RE: Natural Law

Question 1

Natural law origins

Answer 1

Aquinas (13th century monk) developed the deontological ethical theory of Natural Law, influenced by Aristotle

Question 2

Tiers of law

Answer 2

Eternal law - God’s plan, built into the nature of everything
Divine law - God’s revelation to humans in the Bible
Natural law - Moral law God created in humans, discoverable by human nature
Human law - Laws humans make based on natural and divine law

Question 3

What is natural law

Answer 3

• Absolutist, deontological theory
• What is good is what is natural, and what is natural is what God intends
• Attain eternal life with God by following natural law

Question 4

What are the primary precepts

Answer 4

Fixed, unchanging, universal and absolute goals to follow that are self evident in natural law, to achieve God-given telos

• To reproduce (holistically not individual)
• To preserve life and health
• To worship God (can be overlooked to allow non Xns to still value and follow other precepts)
• To educate offspring (about God)
• To live in an ordered society

Question 5

How did Aristotle influence Aquinas

Answer 5

• Aristotles four causes (material, formal, efficient, final) especially telos of humans (eudaimonia- flourishing) which can be attained by a following natural law as humans are the only rational beings influenced Aquinas
• Aquinas used Christian doctrine and Aristotles theories to argue that humans telos was flourishing AND attaining eternal life with God, which occurs through following natural law

Question 6

What are secondary precepts

Answer 6

Principles extrapolated from primary precepts (fulfilling them but also more relative), described as human law which can adjust to time and situation