Moral Norms

MORAL NORMS
Preliminary Matters: Moral Norms What are moral norms? What purposes do they serve? What are the sources of authority of norms?
Origins of the Word Norm
Etyonym
Latin norma - a carpenters square for measuring right angles - a pattern, rule, standard. Latin normalis - made according to a square - right, regular
What is a Moral Norm?

A moral norm is an indication how humans ought to exercise their freedom.
Moral norms point us toward achievable ideals
Like the carpenters square, an ideal serves as a standard to measure what is actually done.
Ideal measures
Actual
Morally normative normal or typical

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Moral Norms Have Different Forms

* Moral norms can be expressed as rules, principles, dispositiions, character traits, and even through the life of the person. These are different ways of specifying criteria for moral judgments.
* The life and person of Jesus Christ is the central and most complete Christian moral norm.
The Form of a Moral Norm should fit what it measures.

Aristotles Flexible Leaden Ruler
A sense of equity (fairness) is needed to adjust laws to cases that dont fit neatly into the intent of the law. Aristotle compares this equity to the flexible leaden ruler used by builders in the Greek island of Lesbos. When building temples with heavy stones they would:
Start with a stone already in place Take this flexible strip of lead metal and bend it to follow the irregular shape of this particular stone Measure other potential stones to find the best fit 6
The Form of a Moral Norm should fit what it measures.

Example: Your mother has a heart attack. To save her life every second counts. You exceed the posted speed limit of 35 m.p.h. in Route to the hospital. Is it fair to hold you to the speed limit law?
A Fitting Moral Norm

A rigid carpenters square is a poor instrument to measure the shape of a round stone. In contrast, a Lesbian ruler adjusts so as to conform to the uniqueness of the stone that it measures. A person who attempts to make every decision by an inflexible, rigid a priori principle (i.e. fully determined in advance), is like an architect who uses a straight edge to measure the intricate curves of a fluted column. He becomes legalistic. Prudent moral judgment requires norms that fit the circumstances that they measure.
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4 metaphors for Moral Norms
Carpenters Square
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Moral norms are like the carpenters square used to measure human freedom and construct morally good character and right actions. Moral norms are standards or criteria for judging and acting PURPOSES
a) Provide moral standards, criteria, or measures for judging. b) Guide conscience in making moral judgments.
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Moral Road Signs
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Guides to being and doing; indications or directions to types of actions that right v. wrong, obligatory v. permitted PURPOSES
a) Preserve and protect moral goods and values by guiding us b) Focus our attention on what is morally important
A model for an art class

ideals indicating who we ought to become and what we ought to do -- Models and patterns for how to do so PURPOSES
a) Provide models to help us concretize our values and realize our ideals b) Prioritize our values and help us to fit them with our circumstances
An architects blueprints for a building

A set of instructions and expectations for the moral life PURPOSES

a) Teach moral wisdom of a community and serve as moral reminders of communal wisdom. b) Set moral expectations that shape how we see and act.
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The sources of Christian Moral Norms

Scripture - ex. Thou shall not bear false witness against your
neighbour. Love your enemies.
Reason (includes natural law) - ex. Self-preservation: it is reasonable to expect

people to defend their lives when threatened.
Tradition - ex. Just War Doctrine Experience - ex. Hiroshima and Nagasaki suggest that a nuclear war cannot target
only combatants.
Three Main Types of Moral Norms
Material Norms Formal Norms
Synthetic Norms
Material Norms
a) Specify the matter or means of specific actions b) Answer the question WHAT should (or should not) be done? c) Focus on DOING and tend to indicate actions d) Ex. Intentionally targeting and killing noncombatants is wrong
Formal Norms
a) b) c) d) Specify the form of acting and especially the form of being Answer the question HOW should (or shouldnt) one act? or WHO should (or shouldnt) one be? Focus more on BEING and tend to indicate character traits or dispositions Ex. Beatitudes: Blessed are the peacemakers.
Synthetic Norms
a) b) c) d) Combine description of an action with moral evaluation of the action Combine description of WHAT is done with HOW it is done and/or WHY Focus on both Ex. Thou shall not murder

Moral Norms

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MORAL NORMS

Origins of the Word Norm

What is a Moral Norm?

Morally normative normal or typical

Moral Norms Have Different Forms

The Form of a Moral Norm should fit what it measures.

The Form of a Moral Norm should fit what it measures.

A Fitting Moral Norm

4 metaphors for Moral Norms

4 metaphors for Moral Norms

Moral Road Signs

QuickTime and a GIF decompressor are needed to see this picture.

4 metaphors for Moral Norms

A model for an art class

4 metaphors for Moral Norms

An architects blueprints for a building

A set of instructions and expectations for the moral life PURPOSES

The sources of Christian Moral Norms

Reason (includes natural law) - ex. Self-preservation: it is reasonable to expect

Three Main Types of Moral Norms

Material Norms Formal Norms

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