Morality Chapter 7: Moral Decision Making

1. Comunicación y Gerencia Morality Chapter 7: Moral Decision Making • Click to add Text

2. Traditional Sources • Object Chosen • Good act vs. a Bad act • Intention • Movtive or intention for perfomring the act • We cannot justify an evil act performed for good reasons (p. 123 ex. Murdering a tyrannical dictator to free a nation from oppression) • Circumstances • Certain factors increase or diminsh the goodness or evil of the act • Amount of a theft • Fear, ignorance, pressure • Certain acts are always wrong: blasphemy, perjury, murder, adultery

3. 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)

4. 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 fact • Who does the action & who is affected by an action (p. 127) • Also include age differences & cultual backgrounds

5. 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 are • Moves us from morality as doing to morality as being • How 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

6. Emotions &Consequences Emotions • 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”)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.