Communities: The Heart of Moral and Ethical Development

 

Summary

In our exploration today, we delved into the intricate relationship between individuals and communities, emphasizing the profound impact that smaller, concrete communities have on our moral and intellectual lives. We began by acknowledging the necessity of focusing on these smaller institutions, such as families, schools, and churches, which serve as mediating entities between the individual and the broader society. These communities are not just passive environments but active participants in shaping our moral knowledge and ethical behavior.

Dietrich Von Hildebrand's conception of value perception and response was introduced as a framework to understand how communities, much like individuals, can be seen as quasi-value responders. This analogy helps us appreciate how communities perceive and respond to values, thereby influencing the moral landscape of their members. While individuals can indeed gain moral knowledge outside of communities, the communal context provides a rich tapestry of shared values and experiences that deeply inform our ethical understanding.

We also discussed the limitations of large-scale abstractions, such as society with a capital "S," in influencing individual lives. Instead, the smaller, more tangible communities exert a far greater influence on our day-to-day experiences and moral development. These communities act as epistemic and ethical mediators, providing the frameworks through which we interpret broader societal events and shaping the ethos within which we live.

The family was highlighted as the paramount mediating institution, playing a crucial role in the moral and ethical upbringing of individuals. Through the family, children learn to navigate the world of values, both through explicit instruction and implicit example. This foundational community sets the stage for how individuals perceive and respond to the world around them.

Finally, we considered the dynamic interplay between individual actions and community ethos. While communities shape individuals, the reverse is also true; individuals contribute to the ongoing development of the community's ethos. This reciprocal relationship underscores the importance of both individual agency and communal context in the formation of moral knowledge and ethical behavior.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Small Communities: Small, concrete communities like families and churches play a crucial role in shaping our moral and intellectual lives. They provide the context in which we learn to perceive and respond to values, acting as mediators between the individual and broader society. [06:12]

2. Value Perception and Response: Communities, much like individuals, can be seen as quasi-value responders. This analogy helps us understand how communities perceive and respond to values, influencing the moral landscape of their members. [24:29]

3. Limitations of Large-Scale Abstractions: Large-scale societal abstractions have limited influence on individual lives compared to smaller, tangible communities. These smaller communities provide the frameworks through which we interpret broader societal events. [05:31]

4. The Family as a Mediating Institution: The family is the most impactful mediating institution, playing a crucial role in the moral and ethical upbringing of individuals. Through the family, children learn to navigate the world of values. [13:27]

5. Reciprocal Relationship Between Individual and Community: The dynamic interplay between individual actions and community ethos highlights the importance of both individual agency and communal context in the formation of moral knowledge and ethical behavior. [30:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Introduction to Individual and Community
- [00:53] - Importance of Small-Scale Institutions
- [01:11] - Von Hildebrand's Value Perception
- [02:01] - Moral Knowledge in Communities
- [03:23] - Concrete vs. Abstract Societal Influences
- [05:31] - Society with a Capital "S"
- [06:12] - Influence of Smaller Associations
- [07:40] - Mediating Institutions
- [09:32] - Sense-Making Communities
- [11:09] - Ethical Mediation in Communities
- [13:27] - The Family's Role
- [18:11] - Other Mediating Institutions
- [22:56] - Extending Value Response to Communities
- [30:21] - Reciprocal Influence of Individuals and Communities

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
2. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
3. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NIV) - "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the sermon describe the role of small communities like families and churches in shaping moral and intellectual lives? ([06:12])

2. What is Dietrich Von Hildebrand's concept of value perception and response, and how is it applied to communities in the sermon? ([01:26])

3. According to the sermon, why are large-scale societal abstractions less influential on individual lives compared to smaller communities? ([05:31])

4. How does the sermon illustrate the reciprocal relationship between individual actions and community ethos? ([30:21])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that families serve as the most impactful mediating institution for moral and ethical upbringing? How does this align with Proverbs 22:6? ([13:27])

2. How does the sermon explain the concept of communities as quasi-value responders, and what implications does this have for individual moral development? ([24:29])

3. How does the sermon address the limitations of focusing on society with a capital "S" in understanding moral knowledge and ethical behavior? ([05:31])

4. How does the sermon suggest that individual actions contribute to the development of a community's ethos, and how does this relate to the idea of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14? ([30:21])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own family or community. How have they shaped your moral and ethical understanding? Are there specific values you learned from them that you still hold today? ([13:27])

2. Consider a small community you are part of, such as a church group or workplace. How does this community perceive and respond to values, and how does it influence your own moral decisions? ([24:29])

3. Think about a time when you felt the influence of a large societal abstraction versus a small community. Which had a more significant impact on your daily life and why? ([05:31])

4. How can you actively contribute to the ethos of your community? What specific actions can you take to promote positive values within your family, church, or workplace? ([30:21])

5. In what ways can you encourage others in your community to engage in love and good deeds, as suggested in Hebrews 10:24-25? How can you foster a supportive environment for this? ([06:12])

6. Identify a value that your community might be blind to, as discussed in the sermon. How can you help bring awareness to this value and encourage a collective response? ([24:29])

7. Reflect on the idea of overlapping communities. How do the different communities you belong to influence each other, and how can you navigate these influences to maintain a consistent moral compass? ([36:31])

Devotional

Day 1: The Influence of Small Communities
Small, concrete communities such as families, schools, and churches play a pivotal role in shaping our moral and intellectual lives. These communities act as mediators between the individual and broader society, providing a context in which we learn to perceive and respond to values. Unlike large-scale societal abstractions, these smaller communities are tangible and exert a significant influence on our day-to-day experiences and moral development. They are not passive environments but active participants in shaping our moral knowledge and ethical behavior. By engaging with these communities, individuals can find a rich tapestry of shared values and experiences that deeply inform their ethical understanding. [06:12]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a small community you are part of. How can you actively contribute to its moral and intellectual growth today?


