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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?
