Introduction to Ethics Flashcards
(16 cards)
greek word which initially meant customs, habitual conduct, and, much later, character.
ethos
a latin word signifying customs and habits
mores
two aspects in the study of Christian Ethics
- The clarification of the fundamental principles of the Christian life
- The interpretation of how the Christian community needs to make ethical judgement and to act in the light of its faith and conviction
Uses of the term “Christian Ethics”
- As a moral code
- As metaethics
- As a way of life
- As a disciplined study
questions raised by normative ethics - about how we should behave/what we should do
First-order questions
meta-ethical questions about the nature and purpose of morality rather than content of morality
Second-order questions
examines what moral language is about and how it can be justified
Meta
Nature of Christian Ethics as a Discipline (4)
- It is a normative discipline.
- It is inclusive
- It is interdisciplinary
- It is reflective/critical/open
Criteria of Obligation (4)
- Criterion of right (or wrong)
- Criterion of good (or bad)
- Criterion of fit (or unfit)
- Criterion of meaning (or meaningless)
Problems/Prospects/Challenges
- Divergent perspectives
- Contextual or situational differences
- Knowledge explosion
- Advent of movement
means “household” or “the whole inhabited earth”
oikoumene - from Ecumenism
level where we find the sciences which primarily deal with the description of what “is”
descriptive level
Three levels of ethical disclosure
- Descriptive
- Normative
- Justification
level where we find ethics which deals primarily with what ought to be
Normative level
level where we find theology which gives the justification for doing what we ought to do
Justification level
Being Moral vs. Being ethical
Lies in the fact of being “reflective” and “critical”.
- A moral person obeys the law before thinking.
- An ethical person thinks critically before obeying.
