Naturalistic Ethics
From Marbaniang, Domenic. Ethics (1998), Published as Philosophical Ethics (2012) 3. Applied Ethics in a Naturalistic Autonomous Society This chapter is important before we move into the next chapter where we will be dealing mainly with the importance of God, Scripture, Church, and Evangelical Christianity in relation to ethics. 3.1. Naturalistic Autonomous Society It wouldn’t be appropriate to call this society godless; for man at times tends to look to a greater power beyond him in awe or aspiration. But, it is necessary to say that here is no impulsion to follow any kind of divine edict or law under fear of punishment: the idea of God, practically, seems nonsensical in this setting. This society, thus, is naturalistic and autonomous. Human reason, emotions, experiences, and aesthetic contemplation play an important role in making ethical decisions. 3.2. The Knowledge of an “Ought” An understanding of “ought” is impossible without the knowledge of good and evil. An understanding of ...