Chapter 1 Expeirence Morality s Starting Point

Chapter 1 :Chapter 1 Experience: Morality’s Starting Point


Connor and McCormick’s Moral Methodology :Connor and McCormick’s Moral Methodology It emphasizes the connection between Christian faith and moral experience Three Goals: Name essential elements of moral experience Examine commitments and themes of the Gospel and examine the way the Christian story impacts morality.


Slide 3 :Identify and examine the resources and processes used when making moral judgments. Resources (conscience and moral norms) Processes (conscience – formation, moral – reasoning) To consider how: Moral decisions express who we are, form who we are becoming, and affect the communities of which we are a part.


3 Presumptions inform the method of the text :3 Presumptions inform the method of the text Moral experience is at the heart of our human “be-ing” and morality is our call to be fully human Christian ethics – a process of critically engaging our moral experiences in the light of Christian faith…a way of becoming all you can be!


Slide 5 :Moral reflection and ethical reflection are personal and communal in nature The narrative dimension of the moral experience, and our stories, constitute humanity’s stories!


Stories :Stories Stories are used and told to Understand Contextualize, and Evaluate We rely on stories to reveal human action and moral character, give direction in our lives, and help make sense of our lives.


Slide 7 :Our life experience is morality’s starting point


Feeling the Moral Dimension of Life :Feeling the Moral Dimension of Life “the tug” A signal Reminds us Challenges us


The Moral Decision :The Moral Decision Morality begins with experience Reflects critically upon that experience Makes a moral judgment Calls for a response First, seek advice from trusted authorities


Daniel Maguire :Daniel Maguire Daniel Maguire suggests bringing sensitivity, reflection and method to the moral examination of our experiences.


Moral Decision is Problem Solving :Moral Decision is Problem Solving We need to be sensitive…use all your senses Look at the whole experience Examine patterns Look deeply Investigate circumstances and consequences


Problem Solving :Problem Solving In problem solving you need to reflect on the experience Look to the experience, insights, and perspectives of others Examine the experiences Listen to the experiences


Making Judgments :Making Judgments To make judgments, we need to look to a moral method that includes the experiences and stories of moral authorities. Critical voices of prophets Lives and thoughts of saints Teaching of the church Anyone else?


Personal Ethics :Personal Ethics Reason Judgment Decision of conscience Action Intention Outcome Sources of Authority Family, friends/peers, personal experience, society, government, scripture, traditions, etc


Moral Dimension of Life :Moral Dimension of Life Religious Political Rational Artistic Political Adorable Athletic Moral And much more! Humans are multidimensional Draw on these resources when making moral decisions!


Moral decision-making is problem solving! :Moral decision-making is problem solving! The Fat Theology Professor in the Cave


Moral Dimension :Moral Dimension As beings with a moral dimension, we feel “the tug” calling us to Become To do To build


Morality’s Three Concerns :Morality’s Three Concerns Building CHARACTER Making CHOICES for right action Creating just COMMUNITIES


What is CHARACTER? :What is CHARACTER? Our character is the kind of person (good or bad) we are now or are becoming.


CHOICES :CHOICES What are our choices for action that make up our lives (right or wrong)? Decisions Judgments Behavior


What are our COMMUNITIES? :What are our COMMUNITIES? Communities are The moral fabric The nature of (just or unjust) Systems Structures Groups which we form and live in.


Actions and Righteousness :Actions and Righteousness Is all about “the tug.” A “call” to act righteously - - to do the right thing in relationship with God, self, others and the world.