Human Issues NML Flashcards

Question

How could you argue that lying conflicts with the good of truth under NML?

Answer 1

-Lying is also clearly condemned under Natural Moral Law because it opposes the natural good of truth and corrupts moral integrity -The precept to live in an ordered society depends on honesty, and lying introduces disorder and mistrust. -Aquinas states that “a lie is sinful not only because it injures another, but because it is contrary to the virtue of truth -Even well-intentioned lies are considered intrinsically wrong, as they distort the natural purpose of speech, which is to communicate truth -However, NML can sometimes apply the principle of double effect, which may allow withholding the truth (e.g. silence or ambiguity) if the intention is to protect others without actively speaking falsehood. -Overall, the theory maintains that lying, like theft, violates divine law and undermines the rational moral order

Answer 2

-According to Aquinas, moral acts must be in line with reason and the divine order to be good -Theft and lying violate two core primary precepts: living in an ordered society and upholding truth. Stealing undermines justice, trust, and the stability of property rights, while lying directly contradicts the good of truth -Aquinas states that “a lie is sinful not only because it injures another, but because it is contrary to the virtue of truth” -Similarly, theft is condemned because it disrupts harmony and the common good -Under NML, even small or socially accepted forms of dishonesty and theft — such as cheating, tax evasion, or taking what one is not entitled to — are morally wrong because they deviate from the universal order and corrupt human character. This makes NML’s approach both clear and uncompromising.

Answer 3

-critics argue that NML is too rigid and does not account for morally complex cases where lying or stealing may appear justified -For example, lying to save a life — such as hiding a persecuted person from danger — or stealing food to prevent starvation may intuitively seem morally acceptable -From a more situational or consequentialist perspective, like that of Situation Ethics, the most loving action might be to lie or steal in order to protect life -Joseph Fletcher argued that “love is the only norm,” suggesting that breaking traditional moral rules is justified if it serves agape. In these cases, NML’s fixed stance could be seen as morally inadequate or even harmful

Answer 4

-However, Natural Moral Law can still handle such dilemmas through secondary precepts and the principle of double effect -For instance, while the direct intention to lie is always wrong, withholding the full truth (e.g. silence or ambiguity) may be permitted if the aim is to prevent harm without actively speaking falsehood -Similarly, in rare and extreme cases like famine, NML thinkers such as Aquinas allowed that property could become “common” in cases of necessity — suggesting that stealing food to survive might not violate the natural law if ownership no longer truly applies -These exceptions are not loopholes, but applications of reason to uphold the deeper values of life and justice. This shows that NML can offer clarity while still allowing for morally sensitive reasoning — without falling into full moral relativism Extra: The Bible reinforces this moral clarity — Exodus 20:15 and 20:16 clearly command, “You shall not steal” and “You shall not bear false witness,” aligning with Aquinas’ view that these acts violate the natural order. A further strength is that NML can inform stable laws and societal norms — helping communities uphold trust, fairness, and accountability

Answer 5

-According to Aquinas, moral acts must be in line with reason and the divine order to be good -Theft and lying violate two core primary precepts: living in an ordered society and upholding truth. Stealing undermines justice, trust, and the stability of property rights, while lying directly contradicts the good of truth -In Summa Theologica, Aquinas states that “a lie is sinful not only because it injures another, but because it is contrary to the virtue of truth” -Similarly, theft is condemned because it disrupts harmony and the common good. Under NML, even small or socially accepted forms of dishonesty and theft — such as cheating, tax evasion, or taking what one is not entitled to — are morally wrong because they deviate from the universal order and corrupt human character. This makes NML’s approach both clear and uncompromising.

Answer 6

-it is flexibility that weakens Situation Ethics as a moral guide. What one person sees as loving, another may interpret differently — leading to inconsistency and moral confusion -There are no fixed boundaries, and as a result, even harmful or deceptive acts could be justified as “loving. -In contrast, Natural Moral Law offers firm, objective principles grounded in reason and divine law. While it condemns lying and stealing in principle, NML can still respond to exceptional cases using secondary precepts or the principle of double effect -For example, withholding the truth without actively lying may be permissible to prevent harm, and Aquinas acknowledged that in times of extreme need, property might be considered common — allowing for survival without violating moral law. -These are reasoned applications, not loopholes. This balance of clarity and nuance allows NML to remain morally consistent without collapsing into relativism.

