Christian Foundations Final Exam Flashcards
(43 cards)
Budziszewski
“What we can’t not know.”
Key Moral Principles:
- Same as to rectitude
- Same as to knowledge
There is moral truth; there is common moral ground.
“Right to all. Known to all.”
Moral Principles = Natural Law (not necessarily Christian law)
Three test cases:
- sex (adultery);
- death (murder); and
- God (blasphemy)
Glover
Bioethicist.
No right to life. Personhood is a matter of degree.
Moral principles product of culture.
Singer
Utilitarianism. “Most influential living philosopher.”
Seek pleasure, avoid pain.
Loss of innocence:
- Not kill cow - feels pain
- Kill Baby - doesn’t feel much
Sex:
- Sex with a cow - OK
- Sex with a chicken - not ok
Schaeffer
Anti-humanist. “A Christian Manifesto”
2 Worldviews:
- Humanist - man at center (no knowledge outside man)
- Christian - all knowledge through/from God
Humanists versus Christian on (1) law; (2) man; and (3) God (Schaeffer)
Law:
1. Humanists - “if I win = law”
2. Christian - measure against God
Man:
1. Humanists - man as standard, what we think = right (Darwin = nothing special)
2. Christian - (a) imago dei (Image of God); (b) fall/sinfulness/tendency to sin
God:
1. Humanist - no such thing (abstract concept)
2. Christian - life is His story; infinite, all powerful, outside space/time
According to Schaeffer, society leads to either…
A) Freedom (when Christianity balances society)
B) Form (totalitarianism/French Revolution)
Aquinas (generally)
Italian pre-Reformation Catholic. “Summa Theologica”
- Deprogrammed as a child not to join the Order of Preachers (OOP)
Human law cannot contradict Natural Law or “it is no law at all”
Not “prescribe every virtue, proscribe every vice” [i.e., Prohibition]
Referred to “the Philosopher” meaning Aristotle
“Happiness is the attainment of Perfect Good”
Perfect Good = Happiness = Knowing God
Aquinas’ meaning of “Reason”
Right Judgments Infused by God
Even with the Fall, men can still understand truth through discernment.
Aquinas’ meaning of “Good”
Generally good behavior.
Aquinas’ acquired and infused virtue
Acquired virtue - created through habit of living as good citizen (cause); only helps to direct
Infused virtue - comes from God; lead by faith
Aquinas’ 4 Types of Law
- Eternal Law - God’s picture of everything
- Natural Law - Written on our hearts
- Divine Law - Scripture+ (may include Catholic teachings)
- Human Law
Law to Aquinas
“Ordinance of reason for the common good…”
Measures Actions/Constrains Behavior
Kreeft - on reading the Summa
“Summa of the Summa”
Process of the Summa Theological
- State question/article;
- Raises the 3 strongest opposing arguments;
- Gives own opinion;
- Reply; and
- Answers Objectively
Aquinas’ Eternal Law
“Dictates of God’s reason that rules the universe”
God’s picture of everything
Way God set things up/put in motion
Acquinas’ Natural Law
“Dictates of God’s reason “imprinted” in man’s heart”
Man’s participation in the Eternal Law
3 Tiers:
a) Nature in common with all substances
b) In common with animals; and
c) Only common with God - to know God (only “rational” beings)
Aquinas’ Divine Law
Part of Eternal Law; God made known by “Special Revelation”
- Scripture+ (may include Catholic teachings)
All Divine Law is truth within Natural Law, BUT:
Divine Law is not “all” truth within Natural Law.
Old Part (OT) and New Part (NT)
Aquinas’ Human Law
“Dictates of human reason inducing/forbidding action”
Two ways to get Human Law:
1. Logical Deduction; OR
2. By determination (punishments for crime)
If it contradicts with Natural Law, it is a perversion of law and “it is no law at all”.
Bracton
Judge
Famous for:
1. “The Laws and Customs of England” [Common Law Form/Structure]
2. Modern use of cases
3. Justinian’s Digest - showed Roman influence on common law
4. Lex Rex = Law is above the King (BUT, believed only God could judge the King)
Bracton’s View on Law
Nature of Law:
I. Broad Sense - everything “that may be read”
II. Special Sense - Law is a “rightful warrant, enjoining what is honest, forbidding the contrary.”
Law tied to “justice” AND “right”
Key: Just Law = Just AND Right
- Must look at the “Intent”
Coke (Cook)
Judge
Famous for:
1. Lex Rex - King under the Law (AND Parliament/Courts could judge the King)
2. Drafter of Petition of Rights; Reports (“West” of era)
Decided Calvin v. Smith: Scotsman whose property was taken by a lord.
Coke’s Law of Nature, Characteristics, and Purpose
Law of Nature:
a) faith of subjects due to the King;
b) nature is a part of the law of England;
c) law of nature came before judicial/municipal law; and
d) law of nature is immutable
Characteristics:
1) Immutable
2) Applies to all people
Purpose of Law: Man’s “preservation” and “direction”
Written with the “Finger of God on the hearts of man”
Blackstone’s Views of the Law
Comprehensive Sense -
Confined Sense -
Blackstone’s 4 Types of Law
Law of Nature - Divine Law - (Sola Scriptura) Natural Law - What we "imagine" the law to be Human Law - a) Law of Nations - b) Municipal Laws -
Rice on Law
Two Functions of the Law:
- Constructive Function - guide for enactment of justice laws
- Critical Function - provides basis to criticize an elected law as just of void
