Natural Moral Law

Question 1

Natural Law:

What does Aristotle believe about telos?

Answer 1

We are unique in our ability to reason, through this we are flourishing and achieving our telos and reaching eudaimonia

Question 2

Natural Law:

How does Aquinas develop Aristotle’s ideas?

Answer 2

We are uniquely able to reflect on our moral behaviour and to consider good and bad

Question 3

Natural Law:

What is the main moral rule according to Aquinas?

Answer 3

Synderesis rule - ‘do good and avoid evil’

Question 4

Natural Law:

What are the five primary precepts?

Answer 4

1. Preservation of innocent life
2. Reproduction
3. Education
4. Ordered society
5. Worship God

Question 5

Natural Law:

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 5

More specific rules derived from the primary precepts

Question 6

Natural Law:

What is the highest tier of law?

Answer 6

Eternal Law - law as known in the mind of God, His knowledge of what is right and wrong

Question 7

Natural Law:

What tier of law falls below Eternal Law?

Answer 7

Divine Law - laws as revealed by God through revelation

Question 8

Natural Law:

Which tier of Law falls above Human Law?

Answer 8

Natural Law - the moral thinking we are all able to do

Question 9

Natural Law:

What is the lowest tier of law?

Answer 9

Human Law - the customs and practices of societies

Question 10

Natural Law:

How does TA’s original theory differ from modern Catholic interpretations?

Answer 10

TA’s secondary precepts were not fixed and up to interpretation, the Catholic Church has made fixed secondary precepts

Question 11

Natural Law:

How do modern NL thinkers like George and Finnis develop the theory?

Answer 11

Use Aristotles idea of Phronesis (practical reasoning) to suggest that there are certain basic goods of human flourishing; knowledge, play, work and spirituality

Question 12

Natural Law:

Give four points that suggest NL is helpful in moral decision making.

Answer 12

• Absolutist - it gives clear judgement
• There is some flexibility in the secondary precepts
• Leads to belief in certain rights
• Affirms the importance of reason

Question 13

Natural Law:

Give four reasons NL is not a helpful moral decision making tool.

Answer 13

• Basic goods vary across cultures
• Too legalistic and absolute
• Naturalistic fallacy - assuming that something that happens in nature is something that should happen
• Tension between flexibility and clarity in precepts

Question 14

Natural Law:

What does Aquinas say about telos and human nature?

Answer 14

He believes there is a fixed human nature and that we are made in the image of God and have a clear purpose

Question 15

Natural Law:

What is Sartre’s existentialist view of human nature and telos?

Answer 15

• Objects may have a fixed nature, but human beings are fundamentally different
• We come into existence first and then must decide for ourselves what our essence is

Question 16

Natural Law:

What does Aquinas say about the orientation of human beings?

Answer 16

• Synderesis principle suggests that we are directed by something within us to pursue good
• Follows Socrates in suggesting that no one ever deliberately does a wrong action

Question 17

Natural Law:

What do the stoics say about the orientation?

Answer 17

• Zeno - the world is an ordered place, the gods created it and left it within the ‘logos’ or divine reason, this is within all of us and leads us to virtues
• Cicero - the natural law is ‘right reason in accordance with nature’

Question 18

Natural Law:

What is an exterior act?

Answer 18

An action as viewed outside

Question 19

Natural Law:

What is an interior act?

Answer 19

Motive

Question 20

Natural Law:

What does Aquinas say about double effect?

Answer 20

• Intention matters more in the event of two outcomes

Question 21

Natural Law:

What examples does Aquinas use when discussing double effect?

Answer 21

Self-defence - if you killed your attacker there would be two outcomes, you’ve saved yourself and killed someone

Question 22

Natural Law:

Give two strengths of Aquinas’ view on double effect.

Answer 22

• Allows for some flexibility
• absolutists have no answer for where two duties clash

Question 23

Natural Law:

Give two weaknesses on Aquinas’ View on double effect.

Answer 23

• It is difficult to judge whether something is truly intended
• It is difficult to know how far to press the idea