Natural Law Origins Flashcards
The Origins and Influences (14 cards)
Who developed Natural law?
St. Thomas Aquinas
When was Natural law developed?
13th Century
What sort of ethical theory is Natural law?
Absolutist and Deontological, focuses on intentions rather than outcomes.
How is this ethical theory used in the modern day?
The Catholic church uses Aquinas’ Natural law to explain what actions are right for humans.
Who influenced Aquinas?
The ancient philosophy of Aristotle and the Stoics.
Who was Aristotle?
An ancient Greek philosopher.
How did Aristotle influence Aquinas?
He believed everything in the universe had a telos, a final end.
What did Aristotle believe was the telos for humans?
Eudaimonia- happiness through fulfilment and human flourishing.
What did Eudaimonia require for Aristotle?
Humans should lead a full life by participating in society and developing academically as philosophers.
How did the Stoics Philosophy influence Aquinas?
The Stoics viewed the world as an ordered place that was arranged by the gods in the best way possible.
What did the Stoics believe about human rationality?
They believed humans possessed a divine spark that enabled us to reason and understand the universe.
What did the Stoics believe needed to be done to lead a good life.
Accept the natural order of things and live according to nature’s rules.
How did Aquinas use Aristotle in Natural Law?
He developed Aristotle’s idea of Eudaimonia further to be the ultimate telos that can only be acheived after death, with God.
How did Aquinas use the Stoics in Natural Law?
He believed that the ability to see the world as ordered and rational was a gift from the Christian God.
