Inter-Inter-relationshipsrelationships

Religion and Religion and MoralityMorality

RelationshipsRelationshipsIs it true that morality Is it true that morality depends on religion , even depends on religion , even that it cannot be that it cannot be understood in the context understood in the context of religion?of religion?

Ivan Karamoazov-”If God Ivan Karamoazov-”If God does not exist, everything does not exist, everything is permissible.” (Moral is permissible.” (Moral nihilism)nihilism)

RelationshipsRelationshipsMajor ethical theories have been Major ethical theories have been

developed independently.- Autonomy developed independently.- Autonomy Thesis Thesis

Morality does not originate with God.Morality does not originate with God. Rightness and wrongness are not Rightness and wrongness are not based simply on God’s will.based simply on God’s will.

Essentially, there are reasons for Essentially, there are reasons for acting one way or the other which may acting one way or the other which may be known independently of God’s will.be known independently of God’s will.

Relationships Relationships Are Religious Ethics essentially Are Religious Ethics essentially different different

from secular ethics?from secular ethics? Kant argues that there is no difference- Kant argues that there is no difference-

both God and humanity have to obey the both God and humanity have to obey the same rational principles and reason is same rational principles and reason is sufficient to guide us to these principles. sufficient to guide us to these principles. What is good is good will- acting according What is good is good will- acting according to principles- Categorical Imperative.to principles- Categorical Imperative.

In fact, God and immorality are necessary In fact, God and immorality are necessary postulates of ethics- postulates of ethics- ought implies can. ought implies can. Must be able to reach moral perfection- not Must be able to reach moral perfection- not possible in finite life. God provides universal possible in finite life. God provides universal justice.justice.

Religion is Irrelevant to Religion is Irrelevant to MoralityMoralityBertrand Russell- Bertrand Russell- humans are free to humans are free to

think, evaluate, create, and live think, evaluate, create, and live committed to ideals. Life has the committed to ideals. Life has the meaning we give it, and morality will meaning we give it, and morality will be part of any meaningful life.be part of any meaningful life.

James Rachels: James Rachels: In worshipping God In worshipping God believers relinquish their autonomy. believers relinquish their autonomy. One gives up their reason. Rachels One gives up their reason. Rachels and Nowell-Smith contend that and Nowell-Smith contend that religious morality is infantile religious morality is infantile because it is based on authority.because it is based on authority.

Religious Religious MoralityMoralityMethod of moral reasoning- Method of moral reasoning- ““moral point of view.”- moral point of view.”- impartiality.- Golden Rule- impartiality.- Golden Rule- consistency in our actions.- consistency in our actions.- reciprocity.reciprocity.

Emphasis on relationships- Emphasis on relationships- to to others in terms of Love and others in terms of Love and respect- Love your Neighbors- respect- Love your Neighbors- what means?what means?

Religious Religious MoralityMoralitySet of beliefs affirming the Set of beliefs affirming the reality of moral retribution.- reality of moral retribution.- recompense- why be moral?- recompense- why be moral?- Karma, PunishmentKarma, Punishment

Identifies ways to overcome Identifies ways to overcome “moral paralysis” and “moral paralysis” and “despair about moral failure”- “despair about moral failure”- grace, atonement, assistance, grace, atonement, assistance,

Religion and Moral Religion and Moral GoalsGoalsCosmic justice= summum bonum= Cosmic justice= summum bonum=

happiness is proportional to virtue.- Kant – happiness is proportional to virtue.- Kant – there must be a God to make this possible.there must be a God to make this possible.

Humans desire happiness by nature- to be Humans desire happiness by nature- to be happy is to have nothing left to will- happy is to have nothing left to will- Aquinas- to have a total vision of reality= Aquinas- to have a total vision of reality= Beatific vision of God- necessary if nature Beatific vision of God- necessary if nature to be fulfilled. Thomas- human desires and to be fulfilled. Thomas- human desires and aims irremediably thwarted without God; aims irremediably thwarted without God; this cannot be the case.this cannot be the case.

Camus- “Myth of Sisyphus”- No God- so Camus- “Myth of Sisyphus”- No God- so human desires can be irremediably human desires can be irremediably thwarted- absurdity of life.thwarted- absurdity of life.

Religion Enhances Religion Enhances Moral LifeMoral LifeIf there is a god, good will win over evil.- If there is a god, good will win over evil.-

not fighting alone. (James, Royce)not fighting alone. (James, Royce)If God, exists, then cosmic justice reigns- If God, exists, then cosmic justice reigns-

Kant.Kant.If theism is true, moral reasons always If theism is true, moral reasons always

override non-moral reasons. (Gauguin override non-moral reasons. (Gauguin abandoned family)abandoned family)

If theism is true, then there is a God who If theism is true, then there is a God who loves and cares for us.loves and cares for us.

If there is a God who created us in his If there is a God who created us in his image, then all persons are of equal image, then all persons are of equal worth.worth.

Divine Command Divine Command TheoryTheoryAn act is morally required An act is morally required (right) just in case God (right) just in case God commands us to do it.commands us to do it.

An act is morally wrong just in An act is morally wrong just in case God forbids us to do it.case God forbids us to do it.

An act is permissible just in An act is permissible just in case God neither commands nor case God neither commands nor forbids it.forbids it.

Moral rightness= willed by God.Moral rightness= willed by God.

ProblemsProblemsHow does merely commanding How does merely commanding something make it rights-something make it rights-

Is this good because God Is this good because God commands it or does God commands it or does God command it because it is command it because it is morally right?morally right?

Can we be in doubt about what Can we be in doubt about what God commands- commanded to God commands- commanded to kill?kill?

Natural Law Natural Law TheoryTheoryGod created nature and the God created nature and the laws of nature are in accord laws of nature are in accord with God’s plan.with God’s plan.

Natural law is universal and the Natural law is universal and the same for all human beings at all same for all human beings at all times.times.

These moral laws of nature can These moral laws of nature can be discovered by human beings. be discovered by human beings.

Thus, these are guides to Thus, these are guides to human moral action.human moral action.

ProblemsProblemsCounterexamples to nature is Counterexamples to nature is good- self-interest, disease.good- self-interest, disease.

Confuses “is” and “ought”- Confuses “is” and “ought”- what is the case and what ought what is the case and what ought to be the case- descriptive & to be the case- descriptive & prescriptive- cannibalism.prescriptive- cannibalism.

Conflicts with the notion of Conflicts with the notion of nature proposed by science- not nature proposed by science- not moral, purposive, but cause and moral, purposive, but cause and effect.effect.

Confucian Virtue Confucian Virtue EthicsEthics““The only purpose a man can have The only purpose a man can have

and also the only worthwhile thing a and also the only worthwhile thing a man can do is to become as good a man can do is to become as good a man as possible.”man as possible.”

Ren- Ren- acting kindly toward acting kindly toward others.- kind-heatedness. This is others.- kind-heatedness. This is something we can become by something we can become by cultivating our social, aesthetic, cultivating our social, aesthetic, cognitive and moral powers. It is cognitive and moral powers. It is full humanity at its best.full humanity at its best.

Confucian Virtue Confucian Virtue EthicsEthicsShuShu and and zhong-zhong-not doing to other not doing to other

what you do not want done to you what you do not want done to you and doing what is best for others. and doing what is best for others. Shu= seeing someone else as Shu= seeing someone else as being like yourself.= reciprocity.being like yourself.= reciprocity.

XiaoXiao- familial love and respect- - familial love and respect- practice of kindness, honor, practice of kindness, honor, respect, and loyalty among all respect, and loyalty among all family members. Society= one family members. Society= one large family.large family.