John Finnis’ Natural Law Development

Question 1

Finnis’ starting point

Answer 1

• Aquinas’ development of natural law was an aspect of God’s eternal law accessed through human, God given, rationality ( humans can reason that the purpose of life is to re- establish a right relationship with God
• finnis accepted the idea that there is a natural justice, that is applicable to all humanity.
• however he argues that natural law’s purpose is to ensure a person is able to live worthwhile live and to ‘flourish’ (to establish what is really good for humankind);

Question 2

What is the syndesis rule?

Answer 2

• do good and avoid evil

Question 3

What are the purpose of the 7 basic goods?

Answer 3

• finnis rejects aquinas’ primary precepts
• he argues that to flourish humans need seven basic, self evident, universal goods, which apply equally to everyone at all times
• these basic goods exist independent of human thought, so we can put them in reality
• they are evident from practical reasoning and not theoretical reasoning

Question 4

What are the 7 basic goods?

Answer 4

• life
• knowledge
• play
• aesthetic experience
• friendship
• practical reasonableness
• religion