Answer 7

-flexibility also exposes a major weakness in Virtue Ethics: it lacks clear moral direction in situations where urgent decisions are neede -While the theory asks what a virtuous person would do, it offers no objective criteria to determine what that looks like in morally complex cases -One person may view stealing to feed a family as generous, another as unjust. As Julia Annas points out, Virtue Ethics struggles “to resolve conflict where virtues seem to clash -In contrast, NML offers a consistent framework: theft and lying are always wrong in themselves, but may be approached through reasoned exceptions such as the principle of double effect or secondary precepts -For instance, remaining silent rather than lying may be acceptable to prevent harm, and Aquinas acknowledged that stealing in cases of survival may not be true theft at all. This shows that NML can still respond to difficult cases without abandoning moral clarity.

Answer 8

-Natural Moral Law (NML), developed by Aquinas, is a deontological theory based on the idea that everything in creation has a God-given purpose (telos), and that moral actions must align with this purpose to be considered good -NML is guided by five primary precepts, including the preservation of life and reproduction, both of which are directly relevant to bioethical issues like embryo research -From an NML perspective, life begins at conception, and embryos have full moral worth -Therefore, practices such as embryonic stem cell research — which involve the creation and destruction of embryos — are morally wrong -Aquinas wrote, “to act against reason is to act against natural law,” and reason, for him, reveals that destroying innocent life contradicts God’s natural order -Regardless of potential medical benefits, the destruction of embryos is considered intrinsically evil because it treats human life as a means to an end

Answer 9

-Cloning is also rejected by Natural Moral Law because it interferes with the natural process of human reproduction -According to NML, reproduction must occur within the sexual union of a man and woman and should be open to the possibility of life. Cloning, particularly reproductive cloning, bypasses this natural process and undermines the purpose of sex and family structure. It also treats human life as a product to be manufactured rather than a gift from God -This violates both the primary precept of reproduction and the principle of living in an ordered society, as it disrupts the natural relationships between parents and children -Biblical support comes from Genesis, which teaches that “God created mankind in his own image,” reinforcing the idea that life is sacred and must not be manipulated

Answer 10

-Aquinas taught that all human beings have a God-given purpose and that moral actions must align with the primary precepts, such as preserving life, reproduction, and worshipping God -Embryo research, which involves the creation and destruction of human embryos, directly violates the precept to preserve innocent life -From the NML perspective, life begins at conception, and destroying embryos — even for medical advancement — is considered a form of killing. Aquinas states that “to act against reason is to act against the natural law,” and using human life as a means to an end violates both reason and human dignity -Similarly, cloning interferes with the natural reproductive process and undermines the telos of the family. It separates procreation from the sexual union of a man and woman, turning life into a product rather than a gift. This makes NML’s condemnation of cloning and embryo research both consistent and rooted in a deeper moral order.

Answer 11

-Critics argue that Natural Moral Law is too rigid and outdated to deal with scientific advances like embryo research or cloning -Supporters of these technologies claim they can save lives, treat disease, and improve human wellbeing — outcomes that may seem morally good under more flexible systems like Situation Ethics. -For example, if using embryos in research led to cures for terminal illnesses, some would argue that this is a loving and compassionate choice -Situation Ethics would judge the morality of the act based on whether it brings about the most loving result -Under this framework, preserving life through embryo research might be justified, even if embryos are destroyed, because the outcome could benefit many.

Answer 12

-it is precisely this outcome-based reasoning that makes Situation Ethics less morally consistent than Natural Moral Law -What one person considers loving, another might find deeply immoral. By contrast, NML upholds the intrinsic value of every human life, regardless of its stage of development -The destruction of embryos cannot be justified by potential benefits, because the act itself is morally wrong. -As Genesis affirms, “God created mankind in His own image” — a teaching that NML uses to argue for the sanctity and dignity of all human life, including embryos. Cloning and embryo research reduce human life to a tool for experimentation, which contradicts both natural reason and divine design. NML provides a fixed framework that avoids emotional or utilitarian justification, offering clearer boundaries for ethical decisions Extra: A further strength is that NML can guide public policy by providing stable ethical standards in the face of rapidly advancing technology

Answer 13

-flexibility also creates a major weakness. Virtue Ethics does not tell us whether embryo research or cloning is right or wrong — it only asks us to act as a virtuous person would -But different people may disagree on what a virtuous person would do, and the theory offers no clear way to resolve such conflicts. Julia Annas acknowledges that “virtue theory does not tell us what to do; it tells us what sort of person to be” -This leaves room for moral confusion in controversial and rapidly evolving areas like reproductive science -By contrast, NML provides objective, consistent rules grounded in divine reason -It clearly condemns the destruction of embryos and the unnatural manipulation of life involved in cloning, helping individuals and societies uphold a coherent moral stance

Answer 14

-Natural Moral Law (NML), developed by Thomas Aquinas, is a deontological theory grounded in the belief that morality is based on a God-given natural order, discoverable through reason. Aquinas argued that every human has a purpose (telos) given by God, and to act morally is to act in accordance with this purpose. Central to NML are the five primary precepts, which include preserving life, living in an ordered society, and worshipping God -When applied to voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide, NML holds a strict position: both are inherently wrong because they directly violate the precept to preserve life. Life is viewed as sacred and not within human authority to end, even if the person consents -Since morality under NML is absolute and unchanging, intentionally ending a life undermines the natural good and disrupts the divine order God has set for human beings.

