Divine Vocabulary
The Fonts of Morality
Let Freedom Ring
Mere Jeopardy
100

This is a habitual and firm disposition to to the good.

What is a virtue?

100

In the three fonts of Morality, this term refers to the act itself.

What is the Object?

100

In order to love (to will the good of another), one must likewise have this.

What is free-will?

100

The book Mere Christianity was written by this famous Anglican layman and fantasy author.

Who is C.S. Lewis?

200

This is the participation of man in the plan of God in relation to human life and action, insofar as the mind can understand it.

What is the Natural Law?

200

In the three fonts of Morality, this term refers to the reason why an act is committed.

What is the Intention?

200

This is the power to choose between two contraries, usually between good and evil.

What is Freedom of Indifference (or Freedom from restrictions)?

200

In Mere Christianity, when the author makes reference to the 'Moral Law' he uses this term.

What is the Law of Human Nature?

300

This is any action that results from a deliberate choice between good and evil (or between different degrees of goodness).

What is a Moral Act?

300

In the three fonts of Morality, this term refers to the context in which an act is committed.

What are the Circumstances?

300

This is the power to act freely in the pursuit of perfection.

What is Freedom of Excellence (or Freedom for excellence)?
300

This is the reason why the author of Mere Christianity thinks that the Moral Law cannot just be human instinct.

What is — because we tend to follow our strongest instincts, whereas the Moral Law sometimes tells us to follow our weakest?

400

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, this is an action that is involuntary and morally indifferent (e.g. breathing, blinking, etc).

What is an Act of Man?

400

If any one of the three Fonts of Morality is judged to be wrong, that would mean the act itself would be this.

What is Morally Wrong?

400

This aspect of Human Freedom explains why we have freedom to begin with. (i.e. What are we free for?)

What is — that Human freedom is ordered towards the good? (i.e. Towards union with God)

400

This is the reason why the author of Mere Christianity thinks that the Moral Law cannot just be human impulse.

What is — because there are times when our impulses must be either restrained or unleashed, but we are never meant to restrain our search for moral goodness?

500

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, this is an action that is considered to be carried out voluntarily.

What is a Human Act?

500

This is the moral status of the following act and the reason for it:  Object:  An individual eats food packed for solely his or herself;  Intention:  To nourish oneself;  Circumstances:  His or her campmates accidentally lost their food while traveling to the campgrounds.

What is — the act would be immoral because the circumstances suggest the individual ought to share his or her food?

500

This aspect of Human Freedom explains why God allows us to choose what is morally wrong.

What is — that God respects our freedom? (If he did not allow it, we would not be free at all.)

500

This is the reason why the author of Mere Christianity thinks that the Moral Law cannot just be a social convention.

What is — because while social conventions (like etiquette) vary widely across cultures, our sense to do good and avoid evil is universal?

(e.g. Cowardice is never seen as good; Courageousness is never seen as evil.)

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