scholarly journals How to Think of Religious Commitment as a Ground for Moral Commitment: A Thomistic Perspective on the Moral Philosophies of John Cottingham and Raimond Gaita

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Religious Commitment ◽  
Moral Imagination ◽  
Moral Virtue ◽  
Moral Commitment ◽  
Moral Virtues ◽  
Moral Philosophies ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

John Cottingham has argued that certain traits that are widely considered ideals of character will only count as virtues granted the truth of theism. Writing from an atheistic or perhaps agnostic perspective, Raimond Gaita has proposed that the language of religion provides a useful aid for the moral imagination. This chapter aims to show how Thomas Aquinas’s category of infused moral virtue can be used to extend and integrate the work of these influential authors, so as to produce a further, broadly based account of the relationship of religious and moral commitment. Since Cottingham and Gaita set out their respective positions relatively briefly, it begins by presenting each approach in its strongest form, and then considers how these approaches may be extended by appeal to Thomas Aquinas’s account of the goods that are the object of the infused moral virtues.

scholarly journals The Relationship of Religiosity and Marital Satisfaction: The Role of Religious Commitment and Practices on Marital Satisfaction Among Pakistani Respondents

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaffar Aman ◽  
Jaffar Abbas ◽  
Mohammad Nurunnabi ◽  
Shaher Bano
Keyword(s):  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Religious Commitment ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
Married Life ◽  
Informed Consent Form ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The sociology of religion focuses on an individual’s social and married life. This research performed the first focalized examination of the influence of spirituality and religiosity on the marital satisfaction of Pakistani Muslim couples and how religious commitment and religious practice strengthens the relationship of married couples. This study incorporates the Kansas Marital Satisfaction scale (KMSS), the Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI-10) and the Religious Practice scale to measure marital satisfaction. Survey questionnaires, including a survey invitation letter and an informed consent form, were sent to married couples residing in five urban areas of Pakistan. The sample consisted of 508 valid responses, 254 males and 254 females, exploring the respondent’s perception of their marital satisfaction. The data received were screened and tested through SPSS version 25. The first step of the data analysis was to examine the impact of religiosity variables (religious commitment, religious practice) on marital satisfaction. Findings indicated that religious commitment and religious practice are vital for a happy married life. The findings help explain the social dynamics of marital satisfaction in Pakistani culture. The results also indicated that religious commitment and religious practice strengthened and promoted marital satisfaction. This study is novel in the context of Pakistani culture and conclusions cannot be generalized to the whole population. Other religious factors may provide further research directions. The results of this study may help practitioners and decision-makers focusing on marital satisfaction issues.

Factors Contributing to Posttraumatic Growth Following Bereavement

2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110515
Author(s):  
Angela P. Ryan ◽  
Jennifer Ripley
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Religious Coping ◽  
Religious Commitment ◽  
Significant Growth ◽  
Event Centrality ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Multiple factors have been studied to determine their relationship to posttraumatic growth, with findings suggesting the importance of resiliency (Bensimon, 2012), social support (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004), event centrality (Taku et al., 2014), religious coping (Pargament et al., 2006), relationship to the deceased (Oginska–Bulik, 2015), and the circumstance of passing (Feigelman et al., 2009). This study investigated the relationship of these identified factors with posttraumatic growth in a sample of 165 bereaved individuals. Regression results indicated that the overall model predicted scores on posttraumatic growth ( R 2 = .473, R 2 adj = .456, F (5, 159) = 28.51, p < .001), with most robust effects found in social support ( β = .281), religious commitment ( β = .289), and event centrality ( β = .410). This indicates bereavement experiences can result in significant growth in individuals, particularly those who seek social support, identify the event as an essential part of their experience, and identify religion as an important aspect of their routine.

Metaphysics and Experience

2020 ◽  
pp. 63-97
Author(s):  
Mark R. Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Subject Matter ◽  
Spiritual Development ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Moral Virtue ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Spiritual Life ◽  
Moral Virtues ◽  
Theological Virtues ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter, and the next, further develop the notion of infused moral virtue, by considering how the target goods of these virtues can be realized in domains additional to those that Aquinas discusses. Chapter 3 examines in particular how our world-directed experience can be deemed more or less appropriate relative to a theological narrative, and how it is capable therefore of realizing the kind of good that is the object of the infused moral virtues. In this discussion, these goods are called ‘hybrid goods’ to mark the fact that they share their subject matter with the acquired moral virtues (since they are concerned with our relations to the created order), and their teleology with the theological virtues (because here the measure of success for our relationship to creatures is provided by reference to relationship to God). In this chapter, we also consider how a story of progress in the spiritual life that is rehearsed in an experiential idiom may be related to one that is cast instead in metaphysical terms. To develop the account, we examine in particular the relationship between Aquinas’s understanding of spiritual growth, expressed in terms of the acquired and infused moral virtues, and John of the Cross’s narrative of the various phases of the spiritual life. On this basis, we consider how experiential and metaphysical perspectives on spiritual development are mutually informing, while at the same time they also exhibit, relative to one another, a significant degree of independence.

