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In die Skriflig

On-line version ISSN 2305-0853
Print version ISSN 1018-6441

In Skriflig (Online) vol.43 n.2 Pretoria Jan. 2009

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Ethical decision-making: The doctrine of sin and grace

 

Etiese besluitneming: Die leer van sonde en genade

 

 

S.P. Giles

School of Ecclesiastical Science, Potchefstroom Campus. North-West University. Potchefstroom. E-mail: sgiles@telkomsa.net

 

 


ABSTRACT

Ethical decision-making presupposes the possession of a free will. Central to a discussion on reformed ethics is the question of the bounds of freedom of the will. The reformed tradition, along with the wider Christian tradition, affirms that the will is not free in the Pelagian sense of being absolutely free, but is constrained by the effects of humanity's fall from original righteousness. This article considers the nature and extent to which the will is considered free, or no longer free at all. The question posed here, within the reformed theoretic ethical framework, is whether the will is so vitiated that a person is incapable of any effective choice of action or inaction in the face of any moral dilemma, or does fallen humanity still possess some ability to make a free choice, albeit under conditions of impaired freedom of the will?


OPSOMMING

Etiese besluitneming vooronderstel die besit van 'n vrye wil. Die kernvraag van die gereformeerde etiek behels die grense van sodanige vrye wil. Sowel die gereformeerde as die breër Christelike tradisies bevestig dat die wil nie in die Pelagiaanse sin van absolute vryheid vry is nie, maar dat dit bedwing word deur die mensdom se val van sy oorspronklike regskapenheid. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die aard en omvang waarin die wil as vry geag word en of die wil hoegenaamd nog vry is. Die vraag wat hier binne die gereformeerde teoreties-etiese raamwerk gestel word, is of die wil sodanig besmet is dat die besmetting die mens sy vermoë ontneem het om enige doelmatige keuse van optrede, of gebrek daaraan, uit te oefen; en of die gevalle mens nog steeds in 'n mate die vermoë beskik om 'n vrye keuse uit te oefen, selfs onder die voorwaardes van 'n beskadigde vryheid van die wil.


 

 

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