Ethics Natural Law

Question 1

Aristotle

Answer 1

Student of Plato
Great Greek Philosopher

Question 2

Eudamonia

Answer 2

Flourishing and living well, the ultimate end that all actions should lead towards

Question 3

Aristotle idea on ‘Telos’

Answer 3

Aristotle believed that human beings ‘TELOS’ was Eudamonia

Question 4

Aquinas

Answer 4

Italian Philosopher/theologian

Question 5

Key Features of Aquinas’ Natural Law

Answer 5

Telos- Purpose
Reason -The world is ordered and rational
Nature- we have a human nature and it is important to do what is ‘natural’
As well as Christian Ideas

Question 6

Aquinas’ Four Tiers of Law

Answer 6

Aquinas has four tiers of law each DEPENDANT ON EACH OTHER

Question 7

Aquinas’ Four Tiers of Law In order of Importance

Answer 7

Eternal Law
Divine Law
Natural Law
Human Law

Question 8

Eternal Law

Answer 8

The Law known in the mind of God
It is God’s Knowledge on what is RIGHT and WRONG.
Moral truths that we at a human level may be unable to fathom

Question 9

Divine Law

Answer 9

The Law revealed by God through the COMMANDS and TEACHINGS through REVELATION such as SCRIPTURE.
E.g Ten Commandments and the Moral teachings of Jesus in the Sermon of the Mount

Question 10

Natural Law

Answer 10

The MORAL THINKING that we are all able to do whether or not we have had the divine revelation of scripture.
Aquinas believed ALL HUMANS have the CAPACITY to work out these MORAL RULES necessary for achieving TELOS

Question 11

Human Law

Answer 11

Law devised by governments and societies
It should be based on what we reason from Natural Law

Question 12

Aquinas’ Synderesis Rule

Answer 12

The main moral rule or precept is we should ‘do good and avoid evil’

Question 13

Primary Precept

Answer 13

Rules that emerge when reflecting on humans telos and the synderesis rule

Question 14

5 Primary Precepts

Answer 14

Preservation of Life
Reproduction
Learn
Live in an Ordered society
To Worship God

Question 15

Preservation of life

Answer 15

We are to preserve life
It is evident that life is important both our own and others

Question 16

To reproduce

Answer 16

To ensure life continues Sexual Reproduction is key

Question 17

To Learn

Answer 17

Educating the young as well as humans being intellectual creatures it is natural for them to learn

Question 18

To live In Ordered Society

Answer 18

We are social beings and it is good to live in an ordered/structured society to fulfil our purpose

Question 19

To worship God

Answer 19

To recognise God as the source of life and to live in a way that pleases him

Question 20

Secondary Precepts

Answer 20

The more specific rules humans should obey when following the primary precepts

Question 21

Secondary Precepts Example- Reproduction

Answer 21

In the Primary Precept Reproduce
Aborting a baby would breaking both the primary and secondary precept

Question 22

Assessing Natural Law Strengths

Answer 22

The primary precepts are mostly agreed upon as desirable goods in human life. Reflection on natural world suggests that these are things that most humans pursue

It offers firm moral Principles

Question 23

Assessing Natural Law Strengths Part 2

Answer 23

It is not as absolutist as it may appear with the SECONDARY PERCEPTS providing reason within the CONTEXT AOF A SOCIETY creating FLEXIBILITY

It values life and values rights. It holds that life is intrinsically valuable regardless of the Usefulness

Question 24

Assessing Natural Law Weaknesses

Answer 24

Commits the Naturalistic Fallacy - it is GUILTY of OBSERVING what commonly happens in nature the arguing that this is what must happen

NL wrong to assume that there is a universal telos for human beings; Some people may wish to prioritise their career over act of reproduction

Question 25

Assessing Natural Law Weaknesses Part 2

Answer 25

Some people argue that there is no ‘Telos’ at all. Existentialist Jean Paul argue that there is no ULTIMATE PURPOSE TO HUMANS as he believes HUMANS EXIST FIRST and then WE can choose what purpose we have Telos is subjective due to it being supposedly natural. For example if being gay to a person is natural to them then that prevents REPRODUCTION and HETEROSEXUALITY may be unnatural to them.

Question 26

Natural law issues

Answer 26

Can be seen as outdated. Society has moved on and more legalistic interpretations particularly HOMOSEXUALITY/CONTRACEPTION which prevent REPRODUCTION, would be outdated in modern society Aquinas’ view on real and apparent GOODS can be seen as NAIVE. With some HUMANS knowingly commit EVIL ACTIONS, so suggesting that they are SEEKING APPARENT GOODS is NAIVE

Question 27

Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law -GROTIUS

Answer 27

Philosopher Grotius Argues that NL does not require belief in God and that the LAWS themselves are obvious to reason and can be worked out without God

Question 28

Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law -BEST OF Both worlds

Answer 28

NL has the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS offer FIXED/CLEAR PRINCIPLES in the PRIMARY PRECEPTS And FLEXIBILITY in the These PRINCIPLES being APPLIED to DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES with the SECONDARY PRECEPTS

Question 29

Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law - Reason

Answer 29

NL has a RELIANCE on REASONING. Treats humans as MATURE PEOPLE who are able to BE RATIONAL and reflect on MORAL PROBLEMS

Question 30

Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law-GROTIUS

Answer 30

It can be DIFFICULT to Accept GROTIUS argument Due to Aquinas’ version of NL one of the PRIMARY PRECEPTS is to WORSHIP GOD

Question 31

Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law- REASON

Answer 31

Some Philosophers argue that relying on reason means that the role of scripture is REDUCED As well as this, it can be argued Augustine teaching that humans are fallen and incapable of reasoning clearly. Counters this Argument

Question 32

Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law- BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Answer 32

It is not clear that both these things can be the case. There is tension on the idea that NATURAL LAW is ‘universal in its Precepts’-CATECHISM 1956

Question 33

Real Good

Answer 33

When an individual use proper reasoning to evaluate the situation which is morally good

Question 34

Apparent good

Answer 34

Aquinas belief that when an individual does something that is morally wrong; they are seeking apparent good (their own pleasure)

Question 35

Double Doctrine Effect

Answer 35

Aquinas theory: It is ALWAYS WRONG to a BAD ACT for a GOOD OUTCOME But sometimes it is RIGHT to do a GOOD ACT that may lead to a BAD OUTCOME

Question 36

Double Doctrine Effect Example Good

Answer 36

If you fight off an attacker to save your OWN LIFE -(GOOD EFFECT) But the attacker when pushed away hits his head and Dies (bad effect) This Ok - Your intention is what is Key

Question 37

Double Doctrine Effect Example Bad

Answer 37

If you Kill a pedophile in your neighbourhood (bad act) to stop kids in this area being molested (good outcome)