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Natural Moral Law Flashcards

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1
Q

Who was Aquinas inspired by

A

Aristotle

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2
Q

Aristotle’s quote on natural law and human law

A

“The natural is that which everywhere is equally valid…that which is natural is unchangeable”

  • while laws may differ from place to place, natural justice is independent and applies to everyone no matter where they live
  • cultural relativism view that personas moral belief should be judged in context with their culture. Morality changes depending on culture
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3
Q

Who was Aristotle

A

Ancient Greek philosopher and scientist

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4
Q

What did Aristotle say about telos and eudaimonia

A

Everything has a purpose (telos) and supreme good is found when purpose is fulfilled
Supreme good for humans is eudaimonia (happiness)
Eudaimonia was the final goal for humans - reached by living life of reason

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5
Q

Who are the stoics

A

Group of Greek philosophers came after Aristotle.

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6
Q

What did the stoics believe

A

Argued universe has purpose which human morality should work in harmony with
Humans have a divine spark within them helps them find out how to live according to Gods will (his nature)

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7
Q

Ciceros description of natural law

A

“True law is right reason in agreement with nature”

We can see evidence of what is good within nature

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8
Q

Who is Thomas aquinas

A

Catholic theologian in 13th century

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9
Q

Aquinas quote from summa theologica on natural law

A

“Law is nothing else than an ordination of reason for common good by God”

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10
Q

What did Aquinas believe faith and reason

A

Faith must be grounded by reason

Humans can use God given reason to make decisions - innate

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11
Q

Define reason

A

The ability to use logic and evidence from nature to prove something to be true

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12
Q

Aquinas and reason - image of God

A

Imago dei
Reflecting God intelligence
Using our reason for us to be guided to the correct way

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13
Q

What is the Natural Law theory

A

Everything has a purpose
Purpose can be known through reason
Given to all by God
Fulfilling the purpose of our deign is the only ‘good’ for humans.

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14
Q

What did Aquinas believe about telos

A

The final cause (telos), was to seek union with God, to attain an afterlife with God and enjoy the beatific vision.

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15
Q

Aquinas quote for final cause

A

“We shall see God as he is”

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16
Q

Compare Difference for Aquinas and Aristotle for eudaimonia

A

Aristotle- happiness

Aquinas - fulfilling God

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17
Q

What are Aquinas 4 types of laws

A

Eternal law
Divine law
NATURAL MORAL LAW
human law

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18
Q

Eternal Law

A

Laws God put into the universe

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19
Q

Divine law

A

Principles of morality from God via scriptures

Christians have advantage enhance application of Natural Law

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20
Q

Natural moral law

A

Gods external law is encoded into nature that humans can understand
Laws humans can understand through application of reason (primary and secondary precepts)

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21
Q

Human laws

A

Laws within society
Formulated by governments
May contradict precepts eg abortion laws

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22
Q

Basis of natural law

Three key points

A

Universal
Unchanging
Relevant to all circumstances

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23
Q

Natural law is relevant to all circumstances

Explain this

A

Natural law is deontological with absolute binding precepts

There is a duty of doing the right thing over the consequences.

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24
Q

Aquinas’ quote on the basic main law

A

“Good is to be done and pursued and evil is to be avoided”

