Avant-propos - Studia Moralia

THE BASIC GOODS THEORY AND REVISIONISM 199
will), revisionism would deny this moral order and, consequently,
this intrinsic relationship. It is on the basis of this moral order
that the BGT posits specific natural law norms that belong
to the secondary object of infallibility that have been taught by
the ordinary universal magisterium. Though GRISEZ and BOYLE
claim that they are confident that their position on the objective/subjective
distinction, as well as other distinctions, “consistently
develop[s] Catholic tradition,” 87 their assertion is certainly
debatable. 88
The second methodological difference is in how each theory
defines and classifies a norm. Determining whether or not a specific
natural law norm has been taught infallibly by the ordinary
universal magisterium depends, in large part, on this definition.
89 Many revisionists recognize three types of moral norms,
material, formal, and synthetic. Material norms are premoral,
non-absolute norms that indicate certain premoral disvalues (or
values) that tend to have a negative (or positive) impact on human
well-being, and pertain to rightness and wrongness. Formal
norms are moral, absolute norms that indicate a morally good
or bad character, motive, or disposition and pertain to moral
goodness (i.e., truths of salvation) or badness. Synthetic norms
are moral absolutes that describe an act (killing) the motive
(malevolence) and circumstances (unjustified) such as do not
murder.
The BGT recognizes revisionism’s distinction between various
types of norms (material and formal), but proposes another
type of specific moral norm. “The description of the act goes beyond
mere behavior [material norm], yet does not go so far as to
build in the moral determinant [formal or synthetic norm].”
Such norms can be absolute norms if they are “formulated with
respect to the moral act, which includes the wrongful choice.” 90
87
GRISEZ and BOYLE, “Response to Our Critics and Our Collaborators”
231.
88 See for example, MAHONEY, Making of Moral Theology ch. 5.
89 See my “The Basic Goods Theory and Revisionism: A Methodological
Comparison on the Use of Reason and Experience as Sources of Moral
Knowledge.”
90
GRISEZ, Christian Moral Principles 257.