Answer 15

-From the primary precept to preserve life, Aquinas developed secondary precepts such as “do not kill” and “do not assist in killing,” which directly prohibit euthanasia and assisted suicide -Even if motivated by compassion or the desire to relieve suffering, these acts remain morally impermissible under NML because they involve the deliberate intention to end a life -Aquinas’ doctrine of double effect allows for actions that have both good and bad outcomes, but only if the bad effect is not intended. This might permit giving pain relief that unintentionally shortens life, but it would not allow euthanasia, where death is the goal -Because Natural Moral Law prioritises the sanctity of life and the role of divine law in determining when life begins and ends, it offers no moral justification for voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide under any circumstances

Answer 16

-Aquinas taught that all created things have a God-given telos, or purpose, and moral actions are those that help us fulfil this purpose -For human beings, one of the central aims is to preserve life, which is reflected in the primary precepts -Aquinas stated that “it is unlawful to kill an innocent person,” and any direct action that ends life violates both natural and divine law -Voluntary euthanasia — even when done with consent and out of compassion — involves deliberately ending an innocent life and therefore contradicts the moral law -Similarly, assisting in suicide is also condemned, since the helper participates in an act that denies the value and sanctity of life -The principle is clear: the intentional ending of life is never justified under NML, even if the motive is compassion -This gives the theory an uncompromising and structured stance on both euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Answer 17

-critics argue that Natural Moral Law’s stance is too rigid and fails to account for the realities of extreme human suffering -In 2008, Daniel James, a 23-year-old rugby player, was left paralysed from the chest down after a spinal injury -Despite rehabilitation, he suffered severe psychological trauma and lost all quality of life, eventually seeking assisted suicide in Switzerland with his parents’ support -Under NML, this act would be completely condemned, as it involves the direct termination of innocent life — but critics argue that such a blanket prohibition ignores the emotional, psychological, and existential suffering faced by individuals like James -This is where Situation Ethics presents a challenge to NML’s clarity -Joseph Fletcher believed that “love is the only norm,” and in cases where death ends ongoing pain and restores some dignity, it may be the most loving outcome -Situation Ethics allows for moral judgement based on agape — selfless love — and would consider whether assisted suicide is the most compassionate act in a case like Daniel’s. By contrast, NML may seem cold and impersonal, clinging to abstract rules while real people endure unrelenting distress with no ethical permission to seek release.

Answer 18

-this criticism misunderstands the intention behind Natural Moral Law’s absolute stance -Aquinas does not deny the reality of suffering; rather, he insists that moral actions must always respect the structure and order of creation -NML prioritises life because it is a foundational good upon which all other goods depend -Allowing the intentional ending of life, even in compassionate cases, opens the door to moral relativism, where human dignity is treated as conditional or negotiable -Instead of killing, NML promotes palliative care, the refusal of extraordinary means, and the doctrine of double effect — which permits treatments like strong pain relief, even if they may unintentionally hasten death, as long as the intention is to alleviate suffering -This preserves moral integrity by recognising the complexity of the situation while never directly intending death -The strength of NML is that it offers non-negotiable ethical boundaries: it is not our role to decide when life should end -Pope John Paul II reinforced this in Evangelium Vitae, stating, “euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God… it is murder.” NML’s clarity here protects vulnerable people and upholds the sanctity of life as inviolable

Answer 19

-Virtue Ethics less clear and dependable in public and legal decision-making. While it encourages reflection, it offers no fixed rules about whether voluntary euthanasia is ever morally right or wrong — which can lead to inconsistent or conflicting outcomes. Two virtuous agents may arrive at opposite conclusions and both feel morally justified -In contrast, NML offers a firm and objective standard based on divine law and human purpose. While it may seem strict, its clarity prevents the moral relativism that can arise in virtue-based approaches. Additionally, NML does not ignore the role of compassion — it simply insists that compassion must operate within the limits of reason and law. Supporting palliative care and rejecting intentional killing allows NML to respect human dignity without weakening its commitment to life. In matters involving irreversible consequences like death, this kind of moral certainty is a strength, not a limitation.

Human Issues NML Flashcards

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