Reclaiming Moral Knowledge for Virtue Formation

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the profound impact of what Dallas Willard terms "The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge" on virtue formation. This concept suggests that moral knowledge, once a cornerstone of societal values, has faded from public consciousness, leading to a decline in virtue development. We examined how moral knowledge plays a crucial motivational role in virtuous action and formation. Without this knowledge, individuals may lack the drive to pursue virtuous lives, as they are unable to represent moral values accurately based on thought and experience.

The common narrative often suggests that knowing what is morally right is insufficient for becoming virtuous. This perspective shifts focus away from moral knowledge and towards processes like upbringing, imitation, and spiritual disciplines. However, this overlooks the essential role that moral knowledge plays in evaluating and motivating virtuous behavior. Moral reasoning allows individuals to identify virtues and vices, providing a foundation for intentional virtue formation. It also serves as a motivational force, guiding individuals to act in accordance with their moral judgments.

Willard's thesis highlights the societal consequences of losing moral knowledge. Without it, public morality cannot progress, and moral wisdom from previous generations is lost. This absence leads to a reliance on personal opinion and tradition, rather than objective moral truths. The challenge lies in reclaiming moral knowledge within society, particularly in institutions like universities and churches. While broad dissemination of moral knowledge requires authoritative institutions, grassroots efforts can also play a role in reinforcing moral values within smaller communities.

In conclusion, the disappearance of moral knowledge poses a significant challenge to virtue formation. To address this, we must strive to represent the beauty of virtue and the deformity of vice, fostering a vivid awareness of moral values. By doing so, we can motivate individuals to pursue virtuous lives and counteract the decline of moral knowledge in our society.

Key Takeaways:

1. Moral Knowledge as Motivation: Moral knowledge is not just about knowing what is right or wrong; it serves as a motivational force that drives individuals towards virtuous actions. Without this knowledge, the motivation to pursue virtue diminishes, leading to a decline in moral behavior. [12:47]

2. The Common Story's Oversight: The prevalent narrative that moral knowledge is insufficient for virtue formation overlooks its crucial role in evaluating and motivating virtuous behavior. This oversight can lead to a diminished focus on the importance of moral knowledge in personal development. [06:04]

3. Societal Consequences of Lost Moral Knowledge: The disappearance of moral knowledge from public consciousness has significant societal implications. Without a shared understanding of moral truths, public morality cannot progress, and moral wisdom from previous generations is lost. [23:20]

4. Reclaiming Moral Knowledge: To counteract the decline of moral knowledge, we must strive to reclaim it within society. This involves both institutional efforts and grassroots initiatives to reinforce moral values and provide a foundation for virtue formation. [29:05]

5. The Role of Institutions: While authoritative institutions play a crucial role in disseminating moral knowledge, grassroots efforts can also contribute to reinforcing moral values within smaller communities. By fostering a vivid awareness of moral values, we can motivate individuals to pursue virtuous lives. [30:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:18] - Introduction and Handout
- [01:00] - Revisiting the Paper
- [02:05] - The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge
- [03:06] - Role of Moral Knowledge in Virtue
- [04:20] - The Common Story of Virtue Formation
- [05:13] - Christian Context and Virtue
- [06:16] - Significance of Moral Knowledge
- [07:18] - Aristotelian vs. Platonic Virtue Theory
- [09:27] - Assumptions about Moral Knowledge
- [10:04] - Evaluative Role of Moral Knowledge
- [12:07] - Motivational Role of Moral Knowledge
- [14:13] - Rationalization and Moral Deliberation
- [18:10] - Vivid Awareness of Virtue and Vice
- [22:15] - Public Presentation of Moral Knowledge
- [25:38] - Disruption of Motivational Role
- [29:05] - Reclaiming Moral Knowledge
- [32:13] - Teaching Ethics as Knowledge
- [34:47] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 4:15-16 - "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." [46:42]
2. Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
3. Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the role of moral knowledge in virtue formation? [02:16]
2. How does the sermon describe the societal consequences of the disappearance of moral knowledge? [23:20]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the challenges in reclaiming moral knowledge within society? [29:05]
4. What examples does the sermon provide to illustrate the motivational role of moral knowledge? [12:47]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the relationship between moral knowledge and motivation for virtuous actions? [12:47]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the disappearance of moral knowledge affects public morality and virtue formation? [23:20]
3. How does the sermon propose that institutions and grassroots efforts can work together to reclaim moral knowledge? [30:01]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of having a vivid awareness of moral values in personal development? [14:13]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt motivated to act virtuously. How did your understanding of moral knowledge influence your decision? [12:47]
2. Consider the societal consequences mentioned in the sermon. How can you contribute to reclaiming moral knowledge in your community? [23:20]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel the absence of moral knowledge. What steps can you take to address this gap? [29:05]
4. How can you foster a vivid awareness of moral values in your daily life to motivate virtuous actions? [14:13]
5. Think about the role of institutions in your life. How can you support or initiate grassroots efforts to reinforce moral values within your community? [30:01]
6. Reflect on the distinction between desire and will as discussed in the sermon. How can this understanding help you make more virtuous choices? [27:10]
7. How can you apply the concept of speaking the truth in love, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:15-16, to promote moral knowledge and virtue in your relationships? [46:42]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

Day 1: Moral Knowledge as a Motivational Force
Moral knowledge is not merely about discerning right from wrong; it acts as a catalyst that propels individuals toward virtuous actions. When moral knowledge is absent, the drive to pursue virtue wanes, resulting in a decline in moral behavior. This understanding emphasizes the importance of moral knowledge as a foundational element in motivating individuals to live virtuously. The absence of this knowledge can lead to a lack of direction and purpose in moral decision-making, highlighting the need to cultivate and maintain a robust understanding of moral truths. [12:47]

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness." (2 Peter 1:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel a lack of motivation to act virtuously. How can you seek out moral knowledge to inspire and guide your actions in this area today?


