natural moral law

Question 1

what is NML

Answer 1

innate knowledge within us, like a natural inclination to do moral acts
a natural reasoning we have
what makes people follow the Synderesis principle ( do good and avoid evil)

Question 2

four divisions of law

Answer 2

eternal law - law from gods nature that reflects his orders
divine law - law found in special revelation
nml - discovered through human reason/logic
human law - laws and rules that states or governments make supposedly in support of nml

Question 3

explanation of AQUINAS’ NML: (3)

Answer 3

1. Final goal ( telos) = reach heaven
2. because we follow synderesis principle we are inclined to find truth of God. (made in imago dei)
3. the intention of act must be good or the act doesn’t hold meaning or purpose.

Question 4

St. PAUL : NML BELIEFS

Answer 4

“requirements of the law are written on their hearts.”
- in reference to non religious people, show no matter your belief you still have that natural law

Question 5

Cicero : NML BELIEFS

Answer 5

“True law is right reason in agreement with nature… its everlasting and unchanging and of universal application”
“we cannot be freed of its obligations by senator people”

FROM ‘on the republic’
roman lawyer

Question 6

Aristotle : NML BELIEFS

Answer 6

• Laws of the gov/state werent the same as natural law.
• we are all subject to one natural justice that there is, which in fact may be problematic as its subjective.

Question 7

Stoics : NML Beliefs

Answer 7

• we have a natural ‘divine spark’ within us
• logos= rationality/reasoning, they believed logos governed the world as it was reason free of emotion or human passion.

Question 8

Aquinas : NML Beliefs

Answer 8

• theory is absolutist and deontological
• Believed in God but though blind belief was pointless, must still have rational arguments.

Question 9

5 primary precepts

Answer 9

P - preservation of life
R - reproduction
E - educating the young
W - worshipping God
L - Living harmoniously in society

> God is the efficient cause and brought everything into existence for a purpose which is the final cause

Question 10

Real Good

Answer 10

Good action that aligns with primary precepts also with good intent.

Question 11

Apparent Good

Answer 11

seems good and seems to align with primary precepts but no good intention

Question 12

Doctrine of the double effect

Answer 12

do something with right intent even though the consequences are bad
for e.g: self defence. Right intent is to protect yourself, even though consequence may be injuring another person

Question 13

four conditions within the principle of the double effect

Answer 13

1. nature of the act > action must be morally good
2. means end condition > bad effect must not be way good effect is found
3. right intention > intention must only be to achieve good effect even if it doesnt irl
4. proportionality effect> effect must be equivalent to bad one ( cant go overboard in unnecessary violence even if its self defence)

Question 14

principle of double effect summa theological quotes

Answer 14

“nothing hinders one act from having two effects”
“though proceeding from a good intention, act may be rendered unlawful if it be out of proportion to the end.”