In an ever-changing and uncertain world with many different opinions and viewpoints, it can be hard to truly know what we believe in. But with faith—and a little philosophy—all things are possible.
Faith and philosophy might not be the most obvious pairing, but these two principles can go hand in hand, guiding people to rely more on universal morals and spiritual truths. Faculty from the Department of Philosophy gave BYU Education Week lectures about how we can apply philosophical principles to strengthen our faith, virtue, and understanding of others.
Right Is Right and Wrong Is Wrong
Around the world, many people possess various moral principles, perspectives, and beliefs, and these perspectives can often contradict or clash with the views of others, depending on who you meet. In his lecture “Defending Against Moral Relativism,” Associate Professor David Jensen (Ethics and Value Theory) argues that morals don’t vary between cultures but rather that sound morals are universal.
Jensen argued that some beliefs are matters of individual preference, but morals such as honesty, fairness, service, and respect should not change based on their context. “We need overarching principles that govern all of the different circumstances and places we find ourselves in,” he said.
Moral relativism can often lead to absurd implications, such as the justification of slavery and the use of racial slurs. Jensen shared that moral relativism comes with dangers, and it is important to rely on universal moral principles to discern absurd conclusions that can appear.
When discussing moral disagreements and perspectives with others, Jensen said that individuals must understand the importance of one’s own beliefs first and clarify if they are based on personal preference or an absolute moral code. He recommends thinking critically about moral issues, striving for a deeper understanding of right and wrong, and using correct terminology in order to discern between moral relativism and moral concepts.
“Playing God”
In medical ethics, the phrase “playing God” may be thrown around when discussing genetic editing, physician-assisted suicide, and egg freezing—practices that can cause fear and uncertainty. In her lecture “Medical Ethics, ‘Playing God,’ and the Illusion of Control,” Assistant Professor Angela Wentz Faulconer (Medical Ethics) shared her belief that this fear can only be overcome by submission to God.
Practicing medical ethics raises questions about how much humans can control and who exactly has the authority to make changes to natural processes. Wentz said that from birth, humans have a natural tendency to want to be in control, and we do to a point: God gave His children agency, the freedom to act for themselves. “He teaches us we should control certain things. He wants us to become more like Him—more able, more powerful. He’s the ultimate agent, the ultimate actor,” she said.
Wentz used the story of the Tower of Babel to remind listeners of the dangers of seeking control and to instead desire God’s will in all actions. To some, submission seems to limit agency, but it is a necessary part of being an agent and gaining trust in God and His guidance.
“Submission allows us to throw off the chains of our anxiety. This isn’t done once, finally, and for all, but again and again,” Wentz said. “Submission does not deprive us of our agency, but instead, it insists that we agents act for ourselves, to make the choice again and again.”
Understanding the World Through Empathy and Discipleship
Can understanding philosophical principles help make you a better disciple of Christ? Associate Professor Katharina Paxman (Early Modern Philosophy) spoke on “Intellectual Empathy and Discipleship in a Pluralistic Society” and shared that engaging in intellectual empathy, or any sort of empathy, is an integral part of discipleship.
The first step in developing empathetic discipleship requires a commitment to understand others; Paxman said, “As children of God, to think of agency, we need to think about how to be active in that process, how to reflect on what we receive, how to cultivate good empathic perception.” She added that individuals can use their agency to show empathy by asking questions and praying for discernment.
The world is a culturally rich, pluralistic society filled with many different people who have various sets of experiences. If the “work of trying to understand this variety of experiences and perspectives” is not done, Paxman explained, then challenges may arise when interacting with others. Social interaction is important to understanding the world and opening others to new perspectives.
To truly understand each other and achieve intellectual empathy, Paxman said to bring together both affective empathy—sharing another’s emotion—with cognitive empathy, which involves intellectually understanding another’s emotions. She said intellectual and emotional empathy is integral to Christ’s disciples, and Christ’s ability to understand and love others should be emulated.
Trusting Ourselves, not AI
Since 2022, the use of artificial intelligence has risen in workplaces, homes, and schools. In his lecture “What a Philosopher Thinks About AI (Artificial Intelligence),” Associate Professor David Jensen (Ethics and Value Theory) explained that AI is a useful tool, but it should not replace human rational thinking and creativity.
AI can be helpful with information retrieval, personal tutoring, and data analysis. “But it can also be a tool that prevents you from learning, growing, and developing,” Jensen said. His personal philosophical concerns with AI have led him to ask questions such as “Is AI smarter than a person? Is it smart at all? Is it thinking? Is it conscious? Is it aware? Is it self-aware? Could it become self-aware, autonomous? Will it destroy us all once it is?”
The reality of using AI is leading to some genuine fears such as job loss. Jensen said safeguards should be put in place to make sure AI can’t do any harm. He argued that AI does not produce knowledge, and the extent of its knowledge is simply generating symbols and facts that it has been trained on. “That may be good enough for various purposes, but it’s not smart, and it’s not intelligence,” he said.
Overall, Jensen shared that AI stunts the development of critical thinking and intellectual virtues. He said God gave His children many physical abilities and gifts: “Don’t let [AI] compromise the development and nurturing of our rational thinking and spiritual self.”