I’m sad to say that classical ethics is not a very high priority in the curriculum of most medical schools today. Medical Ethics is mostly relegated to the subject of “How not to get sued.”
It seems like a cliché to say that our technological abilities have certainly outstripped our moral thinking. Morality is like the sophisticated navigational system on a very powerful missile. You can have lots of power (thrust) but if you can’t direct it, there can be a lot of needless damage.
Only humans have the capacity for Agape. Agape applies the strength of “unconditional love” even in very complex problems. It is based in the very nature of God Himself. It recognizes the intrinsic value of human beings. That value comes not from a person’s ability to be productive; on the contrary, it comes because God invests value in us.
We are not loved by God because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.
© [Terry A Bell] and [The Love Ethic], [2009]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Terry Bell] and [The Love Ethic] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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museandmystery Said:
on April 6, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Are humans really capable of exercising agape (true agape) except that it is God exercising it through a human? I think that apart from it coming from God Himself, any attempt to love, to exercise such agape, any attempt to do “good things” becomes, most accurately termed, the kind of ethical egoism that acts out of the self rather than out of regard for a Being who is the standard for such good. Could it be that only God has the capacity for agape? Ha, or maybe I’m reading too deeply into that statement of yours…
Terry Bell Said:
on April 7, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Thanks for your comment. I guess if humans are not capable of Agape, then it would seem strange that God would ask us to Agape each other. I do agree, however, that even then, it must be God working through us. In and of ourselves, we are not capable of any good thing …
In years past, eros was considered the only kind of love for God. This was because eros at that time was defined as being a kind of love that is seeking something in return. I know today, it has more of a sexual meaning. Still, I think it is impossible to Agape without allowing God to work in us and through us. Thanks for your thoughts.