Ethics and Moral Philosophy Quiz

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Humility: The ability to be humble; not see yourself as better than others; viewing and treating oneself and others equally.
• Revelation: Scripture, Church traditions (catechism, teachings), and lived experience reveal God. God's goodness is reflected in creation.
• Cardinal Virtues (C.S. Lewis): Living out virtues leads to a happy and fulfilling life. Virtues guide us to right actions.
• Prudence: Sound judgment; considering short-term and long-term consequences of actions.
• Temperance: Self-control; moderation and balance in life.
• Justice: Fairness, honesty, keeping promises, standing up for others, respecting reputation.
• Fortitude: Courage; bravery and the ability to stand up for what is right.
• Gratitude: Appreciation and gratefulness. Achor emphasizes the link between gratitude, happiness, and success.
• Brave Not Perfect (Reshma Saujani): Societal expectations of perfection for girls limit risk-taking. Boys are more likely to be seen as acceptable for mistakes. This gendered socialization creates problems in the workplace. Girls are outperforming boys in schools, but boys dominate workplaces. Unconscious bias plays a significant role in this. Unlearning bias involves acknowledging and understanding it and exposing oneself to diverse experiences.
• Conscience: An inner voice guiding right and wrong decisions. The Church views conscience as God's call to know and do good (love). It's a practical application of intellect.
• Salvation History (Bible): God's plan for humanity's salvation through creation, covenants, prophets, and the Church. Scripture teaches how to achieve salvation and be saved from imperfection.
• Decalogue/Pentateuch: The Ten Commandments and the first five books of the Bible, forming the foundation of God's covenant with humanity.
• Covenant/Prophets: A covenant is a strong promise, emphasizing trust, unconditional love, honesty, and forgiveness. Prophets (e.g., Moses, Malala) speak for God against oppression and stand with the poor.
• Biblical Firsts (Women): Numerous examples of women's roles and contributions in scripture, including midwives, disciples, foreign converts, and prophets.
• Sin: Going against God, harming humanity's nature, and harming unity; acting against reason and natural law.
• Forgiveness: God's infinite mercy; forgiving others is crucial to receiving God's forgiveness. It brings peace and healing.
• Redemption: Being restored and made whole; letting go of past burdens; returning to a new and better state.
• Conversion: A change of heart and perspective; shifting from one idea or view to another.
• Transcendence: Facing and dealing with a problem directly.
• Transformation: Change; moving toward a new form or state.
• Poor/Destitute: Those lacking resources and experiencing exclusion; feeling less than or not belonging. In Jesus' time, this included those with leprosy, infertility, disabilities, and those rejected by fathers.
• Preferential Option for the Poor: Prioritizing the needs of the poor over the interests of the rich.
• Common Good: Considering what's good for all people and the planet.
• Human Dignity: The foundational teaching; ensuring environments that respect human rights.
• Capital Punishment: The Church opposes capital punishment, emphasizing the sacredness of each life and God's role in determining life and death. It also addresses issues of racism and classism in the justice system.
• MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying): The Church opposes active euthanasia (deliberately ending a life) but accepts passive euthanasia (allowing a natural death).
• Ethical Issues - Church Teaching: The Church's views on surrogate motherhood (opposing third-party involvement in procreation), and stem cell research (supporting adult stem cells but opposing embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of embryos), are also discussed.

People and Key Figures

• Nelson Mandela: Fought against apartheid; example of standing for justice.
• Malala: Spoke out for girls' education; modern-day prophet.
• Autumn Pelletier: Protecting indigenous water rights; combating systemic neglect.
• Rachel Carson: Activist against environmental destruction.
• Pope Francis: Advocates for the poor; upholds the preferential option for the poor.

Key Concepts Related to Philosophy

• Kant (Deontological): Focuses on moral duty and good will.
• Aristotle (Teleological): Focuses on purpose and the goal of happiness (eudaimonia) as a good life.
• Levinas (Ethics of the Face): Emphasizes relationship and responsibility to others as a key element to goodness.

Key Scripture Passages

• Rich Young Man: Discusses the importance of obedience to God's love over laws.
• Good Samaritan: Highlights the importance of compassion and empathy over religious law; acts of love towards all.
• Samaritan Woman at the Well: Jesus’ understanding and compassion for this woman demonstrate transcendent love.
• Woman with the Hemorrhage: Jesus' compassion and acknowledgment of faith despite societal barriers/stigma.
• Martha and Mary: The prioritization of listening to God's word over domestic duties. Jesus emphasizes spiritual understanding over worldly concerns.

Other Concepts

• Mosaic and Royal Consciousness: Distinguishes different views of God's role in society (service to all vs. service to the elite).
• Politics of oppression/compassion and justice: One system that oppresses, and a system that promotes fairness.
• Economics of affluence/equality: One system with great wealth for certain groups, and a system that is balanced.
• Religion of Immanence/God’s freedom: One system where God is only seen as part of certain groups and a system where God is free to everyone.