1.6 Natural Moral Law

Question 1

What are normative ethics

Answer 1

ethical theories which inform us of how to behave

Question 2

Define telos

Answer 2

end goal/purpose

Question 3

What is the end goal for natural moral law?

Answer 3

eudaimonia

Question 4

What is eudaimonia according to NML

Answer 4

human flourishing and union with God

Question 5

What is absolute morality

Answer 5

fixed

Question 6

What is relative morality

Answer 6

subjective

Question 7

What are teleological ethics?

Answer 7

morality is based on the consequences of actions

Question 8

What are deontological ethics?

Answer 8

there are intrinsically right or wrong actions

Question 9

Who proposed NML?

Answer 9

St Aquinas

Question 10

Who was Aquinas influenced by?

Answer 10

Aristotle

Question 11

What is good according to aristotle?

Answer 11

humans achieving their purpose

Question 12

According to Aquinas where does purpose come from?

Answer 12

the bible and human reason

Question 13

Define synderesis principle

Answer 13

rule that good should be persued and evil should be avoided

Question 14

What are the 4 fold divisions of law?

Answer 14

• eternal
• divine
• natural
• human

Question 15

What are the 5 primary precepts

Answer 15

• preservation
• ordered society
• worship of God
• education
• reproduction

Question 16

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 16

rules stemming from the primary precepts

Question 17

Finish Aquinas’ quote : “NML is god’s order set …

Answer 17

within the parameters of the universe

Question 18

What is the roman catholic church’s version of NML

Answer 18

A more strict and rules based approach

Question 19

What are real goods?

Answer 19

actions which are actually good

Question 20

what are apparent goods?

Answer 20

actions which seem good in the moment e.g. adultery

Question 21

What are interior acts?

Answer 21

intention

Question 22

What are exterior acts?

Answer 22

the act itself

Question 23

What are the 4 cardinal virtues

Answer 23

• prudence
• justice
• courage
• moderation

Question 24

What is the doctrine of double effect

Answer 24

it is always wrong to do a bad action intentionally but you can do a good action even if it will lead to bad consequences

Question 25

What example is used to highlight DoDE?

Answer 25

The doctor and morphine

Question 26

How can people avoid mistakes when applying DoDE?

Answer 26

by following the 4 conditions of DoDE

Question 27

What are the 4 conditions of DoDE?

Answer 27

• nature of the act
• means-end
• right intention
• proportionality

Question 28

Who proposed proportionalism?

Answer 28

Hoose and McCormick

Question 29

What is proportionalism?

Answer 29

Never go against set rules unkless there is a proportionate reason to do so

Question 30

How can proportionalism be used?

Answer 30

Bt weighing up intrinsic evil of an act and balance it out against the consequences

Question 31

One strength of proportionalism

Answer 31

Takes context into account

Question 32

One disadvantage of proportionalism

Answer 32

can justify intrinsically evil acts

Question 33

Finish Aquinas’ quote: “the secondary principles may be changed …

Answer 33

“in some particula cases of rare occurrences”

Question 34

What is manualism?

Answer 34

scholars who wrote manuals on moral theology

Question 35

How did the RCC narrow Aquinas’ NML?

Answer 35

by being more concerned with rules than virtues

Question 36

One strength of NML

Answer 36

set rules which are easy to follow

Question 37

One weakness of NML

Answer 37

too absolute