Natural Law

Question 1

What is moral absolutism?

Answer 1

There are unchanging standards by which moral actions should be judged by, and they should not change on the situation.

Question 2

What is legalism?

Answer 2

There should be strict adherence to a moral or religious code.

Question 3

What are the two types of theology?

Answer 3

• natural theology - what we can work out from the world around us
• revealed theology - God head coming down and telling someone something

Question 4

Name an example of natural theology.

Answer 4

• cosmological arguments

Question 5

Name an example of revealed theology.

Answer 5

• Krishna telling Arjuna about avanashramadharma
• Angel Gabriel to Mary
• the 10 commandments

Question 6

Who developed the idea of natural law?

Answer 6

• Thomas Aquinas

Question 7

What influenced Aquinas’ idea of natural law?

Answer 7

• there is nothing in revealed theology that we cannot work out through natural theology.
• there are things in natural theology that have not been revealed through revealed theology
• influenced by Plato’s idea of function.
• we try to do good things (our nature), when we get things wrong, we are malfunctioning, i.e. sinning.
• we need to be free to choose between animalistic reflexes (instinct) and choices (rationality).
• in order to be good, we must observe natural law and decide what the key is.

Question 8

What is Aquinas’ natural law?

Answer 8

• We have an inbuilt want to survive
• We want to do good
• We want to continue the human race
• Educate the young
• Worship God