Sources of Morality: Object, Intention and Circumstances (homework exercises)
1. A man who is in desperate need of money enters a store. He sees that the cash register is unattended.
-Is there a moral issue involved here? Why or why not?
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Is the act good or bad?
2. Man goes to doctor who tells him his cholesterol is sky high and he must do something about lowering it or expect to die prematurely. The next morning he goes out to breakfast where he is able to choose between having oat bran cereal with zero percent milk or bacon and eggs. He starts for the cereal and then changes his mind and has the bacon and eggs.
-Is there a moral issue involved here? Why or why not?
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Is the act good or bad?
3. Man with three gold coins in his purse comes out of medieval cathedral and sees beggar in need. He thinks of the sermon he just heard of Christ’s love for the poor and our duty to care for those in need according to our abilities; he remembers that one day he will stand before the Lord and have to give an account of himself. He gives the three gold pieces to the beggar so as to help relieve his suffering for the love of Christ.
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Is the act good or bad?
4. Man with three gold coins in his purse comes out of medieval cathedral and sees beggar in need. He also sees the prince standing nearby. He thinks, "if I give these coins to the beggar the prince will think well of me and maybe give me a better post."
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Is the act good or bad?
5. Doctor has elderly patient in nursing home who is suffering horribly and cannot be cured. He decides to relieve the suffering by injecting something lethal but painless into his patient.
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Is the act good or bad?
6. Consider the following reasons why a woman decides to go the opera and decided whether the act of going to the opera is good or bad accordingly:
-Simply because she enjoys the opera;
-Because she wants to support the Democratic party which will receive the proceeds of this benefit performance;
-Because she want her boss who will be there to think she is the cultured sort;
-Because her husband enjoys the opera and she wants to give him the treat of going.
7. A young father arranges to get up on Thursday morning with just enough time to get to the early morning Mass where he wants to worship God. It is winter and his wife has the flu. She has been feeling miserable and will want to stay in bed. The baby will wake up shortly and, no doubt, will need to be changed. The man hates changing diapers, especially the overnight kind. He slips out of the house as quickly and quietly as possible so nothing will interfere with his getting to Mass.
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Name the circumstances.
-Is the act good or bad? Why?
8. It is a Sunday morning in January and has iced all night. Mrs. McSweeney is 92 years old and wants to go to Mass as is her habit. The sidewalk outside her house looks treacherous, and there is no one handy to assist her. She calls for a cab, but learns that the cabs are not running because the storm was bad and the roads, which have not yet been sanded, are too slippery for driving. She sets out to walk to the church which is two blocks away.
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Name the circumstances.
-Is the act good or bad? Why?
9. Sergeny, a poor but good looking serf, desires the married countess Constance who is known for her love of jewels. Sergeny, determined to have Constance, steals a diamond necklace to give to Constance in the hopes of winning her body if not her heart. Constance thanks him for the necklace and turns her back on him – I don’t mess with serfs she says.
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Name the circumstances.
-Is the act good or bad? Why?
-Is Sergeny a thief or an adulterer? Explain.
11. Richard, a jewel loving man of the world, cozies up to the married countess Constance who is known for her lovely jewels. He has an affair with her in the hope that an opportunity to steal her jewels will present itself.
-Name the object. Is it good or bad?
-Name the intention. Is it good or bad?
-Name the circumstances.
-Is the act good or bad? Why?
-Is Richard a thief or an adulterer? Explain.
12. Mrs. Schmidt is out picking berries in her native Germany during World War II when she is captured by the Soviets and taken to a prisoner of war camp inside the Soviet Union. Her husband and three children have no idea what happened her. After many months in the prison, Mrs. Schmidt is approached by Boris, one of the guards, who says he will "let" her escape if she will sleep with him. Mrs. Schmidt is faced with a moral dilemma.
A. Name the moral object. Is it good or bad?
B. Name the logical or proposed intention. Is it good or bad?
C. What the Christian moral tradition say about the moral quality of the proposed act.
D. How would the proportionalist tell Mrs. Schmidt to reason out what she should do?
E. Would proportionalists regard Mrs. Schmidt’s sleeping with the guard as a good or bad act?
F. Mrs. Schmidt has a decision to make: she will either sleep with Boris or she will not.
-List the possible consequences of each choice
-Identify the various consequences as good or bad.
-Determine the the path to the greater good or the lesser evil, and state why.
-If you think B cannot be answered as posed, explain why.