It Was Suggested in Lecture That There Are Reasons Why

question 28

Essay

It was suggested in lecture that there are reasons why people attach ethics to a concept of Ultimate Being. Try to show with TWO religions how social and personal moral behavior is guided and justified by the appeal to an Ultimate Being. Be clear on how the connection to morality illuminates qualities of the divine (e.g., seeing if God cares about our behavior and why). Use this information to argue (as if against a nonreligious person) for the need to add religion to ethics. Do you agree that ethics needs religion? Is it strengthened by religions, or is religion strengthened by ethics? Why or why not? The issue is not just whether a nonreligious person can be moral, but whether the nonreligious person has good reasons and direction in morality. Beware of using yourself as prime example.

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Definitions:

Need for Achievement

A personality trait characterized by an enduring drive for success and the setting of high standards of performance.

Performance Goals

Targets set to achieve a specific standard of proficiency on a task, usually within a predetermined time frame.

Basic Physiological Needs

Fundamental human requirements for survival, such as air, water, food, shelter, and sleep, based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Self-Determination Theory

A theory of motivation that posits that people are most motivated when they feel that they have autonomy, competence, and relatedness.