Philosophy as a Way of Life

2020 ◽  
pp. 8-33
Author(s):  
Mark R. Wynn
Keyword(s):  
World View ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Moral Virtue ◽  
Spiritual Life ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Moral Virtues ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Spiritual Ideal ◽  
Guiding Questions

This chapter introduces some of the guiding questions of the investigation, here drawing on Pierre Hadot’s text Philosophy as a Way of Life. These questions include: how should we understand the nature of spiritual goods? What is the relationship between a tradition’s world view and its conception of the well-lived human life? How should we conceive of the connection between the different vocabularies that can be used to describe progress in the spiritual life, for instance, those involving metaphysical and experiential categories? What epistemic conditions, if any, does a world view need to meet if it is to be capable of informing a spiritual ideal of life? And what is the contribution of tradition in shaping our understanding of the spiritual life? The key concept that runs through this volume is Thomas Aquinas’s notion of infused moral virtue, and this chapter also introduces this notion and considers its fruitfulness for addressing the second of these questions, concerning the relationship between world view and ideal of life. A contrast is drawn between Aquinas’s account of these matters, according to which some spiritual goods—the goods that are the object of the infused moral virtues—cannot be identified independently of reference to our theological or metaphysical context, and Hadot’s account, according to which ethical or spiritual ideals come first, and provide the basis for metaphysical commitments. We note some reasons for thinking that this distinction between the two authors should not be too sharply drawn.

Justice, or On Statesmanship

2020 ◽  
pp. 116-147
Author(s):  
Ryan Patrick Hanley
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Moral Virtue ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Political Function ◽  
Good Government ◽  
Self Rule ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Chapter 4 examines Fenelon’s ideas on statesmanship. Focusing on his views on the relationship of moral virtue to political virtue, it emphasizes his core teaching that good governance of others begins with good government of the self. Yet the self-rule and self-control that Fénelon asks of political leaders is distinct from the renunciation and “annihilation” of the self central to his spirituality of pure love. Good rulers, he argues, need to cultivate both mastery of pernicious pleasures and openness to true pleasures, as each disposition has a crucial political function. To show this, the chapter begins with Fénelon’s distinction between true pleasure and false pleasure, and then shows how this distinction shapes his lessons on how a ruler ought to be disposed toward ministers and counselors. The chapter concludes by examining Fénelon’s understanding of the practical political institutions most necessary for justice in the state.

The Virtues: A Very Short Introduction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig A. Boyd ◽  
Kevin Timpe
Keyword(s):  
Moral Life ◽  
Rule Following ◽  
Intellectual Virtues ◽  
Short Introduction ◽  
Moral Virtues ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Theological Virtues ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The Virtues: A Very Short Introduction explores both the nature of virtue in general and specific kinds of virtues. These include the moral virtues, the intellectual virtues, and the theological virtues, as well as the capital vices. From the philosophy of Aristotle and Confucius, to the paintings of Raphael, Botticelli, and many more, fascination with the virtues has endured and evolved to fit a wide range of cultural, religious, and philosophical contexts through the centuries. This VSI examines the role of the virtues in the moral life, their cultivation, and how they offer ways of thinking and acting that are alternatives to mere rule-following. It also considers the relationship of the virtues to one’s own emotions, desires, and rational capacities.

scholarly journals Pengetahuan dan Penerapan Tri Hita Karana dalam Subak untuk Menunjang Pertanian Tanaman Pangan Berkelanjutan (Kasus Subak Mungkagan, Desa Sembung, Kecamatan Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
I PUTU TESSA ANDIKA ◽  
WAYAN SUDARTA ◽  
A.A.A WULANDIRA SAWITRI DJELANTIK
Keyword(s):  
Religious Commitment ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Sustainable Horticulture ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Quota Sampling ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Village ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Temple

