Natural Law Flashcards
(22 cards)
What are Aquinas’s 4 levels of law, in order, and how are they realised
Eternal Law-inviolable laws of nature
Divine Law-Innnerrant-revealed via special revelation from god
Natural Law-Using human reasoning to work out right and wrong
Human Law-Civil, subjective law that evolves w the community
What is the beatific vision
A future of a “right relationship” with god
What two parts does aquinas say consciousness is made of
Synderesis-Habit of intellect that leads to them following the first moral principles, and acting in accordance with their purpose
Conscientia-Ability to make correct moral judgements
Humans use conscience to decide what is good, then intellect or synderesis to establish how to achieve that good
What does imago dei mean
In the image of god-Humans
Is natural law deontological or teleological
Both-In natural law, acts have values in and of themselves, lending it to more deontological thinking, and is absolutist-however, natural law revolves around purpose, annd acts can be judged in how closely they achieve the beatific vision-however, it is not consequentialist
What does Aquinas call the idea that humans tend to want to do good and avoid evil
Synderesis Rule
What are the 5 primary precepts
1-Self preservation/preservation of life
2.Reproduction through sexual intercourse
3.Education
4.Worshipping God
5.Living peacefully in a stable society
4 and 5 are specific to humans
What are the secondary precepts
They are general rules that help people follow the primary precepts-they are shifting and can be changed, or violated, unlike the primary precepts e.g. laws on murder help preserve life and keep a stable society
What is Aquinas’ book
Summa Theologica
What are Aquinas’ three revealed virtues
Faith-believe in god despite no evidence
Hope-moving towards the beatific vision
Love-Love or charity-selfless caring
What are Aquinas’ cardinal virtues and where did he get them from
Prudence-reasoning
Justice-fairness
Fortitude-Courage
Temperance-moderation
Aristotle, although they predate him
What are internal and external acts
Internal-The intention behind an act
External-The act itself
Why are the cardinal virtues important
They are essential for right reasoning and to avoid actions contaminated by sin
In nattural law, does the ends justify the means
Never-an evil act done for the right reason, can never be justified
What is required for an act to be good, in relation to internal and external acts
External act has to be correct-The right thing for the wrong reason e.g. donating to charity to brag, is still wrong
Internal act has to be correct-Murder or stealing done for the right reason is still bad-with one key exception
What is the doctrine of double effect
Double effect is a principle that allows certain acts normally impermissible if the intention behind the act is good, it is proportional in response, and produces an act thhat is good; if a negative act is also produced, it can be superceded by the good.
E.g. killing someone in self defence violates preservation of life, but preserves your life and contributes to a stable society, so is permissible
What are real and apparent goods
Real good-an act that allows an individual to fulfil Gods created purpose for them
Apparent good-Acts we think are good, but are not-Aquinas attributes much of moral evil to people trying to do the right thing but in the wrong way
What are the reasons Natural law will allow abortion
Double effect-save the mothers life e.g. ectopic pregnancy, even if it sacrifices the baby
Aquinas himself argues ensoulment happens at 40 days from conception-why in the bible hitting annd causing a miscarriage is only murder if the foetus is animated(ennsouled)
Aristotle-coopted by aquinas- argues a foetus has a nutritive, then a sensitive soul-so is not fully human at conception
What are the reasons Natural law wont allow abortion
Catholic church teaches life begins at conception-so it is murder
Embro is human material-made in the image of god
Abortion may be an apparent good-may appear to make someones life better but at the cost of contravening a primary precept.
Abortion may not be a proportionate response to the consequences of no abortion.
not consequentialist-actions can be evil
What are the reasons Natural law will allow euthanasia
Aquinas justifies killing certain circumstances e.g. self defence or capital punishment
Catholic church-people have the right to the minimum amount of pain
In medieval times, someone too ill to eat would die-nowadays, they can be kept alive indefinitely-cruel and inhumane
Omission may not be responsibility-Doctors witholding treatment may not be killing
Double effect-High painkillers close to death may be justified, but killing someone who may live longer may not under DE
What are the reasons Natural law wont allow euthanasia
Suicide goes against nature and charity, as well as community
Humans made in image of god-only he can end lives
Preservation of life is a inviolable primary precept
Apparent good-murder for compassionnate reasons-is still wrong
Double effect-murder is wrong, and it is not proportionate
Nigel Cox convicted of killing Lillian Boyes-even though she begged him to do so-courts reflect this