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25
We have these precepts to follow but why would we be motivated to follow them
Our inclinations draw humans like magnets towards the ‘goods’ and ‘highest good’ (perfection)
26
What is the synderesis rule
Good is to be done and evil is avoided | Directs our conscience and if humans apply Gods given reason it will lead to the right actions.
27
Aquinas’ quote on reason
“To disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to condemning the command of God” If you ignore reason - disobeying God Not following what God intended.
28
Universe is purposive | Explain
Things exist to reach their goal Plants do this blindly and animals live off instincts But humans have rational will
29
What is rational will
Using Reason and conscience to flourish on earth
30
What is eudaimonia for Aquinas
Human flourishing on Earth and ultimate happiness through union with God
31
What does Aquinas believe the goal is on earth
Human flourishing | Eudaimonia
32
What does Aquinas believe is our ultimate goal
Ultimate goal is heavenly home and union with God | Earth life is a taste of heavenly happiness
33
List the primary precepts
``` Worship God Ordered society Reproduction Preserve life Educate the young ```
34
What is the importance of the primary precepts
Further help guide us to our telos (end purpose) | Precepts are teleological
35
Natural law is deontological | But primary precepts are teleological
Natural law is concerned with duty Precepts help us to reach our telos - end goal to achieve union with God They are the foundation of moral law
36
Beatific vision
The ultimate and direct self communication of God to humans | Union with God
37
What are humans natural inclination
To live according to our design | Must avoid being enslave by non-natural non rational desires
38
Give an example of a non natural non rational desire
Masturbation Although it feels good it is not due to it not following the precepts as it doesn’t lead to reproduction
39
Aquinas’ quote on the end goal and purpose of humanity
“Ultimate happiness through union with God”
40
What is our purpose | What are we deigned for
Human flourishing and God like perfection | Telos as humanity as a whole is the beatific vision - ultimate direct self communication of God to humanity
41
What are the primary precepts
Absolute rules Never broken for any reason Must always uphold
42
What are the secondary precepts
Derived from primary Rulings about things that we should or shouldn’t do because they uphold or fail to uphold the primary precepts they can be flexible and how they are applied
43
Example of What goes against the primary precept | Preserve life
Murder Abort Suicide
44
Example of What goes against the primary precept | Reproduction
Masturbation Contraception Homosexual sex
45
Example of What goes against the primary precept | Educate children
Wrong for children to not be in school | Wrong to be brought up in single parent families
46
Example of What goes against the primary precept | Ordered society
Wrong to steal - dishonest Wrong to lie - dishonest Wrong adultery
47
Example of What goes against the primary precept | Worship God
Remember sabbath days | No false idols
48
Paul’s quote on humans trying to always do the right thing
“Since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”
49
Have does the creation story link to our sins
Adam and Eve weren’t perfect and made mistake | Fell short of Gods best for them and violated perfect relationship with God and natural order
50
Quote on adultery
“A fornicator seeks a pleasure which involves him in moral guilt” Something they think is good but is not Sex should only take place in marriage with the inclination to reproduce
51
What is a real good
Actions which abide by the precepts
52
What is an apparent good
Something seems to be a good action but in reality goes against the precepts
53
What does Aquinas believe about real and apparent goods
Everyone has ability to know difference between right and wrong but no one would ever knowingly pursue evil People rationalise their choice so that they think they are doing the right think even though they are not.
54
What is sin
Falling short of gods intention for humans
55
Following a real good will result in
Preservation or improvement of self, getting nearer to the ideal human nature that god has planned
56
What are the three theological virtues
Faith Hope Love
57
How do we receive theologian al virtues
Given to humans through Gods Grace
58
Describe the virtue of faith
Belief in God and what is revealed via scripture and the church
59
Describe the virtue of hope
Hope of heaven and beatific vision
60
Describe the virtue of love
Agape Love of God above all things Love of neighbour
61
Quote for theological virtues by catechism
The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity
62
What is a virtue
Something we can practice to achieve real good
63
What are the four cardinal values
Prudence (wisdom) Justice (righteousness) Fortitude (courage) Temperance (self control)
64
Why are cardinal virtues useful
Help flourish on earth | Use practical reason in situations
65
Example of good exterior act but bad interior act
Help an old lady across the road | But to impress someone
66
What is an interior act
Why you did it
67
What is exterior act
What the actual act was
68
What is double effect
Two effects of an action One good and one bad As long as the aim of the moral agent was to uphold primary precepts then accident result that can go against precepts is accepted
69
Quote off POJMAN ethical writer on double effect
“Always wrong to do a bad act intentionally in order to being about good consequences ”
70
Example of doubles effect | Someone attacked you
A mugger attacks you with a nice You defend yourself in fear for ur life by pushing them away You’re life is preserved (intention) The mugger is killed (unintended)
71
What are the four conditions for double effect
Nature Means end Right intention Proportionality
72
What is the nature of the act | Double effect
Mortally good or neutral
73
What is means end in double effect
Can’t do a bad thing to being about a good
74
Right intention meaning for double effect
Intention must be to achieve the good effect | Bad effect must be unintended side effect
75
Proportionality meaning for double effect
Action must be propionate to bad side effect
76
Manualism
Catholic Church attempts to collect as many secondary precepts as possible into manuals as reference Makes it easier to follow natural moral law
77
What is proportionalism
Arose in 1960s in response to conservative Roman Catholic teachings on morality. Works with natural law but rejects the absoluteness. If a greater good is served by ignoring the rules then that’s the best option for the situation
78
What do proportionates disagree with
Aquinas idea of Being allowed to steal but not to lie
79
Quote by Bernard hoose on proportionalism
“Inconsistency and in validity of thinking”
80
Two things proportionalism consider
Intention of moral agent and | the value of the good effect weighed against the disvalue of the bad effect
81
How is proportionalism viewed
More compassionate Deontological moral law should not be ignored unless for unique situation. No acts which are intrinsically evil
82
How does Catholic Church respond to proportionalism
Condemn it as a weak theory States there are intrinsic evils - rape Good consequences do not justify intrinsic evils.

Ethics ALEVEL (5 decks)

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