Catholic Moral Theology
This central mystery of Christian faith describes one God in three persons.
What is the Trinity?
The inner voice guided by reason and Divine Law that helps us choose right from wrong.
What is conscience?
For Aristotle, this is the ultimate goal or purpose of human life.
What is eudaimonia?
Kant says this is the only thing that is good without qualification.
What is a good will?
This principle says the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
What is the principle of utility?
This term refers to the free and undeserved help from God to respond to his call.
What is grace?
A conscience that has been properly educated and aligned with truth.
What is a well-formed conscience?
A balance between two extremes, often used to define virtue.
What is the Golden Mean?
This concept states that we should act only according to maxims we would will as universal laws.
What is the Formula of Universal Law?
The idea that consequences determine the morality of actions.
What is consequentialism?
The idea that we are made in God's image and have inherent worth.
What is Imago Dei?
A conscience with a habitual act of ignoring or downplaying sin.
What is a lax conscience?
A person who knows the right thing and usually does it, but struggles.
What is a continent person?
The moral rule that we must never treat others as mere means.
What is the Formula of the End in Itself?
This term describes the pleasure-seeking foundation of Bentham’s ethical theory.
What is hedonism?
A sin that damages but does not destroy our relationship with God.
What is venial sin?
Sin that breaks our relationship with God and requires reconciliation.
What is mortal sin?
This Greek word describes acting in accordance with our true purpose.
What is telos?
This term describes actions done out of a sense of moral obligation.
What is duty?
Mill says this person should judge from a neutral, caring perspective when deciding what is best for everyone.
Who is the disinterested and benevolent spectator?
This term refers to God's invitation to see all of creation as sacred.
What is sacramentality?
This term refers to collective sins of society that harm the common good.
What is social sin?
The person who acts wrongly without internal struggle.
What is a vicious person?
This ethical framework is based on rules and duties rather than outcomes.
What is deontology?
The ethical goal of promoting social conditions that allow all people to flourish.
What is the common good?