Natural Law Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is the difference between Aristotle and Aquinas?
Aristotle = human telos is to reach eudaimonia
Aquinas = telos is to become God like/perfect
What ethical principal was prevelant at the time of Aquinas?
Divine Command Theory - God commands what is right and wrong
What does Aquinas propose?
Nature decides what is right and wrong
God made nature, but it works on its own and propels itself towards its telos
Ethics come not from God, but nature
Aquinas combined Aristotle’s science with the idea of God
Anyone- even atheists- can understand natural law since it is derived from nature
What are the four tiers of law?
Eternal, divine, natural, human
What is the Eternal Law?
The mind of God, beyond human knowledge
Humans can only glimpse reflections of it (scientific knowledge in the natural world)
What is the Divine Law?
The law of God revealed to people by the Bible, Church (but can also be accessed through human reason)
Key examples: Decalogue, Sermon on the Mount
What is the Natural Law?
The moral law of God within human nature
Directs towards good and away from evil- the synderesis principle
What is the Human Law?
The laws of nations
What does Aquinas believe about the requirement of faith in achieving telos?
God made it possible for all humans to achieve their ultimate purpose in life through the power of reason alone- no requirement for faith
BUT, using reason alongside the word of God, it is easier to reach this telos/God-like perfection
Aquinas quote on synderesis?
Good is to be done and pursued and evil avoided
How do we know synderesis?
Our ‘recta ratio’ (right reason)
What does Aquinas believe about evil?
It is never purposeful or deliberate, but it might occur due to ‘real’ and ‘apparent goods’
What is an ‘Apparent Good’?
Appears good, but in reality it does not fulfil telos
E.G.: Having sex inside a marriage, no procreation occurs due to infertility - an apparent goodq
What is a ‘Real Good’?
When reason is used correctly, and telos is fulfilled
What type of theory is Natural Law?
Deontological- since it focuses on the intention, not the outcome
What is a precept?
The laws built into nature, understood through reason
What is the primary precepts?
Always true and applicable to everyone
A reflection of God’s
What are the primary precepts?
P reservation of innocent life
O rdered society
W orship God (not NECESSARY, but helpful/easier to achieve telos)
E ducate the young
R eproduction
What has Aquinas’ Natural Law?
The doctrines of the Catholic Church
Pope Paul VI
the ‘precepts of the natural law’ are ‘absolutely required’
What are the secondary precepts?
The practical human rules that govern our behaviour, derived from the primary precepts
E.G.: Preservation of innocent life -> no euthanasia
What is the doctrine of double effect?
The idea that intentionally good actions with UNINTENDED but FORESEEN negative side effects is still morally good and you are not morally responsible for the bad outcome
Examples of the doctrine of double effect being met
Large dosage of morphine for pain relief, may result in death
Using contraceptive pill to ease painful menstrual cycles or clear painful acne, infertility
Abortion for an ectopic pregnancy
What are some strengths of Aquinas’ Natural Law?
Based on reason - anyone can access it
Focused on search for hapiness and fulfillme t
Unites faith and reason
Primary precepts are an absolute framework - easy to understand and apply
Answers ethical dilemmas on a concrete foundation
Timeless
