REL 3170 Midterm Study Guide Terms 1 Aristotle leader of one of three ethical theories virtue ethics 2 Kant 18th century German philosopher leader of Deontology based on reason 3 Stanley Hauerwas Christian pacifist 4 Reinhold Niebuhr Christian realist 5 Evans R2P Doctrine 6 Virtue Ethics one of three ethical theories a From Aristotle b Focuses on person s character i One should develop character that would serve as a disposition to moral action judgment and feeling ii Being good is connected to living a good life c Ultimate good is eudaimonia happiness fulfillment flourishing 7 Deontology a Focuses on the type of act b Kantianism reason c God s Will divine command d Human nature natural law e One can know what to do by using principles gained by reason 8 Consequentialism Utilitarianism a Focus on the overall balance of benefit over harm of the action b Varieties of Consequentialism ethical egoism tribalism altruism universalism c Utilitarianism best moral action maximizes utility 9 Lindbeck s Theories of Religion a Cultural Linguistic experiences and how you see the world are continuously acting on each other i Language drives our experience b Experiential expressivist different religions are diverse expressions or objectifications of a common core experience c Cognitivist Propositionalist philosophical d Cultural Linguistic is the winner for Singer 10 Sunnah Hadith one of two predominant sources of authority in Islamic Reasoning a Sunnah trodden path tradition and experience i Example of the prophet as a paradigm for believers b Hadith collection of sayings stories about the Prophet 11 Qur an recitation revelation a 114 chapter book 12 Shari a Mathewes i Includes narratives from Bible and NT a Qur an and Sunnah compose its primary foundation Islamic law b c Requires use of human reason but also knowledge of tradition 13 Political Realism Force forms a realm of its own with laws of its own a Limitations do not come from morality b Thucydides and the Melian dialogue 14 Pacifism morality is everything a Any violence including war is unjustifiable in every situation 15 Christian Realism Niebuhr justice requires coercion because we have sin we need justice 16 Just War certain conditions must be in order for a war to be considered just a Government has duty to protect citizens and right to declare war when necessary 17 Sex biological and physical characteristics 18 Gender behaviors roles expectations and activities in society 19 Structural Racism housing voting education help gov t 20 Attitudinal Racism negative assumptions feelings beliefs and attitudes toward a particular race 21 Grace free and unmerited favor of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings Ethical Theories 1 Consequentialism a Focuses on the overall balance of benefit over harm of the action b These consequences that the theory is concerned with could be consequences to oneself Ethical Egoism to one s own group tribalism to everyone except oneself altruism or to all universalism c Utilitarianism holds that the best moral action is the one that maximizes utility i Part of consequentialism because utility is usually considered the well being of those involved ii Ex what will make you satisfied longer or better d Extreme Consequentialism outcomes are not always certain i How can you base decisions over things that you don t know 2 Deontology a Used by Kant i Based on reason Kantianism ii One can know what to do by using principles gained from reason a priori valid independent of experience iii b Categorical Imperative absolute unconditional requirement that must be obeyed in all circumstances and is justified as an end in itself c Basically if you can do something everyone else can you re not special d Kant can be extreme i Ex If murderous mob asked where the boy they are trying to murder is Kant would tell the truth as to him it is absolutely necessary ii Can lead to counter intuitive moral decisions and a conflict of principles 3 Virtue Ethics a Led by Aristotle b Focuses on person s character one should develop a virtuous character that would serve as a disposition to moral action judgment and feeling c Endaimonia ultimate good i Happiness fulfillment flourishing d Aristotle has circular reasoning i Can t do virtuous things if you aren t that kind of person e What makes an act virtuous i Person must know what he is doing ii Person chooses to do act because of inherent good in it not because it will make them look good iii Person has to do it from a firm and unchangeable character f To know what a virtue is follow the phronimos i Habituation training from teacher or parent etc g Follow the Golden Mean there is a side of excess and a side of deficiency and you want to be in the middle i Different for different people ii The virtue IS the Golden Mean h Issues raised i Some bad people do good and good people do bad ii How does character development help What if there is a conflict of virtues Basics 1 Euthyphro by Plato raises questions a Do we do things to please God or for ourselves b Does God love the pious because they are holy Or are they holy because God loves them c Which came first God or morality d If morality came first what does this say of God s power 2 Four Sources of Religious Reasoning a Revelation Scripture b Reason c Tradition d Experience 3 Jewish Ethics Mathewes a Revelation Scripture written Torah Oral Torah b Tradition includes 4 components of ethical monotheism i God s law protects the oppressed and his people and God has to conform to the laws too c Reason systematize the Rabbinic language literature d Experience tied to its sense of history i Example Orthodox movement no gays ii Reform accepting iii Conservative middle way e Virtue Ethics more interested in the person you become Our task as humans is to discipline our material natures i ii Not focused on individual acts f Deontology Noahide Covenant is universal everyone has to follow the law 4 Christian Ethics g Consequentialism example of capital punishment a Revelation Scripture Bible interpretations source of knowledge scripture not reason b Reason natural law justice c Tradition Lutherans go to Luther etc d Experience powerful emotions changes in history Gustafson e Virtue Ethics choosing to be Christ like f Deontology natural law and justice ten commandments g Consequentialism punishment for sin by believing in Jesus will go to Heaven 5 Islamic Ethics a Revelation Scripture Qur an b Reason Shar iah comprised