The Norms of Morality

1. The Norms of Morality Chapter 6

2. Norms - is a standard of measurement. -Instrument of which the quality or quantity of a thing is determined. Norms of morality- standards that indicate the rightfulness or wrongfulness, the goodness or evilness, the value and disvalue of a thing. Ex. Clock that tells time, thermometer that indicates temperature, speedometer that measures velocity, scale that determines weight.

3. The Norms of Morality “the criteria of judgment about the sorts of person we ought to be and the sorts of actions we ought to perform” -according to Richard M. Gula. Morality consists in the relation of a thing with the norm. This relationship is one of conformity or non-conformity. Morality may be defined as the quality of things manifesting their conformity or non-conformity with the norm of criteria.

4. The Norms of Morality • The remote norm of morality is Natural Law. • The proximate norm of morality is Conscience. • Both natural Law and conscience are rooted on Eternal Law, the ultimate norm. • Eternal Law: only one norm.

5. Eternal Law -a plan of God in creating the universe and assigning to each creature therein a specific nature. -the exemplar of divine wisdom as directing all actions and movements, according to Thomas Aquinas

6. divine reason or will of God commanding that the natural order of things be preserved and forbidding that it be disturbed, according to St Augustine - provides for the cosmic order where every creature stands different and independent but not apart from the unified purpose of creation.

7. Natural Law as the Essential to Become a Person Natural Law is recognized by all men regardless of creed, race, culture, or historical circumstances. -original principle of our constitution, Stewart Dugald -eternal laws of reason, or the will of God, George - command to become what one potentially is, a person within a community of person, Paul Tillich

8. 1. It is universal. Natural Law is a constitutive element of human nature. 2. It is obligatory.Natural law is human nature, calling for itself to be actualized, to be “lived” according to its basic and essential demands. 3. It is recognizable. It is imprinted in the human nature and man has the light of reason to know it. “Synderesis” – light of reason by Scholastic philosopher. Ex. Do good and avoid evil, Honor your father and mother, Be honest 4. It is immutable or unchangeable. Natural law is human nature. Properties of the Natural Law

9. Contents of the Natural Law

10. Contents of the Natural Law • Formal norms- are those that relate to our character, that is, to what kind of persons we ought to be. Ex. Do good and avoid evil, whatever wish others to do to you, do so to them, be honest, be chaste, do not be selfish, proud, vain, or foolish

11. Contents of the Natural Law Material norms-relate to the sorts of actions we ought to do. Application of the formal norms to individual concrete action: speech, killing, making promises, or using contraceptives.

12. Conscience • It is proximate norm of morality. It is proximate because it is what directly confronts an action as good or bad. • Function: to examine, to judge, and to pass a “sentence” on all moral actions. • Derived from the Latin word “ conscientia” meaning “trial of oneself” both in accusation and in defense

13. An act of the practical judgment of reason deciding upon an individual action as good and to be performed or as evil and to be avoided. Practical judgment- because it is an inference whose conclusion leads to something practicable

14. Kinds of Conscience 1. Correct or True Conscience- judges what is good as good and what is evil as evil. 2. Erroneous or False Conscience-judges incorrectly that what is good is evil and what is evil is good.

15. Error in conscience comes from the following factors: a. Mistake in inferential thinking, such as derived a wrong conclusion from given moral principles b. Ignorance of the law c. Ignorance of the fact and other circumstances modifying human actions d. Ignorance of future consequences, especially those dependent on the free will of others. Inculpable conscience- an erroneous conscience whose error is due to neglect, or malice.

16. Kinds of Conscience 3. Certain Conscience-is a subjective assurance of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of a certain act. This implies that the person is sure of his decision. 4. Doubtful Conscience-is vacillating conscience, unable to form a definite judgment on a certain action.

17. Kinds of Conscience 5. Scrupulous Conscience-is a rigorous conscience, extremely afraid of committing evil. 6. Lax Conscience-is one which refuses to be bothered about the distinction of good and evil. “bahalana”

18. The Compulsory Nature of Conscience Conscience- “voice of God”

19. Conscience and Authority Conscience is linked with human authority: 1. Linked with the State insofar as this derives its authority from nature itself and is affirmed by natural law and divine revelation. 2. Linked with human community, because conscience depends for help in community and social authority in order to be informed correctly of its judgments.

20. Education of Conscience 1. One has the obligation to cultivate a clear and true conscience. 2. Another method of education is the cultivation of good habits. 3. Another method is to militate against evil, condemning it where we find it. 4. We must learn how to use our freedom.