ETA Part 2
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Apr 3, 2024
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Castillo 1
ETA Part 2
In the hypothetical scenario in Stanley Grenz’s book, The Moral Quest: Foundations of Christian Ethics
(IVP Academic, 2000), a couple are experiencing complications with their pregnancy, where the developing fetus has spina bifida. As the couple finds help discussing their baby’s fate, they come across three counselors offering a moral and ethical decision from the given classical theories: teleology, deontology, and areteology.
Teleology is one of the three major classical theories of morality and ethics. The definition of teleology is known as consequence-based ethics, which is maximizing good for the greatest number of people. Tyra explains the “…name is derived from the Greek word telos, which means ‘goal’ or ‘end.’” (Tyra, ch.1). Tyra continues to explain teleology as we are obligated to follow the course of action that will end in the greatest balance of good over evil (Tyra, ch.1). An example, mentioned by Dr. Park in his Christian Worldview course, is there are three patients A, B and C. A needs a liver, B needs a kidney and C needs a heart to get healthy. A
teleological approach would say that one patient should sacrifice their organs to save the other two. This way two of the three patients survive; that is for the greatest good rather than all three dying.
The teleological approach presented by one of the counselors states that the baby should be aborted because the baby may experience series of operations for the first two years of her life, she will be confined to a wheelchair and will require constant attention and may only live to six years old. This take is identified as a teleological approach because the consequences referred
by the counselor considers the amount of work the parents, the medical workers, and the child will expend. Additionally, the result may not be good because the child will experience life handicap with someone to watch her every move. In the total end, the child may only live up to six years old and that would mean resources spent on her could have been better placed on someone who would live a normal life. The goal of the counselor is to present these issues as the child would be better off not experiencing life in pain, the medical facility will be able to use the resources that were to be spent on the child on people who would need it more, and the parents would not have to see their child experience a tough and short life.
Deontology is another one of the three major classical theories of morality and ethics. The definition of deontology is known as duty-based ethics, which is doing your human duty. Word Count: 1268
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Tyra explains the “…name is derived from the Greek word deon, meaning ‘what is due.’” (Tyra, ch.1). Tyra states that deontology is the fundamental conviction that morality is objective and determining the correct course of action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of moral rules, rather than based on the consequences of the action (Tyra, ch1). An example Dr. Park discussed in his college course is if there was a group of Nazi soldiers
looking for Jewish people, and if they came to a German house that was keeping Jewish people and asked for them, it would be the German citizen’s duty to give the Nazi soldiers the Jewish people. Deontology suggests that the German citizen is doing the right thing because the citizen is listening to the rules rather than focused on the consequences of giving up the Jewish people.
The deontology take from Stanley Grenz’s hypothetical scenario is that the parents of the child with spina bifida should not abort the baby. The counselor in the story suggests that the parents go to term and raise the child. This take is identified as a deontological approach because
one of the human duties is to not kill. The counselor specifically states that abortion is murder and murder is wrong; whether the human duty is based off human nature or a religious dimension such as Christianity, the killing of another life is wrong. In this specific situation, based on a deontological human nature approach, every human has the right to live and walk on this earth without another human dictating that they should not be alive because killing is not human nature and deciding another humans fate based on consciousness is not one of the duties of humans. From a Christian deontology approach, scripture like Jeremiah 1:5, Genesis 1:27, Job
31:15, and many more suggest that God has created every human prior to entering their mother’s
womb. This results in the creation of a human life worth living and not to be murdered; thus, making this a Christian duty to not have an abortion.
The third major classical theories of morality and ethics is areteology. The definition of areteology is known as virtue-based ethics, where the outcome of character is the most important
moral factor. Tyra explains the “…name derived from the Greek word aretē, which means ‘virtue’” (Tyra, ch.1). Tyra states that the motive of the moral agent matters which results on focusing on who a person becomes rather than what a person should do (Tyra, ch.1). An example
in Tyra’s book is whenever we face a situation where we ask ourselves “What should I do?” we should focus on our character by asking questions like; Word Count: 1268
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What kind of person should I be in this situation? What Virtues should I strive to exhibit?
Is there a particular virtue or set of virtues I believe should earmark all of my ethical actions (e.g., humility, generosity, honesty, courage)? What virtuous person should I strive to emulate? What would that person of virtue do if he or she were in my place? (Tyra)
The areteology take from Stanley Grenz’s hypothetical scenario is the third counselor presented questions that asked the parents what their core values are and how their ethical model or hero would handle this situation. The counselors take is identified as an areteology approach because the counselor did not offer a solution to their problem, instead disregarded the consequences, and focused on the parent’s moral agent. By offering questions based on ethics and virtue, allows an areteological approach because it makes the parents ethical motives the primary factor in this decision. Tyra also agrees and suggests that questions like “What would my hero do?” and “What kind of person would I be if…” are virtue-based approaches.
I believe an areteological approach is the best approach towards any situation. Personally,
I follow this approach because I believe it is the most ethically sound and scripturally justified amongst the other approaches. It allows Christians to judge obstacles in life as ethically just, based on scripture. For Grenz’s hypothetical situation, I believe the areteology approach is best because it is important to note that my virtues follow Jesus Christ; and I listen because who I am in the eyes of God is more important than any situation or obstacle I face on earth. This approach
allows my character to remain pure by not taking the child’s life and by following God’s word. The contemplation I face is: Is following God’s rules more duty based? Would that be deontology? However, while it is considered deontology, it is also areteology. The reason areteology is the best because in the Nazi example, deontology would give up the Jews, but just like Rahab’s story in the Bible, areteology allow Christians to judge the law of the land as unjust and continue to remain in line with Christian values, despite breaking societal or biblical laws.
Word Count: 1268
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Works Cited
Tyra, G. (2015). Pursuing moral faithfulness: Ethics and Christian discipleship
. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press.
Word Count: 1268