February 19, 2002

Chapter 3

Morality Beyond Agreement: Moral Action within Moral Conflict

[URL: Chapter3]

I The Agreement Problem

II Why Is It a “Problem”? Consequences of the Agreement Problem

A The use of force and the abandonment of morality

B Case study (or maybe just an anecdote)

C Encouraging stubbornness and game-playing

III Existential Origins of the Agreement Problem

A Natural limits of empathy

B Variation in senses of the Good

C Decisions made willy-nilly

D Distress patterns and painful emotion

IV Summary

I Introduction / Synopsis

II Imperfection as an existential condition

III This is not the same as ignoring imperfection.

A Case study: “Love the sinner; hate the sin”

B Case study: “Life is not fair”

IV The Perfection Problem: The Illusions of Blameworthiness and Perfectability and the Harm of Pursuing Personal Perfection

I Introduction

II Second-order Criteria for Decisions under Disagreement

III Friendship When Friendship Fails: Choosing and Still Loving; Learning Humility and Detaching Oneself

I Persistent Disagreement Beyond the Second Moment

II Grasping the Nettle of Solidarity

III A Tragic and Joyful Existence: The Universe, Synchronicity, and Prayer

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