Natural Law Flashcards
What type of theory is this?
An absolutist theory
The Roman write Cicero De Re Publica described natural law as what?
True law
What is the purpose of human life?
To achieve Eudaimonia
What is Eudaimonia
To live a good or virtuous life, which is achieved by application of the golden mean.
What are God’s four laws?
Eternal law, Divine law, Natural Law and Human Law.
What is Eternal law?
Gods law, unchanging and everlasting.
What is Divine law?
This is scripture, where eternal law is known by humans e.g. the Bible.
What is Natural law?
The Natural order of things, essentially primary precepts, the law God has placed within nature which governs natural living things. ( Natural law is not nature)
What is Human law?
Range of laws that order human life. They are deduced from natural law. Human law is essentially secondary precepts.
What are the 5 primary precepts?
Preserve Life Order Society Worship God Educate the Young Reproduce
*Remember the acronym of POWER
What are secondary precepts?
Human laws in which we make by deducing the 5 primary precepts. E.g. (S.P) Contraception is wrong as it goes against the primary precept of Reproduce.
What happens if two Primary precepts clash?
We can either look at the doctrine double effect or look to Divine law to help with a decision.
Give an example of when two precepts clash
If its along the following lines:
An Ectopic pregnancy. This is when an egg implants itself in the fallopian tube of a woman and the woman must abort to save her life.
The precepts of Reproduce and Preserve Life clash.
What does the doctrine double effect say about choosing between precepts?
Provided the intention is good, a bad side effect may be allowed, provided that your main intention/ effect is good.
What is an Interior (real) action?
Something that is done for the right reason and is done out of self duty.
