Theory of Moral Status and its Relation to Intrinsic Human Value and Dignity

Theory of Moral Status and its Relation to Intrinsic Human Value and Dignity
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Case Study on Moral Status
The Christian belief of human nature is that all humans have free will, which is God-given. This statement means that God gave all humans the ability and free will to make choices and decisions. It would be impossible to describe humans as moral beings without free will as they would not live and act morally. For example, in the Bible, the book of Genesis talks about Eve, who is tempted by a serpent to eat the forbidden fruit. Out of her free will, she can decide whether to follow God’s commandments or succumb to the devil’s temptations. Ultimately, she is accountable for her actions. Thus, according to Christianity, the Bible confirms that humans can choose and have the responsibility to make wise decisions.
The decisions that people make are based on moral theories, which help justify those choices. While there are several moral theories, such as Utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue theory, the four principles approach, and casuistry, the moral theory that is compatible with the Christian view of nature is Utilitarianism. According to this theory, morality is defined by the amount of happiness we produce from every action. The defining aspect of this theory is that the rightfulness of action is based on its ability to maximize human welfare. This statement is well explained by John Stuart Mill, who stated that “… actions are right in the proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the deprivation of pleasure.” (Wiggins, 2006). This theory is related to intrinsic human value and dignity because a person’s worth and dignity are based on the individual’s ability to produce happiness in another. It also forms the basis of God’s greatest commandment of love. People who love each other always strive to ensure that their partner is happy.
Moral theories can help explain the actions and decisions that people make. In the case provided, all the participants have a decision to make. Jessica has to decide whether to agree to Dr. Wilson’s advice, Marco has to decide whether to support the doctor, or Maria, Maria, on her part, has decided against the abortion advice, and Dr. Wilson has already chosen to advise Jessica to abort. Jessica, Marco, and Maria use the virtue...