ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
(Judeo-Christian)
Ethics--deals with what is Right and Wrong
Some
Options
Might is Right
Hitler/Nero
Dred Scott
Man is the Measure (Protagoras)
Hedonism (Epicurus)
The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number (Pragmatism)
Good is what God Wills
A
Judeo-Christian View of Ethics
Judeo-Christian Ethics are Absolute
Causation: No Moral Law without a Moral Law-Giver
God’s moral character does not change (Mal. 3:6; Ja. 1:17)
“There are Absolutely No Absolutes”
Ought Mankind Always Tell the
Truth? Where did humankind get this
sense of "Ought"?
Basis of Human Ethical Responsibility is Divine Revelation
Two
Ethical Systems
Deontological:
duty-centered
Teleological:
end-centered
Major
Ethical Views
Antinomianism--how do we know what change is, and if it is
good?
Situationism (Joseph Fletcher)--Love is the Driving Force
But we do not know the end
What is
"Good"?
No Absolutes with any Substantive
Content
Unqualified Absolutism--No Absolute Moral Laws should ever
be Broken
Why do you leave your house lights
on?
Military deception tactics
Conflicting Absolutism--Do the Lesser Evil, then ask
Forgiveness
No moral duty to sin
Jesus must have sinned
(Heb. 4:15)
Graded Absolutism--Do the Higher Moral Law
Midwives--Ex. 1
Rahab--Josh. 2
Order of Precedence--Mt. 22:34-35
Unavoidable Moral Conflicts
Degrees of punishment in
Hell (Matt. 5:22; Rom. 2:6; Rev. 20:12), and rewards in heaven (1 Cor. 3)
Dissenting
with the Government--Challenging
Authority on Ethical Grounds
Rom. 13:1; Acts 4:19
Define the Problem
Acceptable Alternative?
Verify Order
Comply or Dissent--confer with JAG, Chaplain, Staff, Chain
of Command
All soldiers must obey lawful orders, and accept penalties
for disobeying
Two Views
Antipromulgation Position
When it permits evil
When it promulgates evil laws
Anticompulsion Position
When it commands evil
When it compels evil actions
Biblical Examples
Hebrew Midwives
Daniel
Disciples in Acts 4
Modern Day Examples
Nurnberg
My Lai
CPT Rockwood