Natural Law

Question 1

what kind of theory is natural law?

Answer 1

deontological but has teleological aspects too as it seeks to achieve an end. natural law is seen as moral absolutism

Question 2

how did aquinas build on Aristotle’s theory?

Answer 2

aquinas developed saying that the universe has a natural order to it, but unlike Aristotle believed the ultimate goal was to unite with god in heaven

Question 3

what are the 4 levels of law?

Answer 3

eternal law- gods ultimate law
divine law- law revealed through scriptures
natural law
human law

Question 4

what are the 5 primary precepts?

Answer 4

1. preserve innocent life
2. live in an ordered society
3. worship god
4. education
5. reproduce

Question 5

what do the primary precepts set out?

Answer 5

how humans can do good and avoid evil through actions that are in line with our natural purpose

Question 6

what are secondary precepts ?

Answer 6

these are deduced from the primary principles using reason e.g “do not steal” from live in an ordered society

Question 7

what’s the difference in exceptions between primary and secondary precepts?

Answer 7

primary precepts are exceptionalness whereas secondary are not

Question 8

what is the synderesis principle?

Answer 8

to do good and avoid evil, which aquinas calls a natural habit
synderesis can be another word for conscience

Question 9

what did Aquinas believe about evil?

Answer 9

he believed that humans couldn’t deliberately do evil

Question 10

what are real goods?

Answer 10

something good according to natural law

Question 11

what is an apparent good?

Answer 11

it is a mistake and it diminishes a persons human nature, you wanted to do good but ended up not doing so

Question 12

what is an internal act?

Answer 12

the intention of an act

Question 13

what is an external act?

Answer 13

the act itself

Question 14

what is an example of internal and external acts?

Answer 14

you may give to charity a good external act, but do it for the wrong reasons like for praise

Question 15

what would natural law say on contraception?

Answer 15

it goes against the precept of reproduction which is the view the Roman Catholic Church holds, but it leads to STDs and consequence of overpopulation

Question 16

what are some of the strengths of natural law?

Answer 16

• it combines faith and reason- uses practical reason to reach a common sense approach
• It gives absolute rules
• it allows autonomy- gives the individual reason to work out what is right and true

Question 17

what of some of the weaknesses of natural law?

Answer 17

• it does require a belief in god as its the ultimate goal
• it can lead to immoral outcomes e.g not allowing contraception
• its out of date in modern society enforcing traditional views
• it doesn’t consider consequences

Question 18

what arguments does natural law oppose euthanasia?

Answer 18

it breaks the preservation of life precept and many use the sanctity of life argument, as only god can choose when to take a life
the argument of if euthanasia was legalised it would to slippery slope and break the ordered society

Question 19

what are the arguments that support euthanasia?

Answer 19

a prolonged painful death may have an impact on close friends and family
in spain they offer patients large doses of morphine to ease the paid and eventually leads to death, this is in line with the doctrine of double effect

Question 20

what is the doctrine of double effect?

Answer 20

doing something morally good with a bad side effect

Question 21

what does natural law think of abortion?

Answer 21

natural law has no clear direction on abortion however the Roman Catholic church rejects all forms of abortion

Question 22

what are the arguments against abortion in natural law?

Answer 22

the concern is at what point does human life acquire the such value as to make abortion an injustice, the church teaches it beings at conception and would break the precepts of life and reproduction. and would break the sanctity of life argument

Question 23

what are the arguments for defending abortion?

Answer 23

• if the woman’s life was in danger It would also break the preserve life precept
• what about the woman’s right to choose as kainz argues if a woman doesn’s choose to be pregnant (in cases of rape) then there should be an acceptation
• it should be the woman’s choice as it is her body
• the Catholic church has got exceptions for rape and incest

Question 24

what is the sanctity of life?

Answer 24

the idea that life is scared or holy and given by god and so can only be taken by god

Question 25

what idea did Aquinas believe of instinct?

Answer 25

that we know the basic goods through our instinct and reason allows use to derive law

Question 26

what is David Humes challenge to natural law

Answer 26

the is/ought problem- just because something is certain way doesn’t mean it should and natural law is based of the idea of looking at the world around to decide. e.g reproduction isn’t always good, in cases of rape

Question 27

What is reason and revelation?

Answer 27

The belief that natural law is located in human reasoning , revelation of divine law in the bible by god

Question 28

What was the connection between eternal and natural law?

Answer 28

Aquinas believed that they were apart of one another as natural law was created by god

Question 29

What are the 4 cardinal virtues?

Answer 29

• prudence
• temperance
• fortitude
• Justice

Question 30

what are the 3 revealed virtues? which one is the greatest?

Answer 30

faith, hope, love.

love being the most important