Natural Law

Question 1

who created

Answer 1

Aquinas

Question 2

what is its main points

Answer 2

everything has a purpose - mankind made by God with specific design in mind
purpose can be know through reason. once fulfilling the purpose of our design we can discover wha is good for humans

Question 3

efficient and final cause

Answer 3

efficient - how does it happen?
final - what is it for?
all efficient causes is first cause - God
God unmoved mover author of design and purpose in his creation ultimate final cause behind the final cause of things he has created. God can be first efficient cause
to find good look for purpose God had in mind

Question 4

efficient and final cause example of sex

Answer 4

roman catholic church - sex only good when procreation takes places
Accomplishment of end purpose equates to good
final cause must be consistent with Gods design for human beings

Question 5

actuality and potentiality

Answer 5

Actuality - way things are
potentiality - possibility for change and development something has
the more something realises potential and turns actually the better

Question 6

what does Aquinas say about actuality and potentiality

Answer 6

the essence of goodness is to turn the potentiality God has given each human into actuality

Question 7

Knowing the purposes of God

Answer 7

God purposes worked out by revelation and reason

Question 8

Aquinas view of knowing the purposes of God

Answer 8

looks for observable facts about the world that tells us what we ought to do
reasons will confirm the rational truths of scriptures and church teachings

Question 9

what does Aquinas think purpose of humans is

Answer 9

Do good avoid evil
actions can’t be justified by looking at consequences

Question 10

5 primary precepts

Answer 10

1. protect and preserve innocent
2. procreate
3. education
4. live in ordered society
5. worship God

Question 11

what are secondary precepts

Answer 11

make sure primary precepts are kept
considered absolute and universal
rules can’t be broken - absolute laws

Question 12

God

Answer 12

Aquinas believed in life after death - leads us to a different understanding of Gods plan.
God upholds system of natural law

Question 13

concept of law operated at 4 levels

Answer 13

1. eternal law
2. divine law
3. natural law
4. human law

Question 14

Real and apparent goods

Answer 14

god helps us with gift of syneresis conscience work out wrong and right
God given powers
fallible humans don’t always reason correctly
easily reason wrongly by desire not scripture out of ignorance

Question 15

casuistry meaning

Answer 15

name given process of applying natural law principles to specific situations done in logical and consistent way

Question 16

double effect meaning

Answer 16

situations there is an indeed outcome and another significant but unintentional outcome
any negative consequences be proportionate to good achieved by action

Question 17

what rules must be followed

Answer 17

1. nature of act rule - action must be morally good intentionally taking innocent life
2. means end rule - negative effect must not be means which positive effects is achieved
3. right intention rule - must bring good effect only
4. proportionality rule - good achieved must be greater than or equivalent to negative consequences

Question 18

what are the 2 key examples how Roman Catholic uses double effect principle

Answer 18

ectopic pregnancy
palliative care drugs

Question 19

ectopic pregnancy

Answer 19

save life it is granted
traditional surge - removal of body part to save life - morally neutral with good intention
modern laser - directly kills foetus - evil action

Question 20

Palliative care drugs

Answer 20

Roman Catholics prohibits euthanasia
killing patient - breaks nature of act and means end
does allow palliative care drugs even tho they have negative side effect on breathing
as taking to relieve suffering
shorting life is unintended
proportional to reef from suffering

Question 21

critique of double effect - 2

Answer 21

1. some say it becomes form of ultilitarism
2. used to mask difficulties of applying strict principles to complex moral dilemmas

Question 22

strengths - 2

Answer 22

1. natural law appears objective absolute and universal
   possible to judge other ethical decisions by its universal standard
2. Natural law brings faith and reason together

Question 23

Weaknesses - 2

Answer 23

1. human purposes are varied and complex
2. G E Moore - Can’t turn an is into an ought
   can’t make logically necessary ought out of an is always a gap of interpretation. Aquinas makes mistake of turning is into an ought when he claims his observations of natural world prove - certain moral judgements are correct