Morality Chapter 7: Moral

Decision Making

Comunicación y Gerencia

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Traditional Sources Object Chosen

Good act vs. a Bad actIntention

Movtive or intention for perfomring the actWe cannot justify an evil act performed for

good reasons (p. 123 ex. Murdering a tyrannical dictator to free a nation from oppression)

CircumstancesCertain factors increase or diminsh the

goodness or evil of the actAmount of a theftFear, ignorance, pressureCertain acts are always wrong:

blasphemy, perjury, murder, adultery

Fact Finding

*What are the facts & what is merely opinion?*Who performs the action? Who is affected by it?*Why does the person intend to do this action (motivation)*How will the goals be achieved? (means)*When & Where will the action happen? (time & place)

Fact-FindingWhat & Who

What questions remind us that moral decision making occurs only when real people make chocies in concrete situations: Facts. (p. 126)

Unfounded opinion or observable factWho does the action & who is affected

by an action (p. 127)Also include age differences & cultual

backgrounds

Fact-FindingWhy, How, When & Where

Why Determines if an action is selfish or alturistic: our Motives (ex. P. 128)

Tells us much about who we areMoves us from morality as doing to

morality as beingHow examines goals to be achieved

Are our actions more caring or less caring for the people involved. (p. 129)

“The end does not justify the means” (#1753)

When & Where: Reflect on the Circumstances; gravity of the situation (p. 130)

Questions about when & where do not always tip the scales from right action to wrong, but moral decisons always occur in concrete reality

Emotions &ConsequencesEmotions

•Emotions may cloud moral decision making, but they do not determine whether a certain act is right or wrong-emotions are neither good nor bad, they are reactions, not intentions. We need to be open to discussing alternatives and not get into a “yes” or “no”, “I’m right, you’re wrong” stance•Consider the consequences/possible effects, but consequences do not determine whether an act is good or evil – it’s just the effect and fall out-need to go back to the original action (“If I didn’t get caught, then it was okay”)

• Vietnam war; young Vietnamese girl, Kim Phuc, running away from a village in flames, she herself burning from napalm.

• 11/11/06 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

If I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs I would tell him we cannot change history, but we should try to do good things for the present & for the future to promote peace.” J. Plummer, Guideposts 10/97

Discernment: investigating & analyzing the moral implications of choices we are faced with; taking whatever steps necessary to help make the best possible decision

•Talking to Others•Who are the people from whom I seek counsel?•Would it be beneficial for me to consult other people when faced with a difficult decision?

•Consulting the Church•Check with your thoughts & feelings

Discernment

•Learn from personal experience•How to act, what’s our limits, goood/bad decisions we learned from

•Recognize & scrutinize your values•Prayer /Journey with Jesus

•Pray that his love overwhelms you, pray the Gospels, hear the words of Jesus & apply them to your lives•For Christians considering Jesus must color & shape every step of any process that seeks to make right judgments

Jesus take the wheel

• Christian discernment implies a life of faith and a sense of one's relationship with God in Christ.  Discernment requires a heart ready to listen and respond in prayer and reflection.  Discernment also requires a head prepared to learn about options and carefully select those choices which will bring greater joy to God, self, and world.