Topic #5: Natural Law Ethics Flashcards
St. Thomas’ Christian Ethics
For Aquinas, he follows Nichomachean Ethics, that is, to live a life of activity expressing reason well. He also believed that man is created by God with intellect and will thus in order to achieve Eudaimonia one must be inclined to the will of God.
Hierarchy of Beings according to Aquinas
God (Source of Existence)
Angels (Non-corporeal beings)
Humans (Corporeal)
Animals (Non-rational beings)
Plants (Organic Life)
Why is the human species a higher being?
- because of rational capabilities
- intellect and judgement
Operation of the Intellect
Used to comprehend the truth about everything in the world
Operation of the Will
Used to respond to Judgements, disposes us to the objects of our desire and moves us to act.
These are the results of a natural deliberate will
Human actions
The Natural Law
God’s imprint on the whole nature and the principles of its proper action
The Eternal Law
God’s wisdom that directs the movements and actions of his creatures in their appropriate ways towards their proper end.
The Moral Law
Do good and avoid evil
This is the innate disposition of the human mind by virtue of which we are able to grasp the first principle of the natural law without the need for inquiry
Syndresis
This is the natural tendency of man to apply such principle to concrete life situation
Conscience
The Three Moral Obligations that dictate conscience
Self-Preservation
Procreation
Just-dealings with others
It is the moral obligation to cherish life
Self-preservation
It is the moral obligation to propagate species in the context of marriage
Procreation
It is the moral obligation to live in peace with others
Just Dealings with others
