CFED

• Morality


  The science that deals with the "quality" (goodness or badness) of human acts/actions
• Norm


  Rules or standards that are socially enforced
• In the ancient times, norms often came in the forms of customs, rituals, and traditions
• Norms would only come in the forms of rules, regulations, or laws when society became more socially organized in their government systems
• Moral Philosophy


  The process or science of finding norms/rules through human reasoning or philosophizing
• Moral Theology


  The process or science of finding norms/rules through God's revelation and faith
• Three bases in coming up with good/right norms for human acts/life

  • Origin of the human person
  • Nature of the human person
  • Destiny/end/ultimate goal of human life
• Origin of the human person

  • God (man is a creature of God)
  • Apes (man came from apes)
• If you believe the human person originated from a supreme being

  The moral laws will greatly respect the dignity of that "God" and the human person whom He also created
• If you believe the human person evolved from other animals or is just a product of natural events

  The moral norms will just depend on the nature of the human person which will just be purely animal
• Human nature/Natural law


  Since man is part of the whole nature or Creation, one's concept/view of the nature of the human person will dictate the moral norms
• If you believe we are both bodily and spiritual beings since we are creations of God

  The moral norms will flow from such concept
• If you believe we are purely animals

  The moral norms will also flow from such view like treating us as purely animals
• Destiny/End/Ultimate goal of human life

  Different religions commonly believe that as we were created by a higher being, we also have a good destiny prepared for us (e.g. heaven in Christianity)
• If you strongly believe in life after death and that good moral life is required to attain that destiny

  We have to do good in our lives
• If there is no noble end/destiny for the human person

  There are no such thing as moral norms, only norms that depend on manipulation
• Misconceptions on morality are a product of wrong concepts of the origin, nature, and destiny of the human person
• Moral norms


  Norms or laws that we are expected to follow to live a good moral life
• Belief in life after death

  Requires good moral life in this life
• No belief in life after death

  No moral norms, only norms that depend on people's manipulation
• Moral norms can be incompatible with our beliefs about the origin and destiny of the human person
• Moral norms can be incompatible with our basic human nature
• Misconceptions on morality


  Moral norms that we strongly believe are not good for us
• Misconceptions on morality are a product of the wrong concept of the origin, nature, and destiny of the human person
• Morality


  Norms used to judge human acts/actions or other practices of society as good or bad
• Moral Philosophy


  Studies the goodness and badness of human actions in the light of the highest principles based on human reason alone
• Moral Theology


  Studies the goodness and badness of human actions in the light of revelation (Christian faith)
• Christian Morality is based on both Moral Philosophy and Moral Theology
• Christian Norms are a product of Moral Philosophy and Moral Theology
• Nature is the closest basis from which morality derives norms for the human person
• Human person based on nature

  • Rational being
  • Has free-will
  • Has conscience
  • Loving being
  • Has a body
  • Sexual
  • Unique though social
  • Historical
  • Transcendental
• Conscience


  The practical judgement of the intellect on what is good or bad, prompting the person to do what is good
• Conscience should regulate the other traits of human nature and human actions
• Human person based on theology

  • Masterpiece of God (God's image and likeness)
  • Fundamentally/innately good or moral being
  • God's partner/"co-creators" of God
  • Rational being
  • Has free-will
  • Brother's keeper (social, communal)
  • Weak/has fallen nature/"brokenness"
  • Graced
  • Transcendental
  • Children/family of God
  • Destined for the Kingdom
• Traits of the human person in theology should influence how they act and live their life
• Norms/rules/laws are needed because people can abuse their faculties like intellect, freedom, and ignore conscience
• Hedonism


  Philosophy that the ultimate goal for the human person is happiness found in pleasure
• Marxism


  Philosophy that views the human person as purely material being, ultimate goal is a classless society
• Nihilism


  Philosophy that the human person and life has no ultimate meaning or value
• Christian view


  Ultimate goal/destiny for the human person is to enter the Kingdom or have eternal union/happiness with God