Morals and Ethics

Definitions

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions of morality, examining concepts of right and wrong, good and evil, and virtues and vices[1]. It explores fundamental questions about the nature of moral judgments, the basis of rightness, and what makes certain acts morally correct[1]. Ethics also encompasses metaethical inquiries, such as understanding the meaning of calling an act 'right'[1]. In theological contexts, ethics is concerned with morals and what constitutes moral or immoral behavior[2]. The field of ethics seeks to provide insights, principles, or systems of guidance for living a good life and acting rightly in various life situations[3]. Ethical systems are broadly categorized into two main approaches: deontological, which focuses on intrinsic right and wrong, and teleological, which considers the outcomes of ethical decisions and behaviors[3].

[1] C. Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 41. [2] David Witthoff, ed., The Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014). [3] Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 47.

Morals are generally understood as behavioral patterns or principles describing how people actually conduct themselves in a given society 1 This is in contrast to ethics, which is concerned with what people ought to do 1 In religious contexts, morals are often based on ethical principles such as hedonism or utilitarianism, as seen in some Old Testament writings 2 Religious texts and leaders have historically provided moral guidance, with examples including exhortations to show kindness, give alms, and respect parents 2 In Christian history, the clergy were expected to exemplify high moral standards, though records indicate they sometimes fell short of these ideals 3 It's worth noting that the concept of morals has evolved over time, with earlier focus on collective rather than individual morality 2

1 R. C. Sproul, How Should I Live in This World?, vol. 5 of The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009), 1.

2 T. Witton Davies, “Sirach, Book Of,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, ed. James Orr et al. (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915) 2808.

3 Philip Schaff and David Schley Schaff, History of the Christian Church (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1910), 330.

In present word usage, the term ethics is often used interchangeably with the word morality. That the two have become virtual synonyms is a sign of the confusion that permeates the modern ethical scene. Historically, the two words had quite distinctive meanings. w

Ethics is a normative science, searching for the principal foundations that prescribe obligations or “oughtness.” It is concerned primarily with the imperative and with the philosophical premises on which imperatives are based. Morality is a descriptive science, concerned with “isness” and the indicative. Ethics define what people ought to do; morals describe what people actually do. The difference between them is between the normal and the descriptive.

ETHICS MORALS

normative 1. descriptive

imperative 2. indicative

oughtness 3. isness

absolute 4. relative

When morality is identified with ethics, the descriptive becomes the normative and the imperative is swallowed by the status quo. This creates a kind of “statistical morality.” In this schema, the good is determined by the normal and the normal is determined by the statistical average. The “norm” is discovered by an analysis of the normal, or by counting noses. Conformity to that norm then becomes the ethical obligation. It works like this:

R. C. Sproul, How Should I Live in This World?, vol. 5, The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009), 1–3.

Questions to ask:

The parable of the Good Samaritan raises several ethical questions that can be explored. One article suggests that this parable is central to Jesus' teaching on ethics, particularly in relation to love and compassion1. Some key ethical questions to consider include:1. What does it mean to truly love one's neighbor, as exemplified by the Samaritan's actions?1 2 2. How does this parable challenge conventional social and religious boundaries in showing compassion?1 2 3. What are the ethical implications of prioritizing personal need over conventional rules, as Jesus often did?2 4. How does the parable illustrate the concept of practical love and unselfish service as criteria for true greatness?2 5. What does the parable suggest about the relationship between ethical behavior and one's understanding of God?34 6. How does the parable relate to Jesus' teachings on radical discipleship and total commitment?2 4 7. What does the parable imply about the ethical responsibilities of believers towards non-believers?4 8. How does the parable's emphasis on action rather than status or belief inform our understanding of ethical behavior?2 4 It's important to note that these questions are derived from the articles' discussions of Jesus' ethical teachings and the parable itself, rather than being explicitly listed in the provided texts5.

1Sean Boisen, Composite Gospel: Parallel Passages (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2017), Lk 10:29–37.

2R. T. France, “Jesus Christ, Life and Teaching Of,” in New Bible Dictionary, ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 573.

3Melvin Tinker, “The Priority of Jesus: A Look at the Place of Jesus’ Teaching and Example in Christian Ethics,” Themelios 13.1 (1987): 12.

4Grant R. Osborne, The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Rev. and expanded, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006), 301.

5Alan Cairns, in Dictionary of Theological Terms (Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International, 2002), 159.