Day 2: The Overlooked Role of Moral Knowledge
The common narrative often suggests that knowing what is morally right is insufficient for becoming virtuous, shifting focus away from moral knowledge and toward processes like upbringing and imitation. However, this perspective overlooks the essential role that moral knowledge plays in evaluating and motivating virtuous behavior. Moral reasoning allows individuals to identify virtues and vices, providing a foundation for intentional virtue formation. By understanding and valuing moral knowledge, individuals can better navigate their moral landscape and make informed decisions that align with their values. [06:04]

"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." (Hosea 14:9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did your understanding of moral knowledge influence your choice, and how might a deeper understanding have changed your decision?


Day 3: Societal Consequences of Lost Moral Knowledge
The disappearance of moral knowledge from public consciousness has significant societal implications. Without a shared understanding of moral truths, public morality cannot progress, and moral wisdom from previous generations is lost. This absence leads to a reliance on personal opinion and tradition rather than objective moral truths, creating a fragmented moral landscape. The challenge lies in reclaiming moral knowledge within society to ensure that public morality can advance and that the wisdom of past generations is preserved and built upon. [23:20]

"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how societal norms influence your personal moral decisions. How can you contribute to reclaiming moral knowledge in your community or social circles?


Day 4: Reclaiming Moral Knowledge
To counteract the decline of moral knowledge, efforts must be made to reclaim it within society. This involves both institutional efforts and grassroots initiatives to reinforce moral values and provide a foundation for virtue formation. By fostering a vivid awareness of moral values, individuals can be motivated to pursue virtuous lives. Reclaiming moral knowledge requires a collective effort to prioritize and disseminate moral truths, ensuring that they are accessible and relevant to all members of society. [29:05]

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." (Proverbs 1:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to promote moral knowledge in your family, workplace, or community?


Day 5: The Role of Institutions and Grassroots Efforts
While authoritative institutions play a crucial role in disseminating moral knowledge, grassroots efforts can also contribute to reinforcing moral values within smaller communities. By fostering a vivid awareness of moral values, individuals can be motivated to pursue virtuous lives. Both institutional and grassroots efforts are necessary to create a comprehensive approach to reclaiming moral knowledge, ensuring that it is both widespread and deeply rooted in the fabric of society. [30:01]

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a small group or community you are part of. How can you initiate or support efforts to strengthen moral knowledge and values within this group?

Quotes

The Disappearance of moral knowledge degrades or undermines agents moral knowledge and thereby demotivates virtuous action and virtue formation. [00:02:17]

The common story that is often told is based on the idea that knowledge of what is morally good and bad, right and wrong, virtuous and vicious can only get you so far in becoming a good person. [00:03:50]

Without the ability to confidently identify virtue and vice, there would be nowhere to start when it comes to intentional virtue formation because there'd be no basis on which to properly evaluate one's need for moral change. [00:10:37]

Moral reasoning and knowledge allow an agent to identify what is and is not virtuous and such considerations lay a psychological constraint on the human will. [00:12:07]

The Disappearance of moral knowledge leaves reason with "nothing to serve but the ends of desire and whatever power it can bring to bear to realize them." [00:12:23]

Willard claimed that in the midst of the 20th century, moral knowledge disappeared from Western societies. His claim is that due to various historical and social causes, knowledge of what is good and bad, right and wrong, virtuous and vicious ceased to exist as a reliable publicly available resource for human living. [00:19:20]

Instead, moral beliefs and commitments are presented and often held by persons as mere feeling, personal opinion, or tradition, and therefore incapable of rational scrutiny and refinement. [00:19:53]

When schools and churches, for example, do not present moral claims as knowledge, moral wisdom from previous generations is lost, and the very idea of there being a good, better, and best form of life becomes suspect. [00:25:38]

The entire point of morality is to restrict and guide individuals and groups by preventing, saying no to desires that are wrong and inappropriate. There needs to be a basis of power and authority from which these statements can be consistently referenced so that they can be applied. [00:25:49]

Willard thought the motivational force of an agent's moral judgments depends in some part on publicly available moral knowledge. The basis of power and authority from which moral statements can be consistently referenced is hard to sustain at the individual level if it's not reinforced at the societal level. [00:26:20]

Although broad and transgenerational dissemination of moral knowledge within a society requires institutions to preserve, refine, and transmit that knowledge, in the absence of these authoritative institutions, there are a variety of grassroots efforts or bottom-up approaches to reclaiming the authority and power of moral knowledge, at least within smaller contexts. [00:29:05]

Willard writes, "It is the responsibility of our institutions of knowledge to make moral knowledge available in the extent to which that is possible, not by teaching rules, not by imposing condemnation or praise, but by the dispassionate analysis and communication of the natures of virtue and vice and character." [00:30:01]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?