One of the most dangerous and popular fallacies, or logical errors, is the “naturalistic fallacy.” By definition, the naturalistic fallacy is improper reasoning from the way things are to the way things ought to be. Since the created order has been distorted by sin, special revelation––i.e., Scripture––is necessary to point us toward an undistorted moral order. This reveals the reality of the Creator and uncovers the way we should live within creation. We have certain hope in the coming restoration, but equal certainty of the sinfulness of the world.Įthics must continually seek to identify the order and coherence with which the world was created. As Christians, we stand with one foot in the fallen world and the other foot poised to step over the threshold into complete renewal. We live in the time between the beginning of the restoration and the complete renewal of all things. The resurrection of Christ began the process of renewal that will eventually restore all of creation to its objective, undistorted goodness. This order was distorted when Adam chose to sin. Ethics is founded on the objective reality in the created order. Though his reasoning is nuanced, the basic principles of his ethics are simple.
Oliver O’Donovan’s ethics, founded on the biblical storyline, are some of the most helpful for moving readers outside of their cultural context. As we look for somewhere to anchor our ethics, it is easier to pursue fashionable schemes than to look for simple explanations in ancient books. Moral should not be confused with the word morale, which refers to a person’s emotional or mental condition.Įxample: I think the key to being a moral person is thinking about not just your intentions but the consequences of your actions.With the constant press of present troubles, it is easy to forget the simple truth that our contemporary cultural concerns are not all there is. The word moral is more likely to be used in religious contexts, but both moral and ethical are used in nonreligious contexts. Moral is often used in overlapping ways with the word ethical, and the word morals is often used in similar ways to the word ethics, which refers to moral principles or rules of conduct. The point of most fairy tales and children’s stories is to teach important morals to children.
Moral is also commonly used as a noun to mean a lesson or teaching that is contained in a story or fable, as in The moral of the story was that a person should not be afraid to ask for help. If something is not moral, it is said to be immoral, meaning wrong. If something is considered moral in this way, it is thought to be seen as acceptable by society or in the context of one’s religion. The word moral is also used to describe something that follows such principles-something that is considered the right thing to do. In this sense, morals are used as a basis to determine right and wrong and guide a person to act in a righteous or honorable manner, as in I don’t cheat because it goes against my morals. The word is used as a noun (especially in the plural morals) to refer to such principles. Moral describes something involved with or related to principles of what is considered righteous behavior, as in The wise man has offered moral guidance to many people.
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