Day 2: Communities as Value Responders
Communities, much like individuals, can be seen as quasi-value responders. This analogy helps us understand how communities perceive and respond to values, thereby influencing the moral landscape of their members. While individuals can indeed gain moral knowledge outside of communities, the communal context provides a shared experience that enriches our ethical understanding. By participating in these communities, individuals are exposed to a collective perception of values that shapes their moral compass. This dynamic allows for a deeper appreciation of how values are interpreted and acted upon within a communal setting. [24:29]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a value that your community holds dear. How can you embody and promote this value in your interactions with others today?


Day 3: The Limitations of Large-Scale Abstractions
Large-scale societal abstractions, such as society with a capital "S," have limited influence on individual lives compared to smaller, tangible communities. These smaller communities provide the frameworks through which we interpret broader societal events and shape the ethos within which we live. By focusing on these concrete communities, individuals can better navigate the complexities of the larger society. The intimate nature of these communities allows for a more personalized and impactful moral development, as they offer a sense of belonging and shared purpose that is often lacking in larger societal structures. [05:31]

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a large-scale societal issue that concerns you. How can your small community address this issue in a meaningful way?


Day 4: The Family as a Mediating Institution
The family is highlighted as the most impactful mediating institution, playing a crucial role in the moral and ethical upbringing of individuals. Through the family, children learn to navigate the world of values, both through explicit instruction and implicit example. This foundational community sets the stage for how individuals perceive and respond to the world around them. The family provides a nurturing environment where values are taught, modeled, and reinforced, making it a vital component in the development of moral knowledge and ethical behavior. [13:27]

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a value you learned from your family. How can you pass this value on to the next generation?


Day 5: Reciprocal Relationship Between Individual and Community
The dynamic interplay between individual actions and community ethos highlights the importance of both individual agency and communal context in the formation of moral knowledge and ethical behavior. While communities shape individuals, the reverse is also true; individuals contribute to the ongoing development of the community's ethos. This reciprocal relationship underscores the significance of personal responsibility and active participation in the life of the community. By recognizing the impact of their actions, individuals can contribute positively to the moral and ethical growth of their community. [30:21]

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a gift or talent you possess. How can you use it to enrich your community and contribute to its moral development today?

Quotes

"All our lives as moral and intellectual beings are lived within the larger complex lives of the many overlapping communities of which we are a part. In this paper, I will consider the interplay between individual and community in three ways, three sections." [00:00:29]

"Greater attention must be paid to the small scale concrete institutions that come between the individual and the large-scale society with a capital S. Second, I'll discuss Dietrich Von Hildebrand's conception of value perception and value response as useful tools for understanding our situation in these communities." [00:00:47]

"Analysts and pundits lavish a disproportionate amount of attention on society in toned with a capital S. We worry about the direction that Society is going, we pontificate about the changes that the 20th century worked upon society, and we speculate about the impact these changes will have on private morality." [00:05:31]

"The degree of impact that my place of work has upon me as an individual is thousands of times larger than the impact that Society has upon me as an abstract totality. Indeed, we can state this as a general law: a community's influence over an individual tends to be inversely proportional to its level of abstraction." [00:06:16]

"First, mediating institutions are epistemic mediators; that is, they provide a host of filtration and interpretation mechanisms to the individual. The individual only knows about and knows how to interpret the broader, more abstract layers of society through his life within smaller communities." [00:08:29]

"Second, mediating institutions are ethical mediators; that is, the communities in which we live shape and form the way we live by providing the basic contours of the kind of life that is possible and the attitudes we can expect from our neighbors in response to the way we choose to live." [00:11:14]

"More normally, the family functions as the mediating institution par excellence in a person's upbringing. Through life in the family, a child first hears about many things and also learns what attitude toward these things are appropriate." [00:13:56]

"In the family, the child learns how to respond to a huge range of values both through explicit instruction and more frequently through implicit example. The family goes to church on Sunday morning, and the child learns thereby what kind of response is due to the sacred." [00:15:29]

"The family sets the boundaries for the kinds of behaviors that are acceptable and unacceptable and enforces those boundaries through a variety of sanctions and rewards. A daughter in one family learns that tearing the pages out in a book is tantamount to murder because books are something sacred." [00:16:29]

"The relationship here is reciprocal and additive. The community ethos provides the basic environment and foundation for an individual's way of living, and the individual's way of living contributes, along with his neighbors, to establish the ethos of the community as it develops." [00:12:06]

"An individual person learns how to be a person by participating in the life of communities alongside other persons. Again, man is not a political animal by participating directly in the capital P, capital S political Society; he is a political animal by participating in the life of Athens." [00:12:45]

"The relationship between the community and the individual forms a mutually influencing circle. The life of the community is shaped by the individual choices and actions of its members, and these actions are shaped by the communal context in which they occur." [00:30:21]

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Transcript
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