
2. Most people try to be morally good, but
sometimes people fail to live and act morally.
3. Most people have a sense of morality, but people
often fail to live morally exemplary or even
praiseworthy lives.
Introduction to Morality
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How would you define morality?
Introduction to Morality
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How would you define morality?
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Difference between Good and Bad, Right and
Wrong
Theoretical – how we ought to act
Practical – what we actually do
Involves both the Self and Relations with Other
People
Universally Accepted Moral Sense
Personal/Individual Moral Sense
Introduction to Morality
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Morality: A Basic Definition
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The human decision making capacity
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Deliberately done
Based on an understanding of right and wrong
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Both theoretical and practical
Universal and Personal/Individual
That affects self and others
In positive or negative ways
Introduction to Morality
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Morality: Two Components
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Universally Accepted Moral Sense
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Law of Human Nature
Personal/Individual Moral Sense
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Situated in a person’s life context or the specific
circumstances of life
Surface level factors  gender, ethnicity, nationality
Deeper level factors  social structures and social
institutions
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Family, education, government, economic, religion
Generational factors  Gen-X, Millennials, Cyber
Cultural factors  Classical, modern, post-modern
Introduction to Morality
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What is Morality?
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The abstract or theoretical understanding of right and
wrong
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Major question – “Who ought I to be?”
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A general or universal sense (The Law of Human Nature)
Focus is on “good v. bad” person
What is Ethics?
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The practical application of moral theory to specific
situations or topics
Major question – “What ought I to do?”
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Focus is on “right v. wrong” actions
Introduction to Morality
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Moral Reasoning
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Return to Epistemology (O’Malley)
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Be precise with your language
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“Your subjective opinion is only as good as the
objective evidence which backs it up.”
This still applies now more than ever
Ex. Is ≠ Seems
Listen closely to the opinions of others
Introduction to Morality
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Moral Distinctions
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Moral – a decision that positively affects others
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Immoral – a decision that negatively affect others
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Harmful and destructive
Nonmoral – a decision that has neither a positive nor a
negative affect on others
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Promotes human welfare
Neither harms nor hurts
Amoral – a person who has no sense of right or wrong;
the person is insensitive to the moral effects of actions
or doesn’t have the capacity to decide
Introduction to Morality
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Identify and briefly describe 10 Moral Issues
that the newly elected and appointed
government officials must address
Create four short cases that illustrate moral
distinctions that can be described as each of
the following: Moral, Immoral, Non-moral,
and Amoral
Introduction to Morality
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Christian Morality
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What is it? How is it different from morality?
The way a person lives his life in response to
being in a loving relationship with God through
his son Jesus
Based on the Creation Stories of Genesis
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“God created man in his image; in the divine image
he created him; male and female he created them.”
“God blessed them, saying to them: ‘Be fertile and
multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion
over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all
the living things that move on the earth.’”
Introduction to Morality
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Christian Morality
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Based on the Creation Stories of Genesis
“God created man in his image; in the divine image he
created him; male and female he created them.”
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Mankind is divine (good, holy, sacred, revered)
Mankind is intrinsically and fundamentally Good (all of creation
has value and worth)
Recognize the dignity and worth of the human person and that
each person deserves a minimal level of respect
Man and woman are created at the same time and are equals in
status before God
Introduction to Morality
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Christian Morality
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Based on the Creation Stories of Genesis
“God blessed them, saying to them: ‘Be fertile
and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have
dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of
the air, and all the living things that move on
the earth.’”
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Dominion – power/sovereignty over and
responsibility for the well-being of God's creation
Stewardship – the careful and responsible
management of the Created World which God
entrusted to our care
Introduction to Morality
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Christian Morality
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Not just a list of rules to follow
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The search for the whole person
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Being a “good” person, not just doing the “right” action
The every day response to God’s offer of Grace
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The 10 Commandments, The Beatitudes
Listening to Jesus and the Spirit through prayer
Acting in loving service to others
A continuous cycle of Reflection and Action
How does my belief in God’s love and the redemptive
power of the Cross and Resurrection impact how I live
and act every day?
Introduction to Morality
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Christian Morality
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Just because God freely offers the Grace of redemption
and salvation to all of humanity, it does not mean that
humans are free to act in any way they desire
Humans achieve salvation through faith and good works
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Cheap Grace
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Romans 3: 21 – 4: 25; Galatians 2: 15 – 3: 14; Ephesians 1: 3 –
2: 22; James 2: 14-26
A relationship with God that is comforting and taken for granted
and results in the belief that “God loves me no matter what;
therefore I can do whatever I want.”
Costly Grace
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A relationship with God that is challenging and necessitates a
response that is costly, but which also offers support,
inspiration, and strength and leads to empowerment.
Introduction to Morality