Thesis Title "Knowledge and Application of Tri Hita Karana in Subak to Support Sustainable Horticulture Food Agriculture (The Case of Subak Mungkagan, Sembung Village, Mengwi, Badung Regency)"Bali historically owns traditions, culture and religious commitment of its own in the form of an organization called Subak. All Subaks in Bali apply the concept of Tri Hita Karana one of them being Subak Mungkagan. The purpose of this research was to determine the level of knowledge, and the farmers’ application of Tri Hita Karana in Subak Mungkagan to support sustainable crop farming, in the village of Sembung, Mengwi, Badung regency. Subak Mungkagan population numbered 161 people. The determination of samples used quota sampling and random sampling. The respondents taken amounted to 32 people. The results showed that the farmers’ knowledge of Tri Hita Karana in Subak Mungkagan to support sustainable horticulture agriculture, village Sembung, Mengwi, Badung belonged to the excellent category by achieving a score of 4.28. The level of implementation of the Tri Hita Karana by farmers in Subak Mungkagan to support sustainable food crops, also belonged to the excellent category by achieving a score of 4.17. Based on the research it can be suggested the existence of sanctuaries and their use has been complete, what needs to be considered is the cleanliness after praying in the temple area. Extension in Subak Mungkagan is only done twice a year, it should have been done five times a year, so that knowledge and application of Tri Hita Karana aspects Palemahan in particular in Mungkagan Subak is related to the relationship of Subak members with the surrounding environment.

scholarly journals On the capability of Aristotle’s ethics to become the first philosophy

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 648-656
Author(s):  
Alexander Sanzhenakov
Keyword(s):  
First Principles ◽  
Intellectual Virtues ◽  
Moral Virtues ◽  
Difficult Question ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Rational Part ◽  
Aristotle's Ethics ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
First Philosophy

The article is devoted to the analysis of the problem of the relationship of ethics and metaphysics. The majority of the researchers believe that metaphysics precedes and determines ethics. It means that key concepts of ethics are based on the concepts of metaphysics. In Aristotle’s philosophy such metaphysical concepts are the “essence”, “form” and “activity” or “actuality”. The difficult question is whether ethics can be the first philosophy. The author identifies four criteria that Aristotle’s ethics must meet in order to be the first philosophy. Ethics must (1) deal with the first principles and causes, (2) give the universal knowledge, (3) deal with the most valuable subject, (4) be a commander discipline. It is obvious that the part of ethics that concerns moral virtues does not meet these criteria. However, the first philosophy is closer to that part of ethics, which concerns the intellectual virtues, and especially it concerns sophia – the highest virtues of the rational part of the soul. In this case, we can speak about merging of ethical and metaphysical discourses.

Religious and Secular Conceptions of the Human Good

2020 ◽  
pp. 34-62
Author(s):  
Mark R. Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Religious Commitment ◽  
Moral Virtue ◽  
Practical Rationality ◽  
Vantage Point ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Moral Virtues ◽  
Human Good

Having sketched the idea of goods that are relative to our theological or metaphysical context, this chapter considers some varieties of such goods, taking as its focus two instances of infused moral virtue: abstinence and neighbour love. We note a distinction between these two: in the case of abstinence, the introduction of a theological frame has the effect of lifting an action that would otherwise be morally permissible but under-motivated into the realm of the obligatory, whereas in the case of neighbour love, the introduction of such a frame constitutes as obligatory an action that would otherwise be supererogatory. We consider how we can understand this difference by distinguishing between the kinds of good that can be produced by the infused moral virtues, and noting that one of these kinds of good, what we call an extended good of reason, is present only in the case of neighbour love. We then explore the relevance of extended goods of reason for a consideration of the practical rationality of religious commitment, noting how this kind of good allows the religious way of life to appear as worthwhile from a secular vantage point.

The relationship of the scleractinian corals to the rugose corals

Paleobiology ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 146-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Critical Points ◽  
Scleractinian Corals ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Early Triassic ◽  
Rugose Corals ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Biologic Factors

The Mesozoic-Cenozoic coral Order Scleractinia has been suggested to have originated or evolved (1) by direct descent from the Paleozoic Order Rugosa or (2) by the development of a skeleton in members of one of the anemone groups that probably have existed throughout Phanerozoic time. In spite of much work on the subject, advocates of the direct descent hypothesis have failed to find convincing evidence of this relationship. Critical points are:(1) Rugosan septal insertion is serial; Scleractinian insertion is cyclic; no intermediate stages have been demonstrated. Apparent intermediates are Scleractinia having bilateral cyclic insertion or teratological Rugosa.(2) There is convincing evidence that the skeletons of many Rugosa were calcitic and none are known to be or to have been aragonitic. In contrast, the skeletons of all living Scleractinia are aragonitic and there is evidence that fossil Scleractinia were aragonitic also. The mineralogic difference is almost certainly due to intrinsic biologic factors.(3) No early Triassic corals of either group are known. This fact is not compelling (by itself) but is important in connection with points 1 and 2, because, given direct descent, both changes took place during this only stage in the history of the two groups in which there are no known corals.

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