010102 FS Intrinsically Evil Acts and Catholic Theological Ethics (2021W)

One of the most sweeping, categorical, and absolute phrases that has ever been employed by the hierarchical teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church refers to a concept called 'intrinsic evil'. In short, intrinsic evil is invoked to describe certain kinds of human acts that can never be morally justified or permitted, regardless of the intention of the person who performs them or any circumstances within which they take place. The most common examples of things that people recognize as being classified as intrinsically evil are, suicide, euthanasia, abortion, and the use of contraception. The ease with which the term 'intrinsic evil' gets right to the point, thereby making the fairly complex field of ethical reflection seem manageable and widely accessible, is one of the reasons for its attractiveness within Roman Catholic ethical teaching. However, this kind of simplification risks or even encourages avoidance of critical questions such as, "Where does this concept come from and what meanings are associated with it?", "Is it supposed to express an ethical judgment or to form it?", and "Is there a substantial difference between intrinsically evil acts and morally wrong acts?".
This research seminar will engage with these and similar questions surrounding the formation and use of the concept, and in the process attempt to dispel the naïve belief that the concept can somehow escape the complexity of ethical discourse or establish certainty of ethical judgments that is otherwise unattainable. In light of that, the most important issue will become whether the concept can still be useful for Catholic theological ethics and, if not, what are the implications of this for the issue of existence of intrinsically evil acts and the evaluation of those acts that have been labelled intrinsically evil in the Catholic tradition and teaching.
In terms of methods, the seminar will expect from participants to develop in its course a nuanced and qualified position on the issue of intrinsically evil acts. In order to achieve that, students will engage in in-depth reading of literature, prepare a presentation on a specific issue, participate in plenary and group discussions, and write critical reactions to the study material.