Natural Moral Law Flashcards
(25 cards)
Natural Moral law
NML is absolutist, christian, normative theory which arguably is both deontological and telelogical and founded by St. Aquinas in “Summa Theologica” which was highly influences by Aristotle.
What is NML?
Includes ethical theories that state there is a natural order in the world that should be followed, natural order is determined by supernatural powers, originated in philosophy of ancient Greeks- (Aristotle) and then developed by Aquinas. Rooted in human nature and in search of our telos ( purpose), happiness and fulfilment. Aquinas said through reason we can discover our telos, having discovered telos we can work out how to achieve it and understanding God’s plan for us built in nature and creation.
Origins of NML
Stoics believed humans had divine spark within them to find out how to live according to the will of God, to love “in accordance with nature”, Humans chose to obey laws that govern universe but need to use reason to understand and obey cosmic laws.
Origin of NML (2)
Aquinas then linked view of cosmic law with Aristotle’s view that people have specific purpose. Aristotle believe everything has a pusepose and its supre good is found when it fulfils its purpose. Eudaimonia is the purpose of humans meaning happiness but also flourishing and thriving. Aquinad uses these ideas to underpin NML, aquinas believed our purpose was not eudimonia but made im imago dei, the supreme good is the development of this image. Fulfiment is drawing closer with god and becoming his likness is true happiness found in afterlife.
Thomas Aquinas 1225-1254
Born in sicily, 13th century italian philosopher, his book summa Theologica defending revelation of the creation of the world, salvation of the world and future od the world, Discovering what kind of place the world is and discover truth through reason.
Aquinas 4 tier law
Eternal = Principle by which God made and controls universe
Divine= God’s will and wisdom is given through Bible and Church
Natural = Moral law built into human nature–> does not depend on reason but used to understand
Human = laws created by humans coming from God
Aquinas’ Basic Moral Law
Synderesis Rule- Good is very first thing understood by practical reason and all rational people will pursue good as it is why we have been designed by God, starting point of NML is synderesis rule- do good and avoid evil. This is innate, god given tendency that all people good and avoid.
Reason identifies 4 cardinal virtues
Prudence: Wise in practical affairs, discreet, careful in providing for the future
Fortitude: Mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty
Temperance: Moderation and self-restraint in action
Justice: quality of righteousness
7 vices.
Stik to NML? Individuals should seek to develop their virtues which requires practise. Virtues become habitual, also identities 7 vices: Pride, avarice, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and sloth.
Purpose of NML- Primary/ secondary Precepts
Aquinas agreed with Aristotle that euadimonia- pursuit of virtuous life is our natural telos. Purpose of NML is to enable people to fulfil their God given telos. An action that takes someone closer to God is right and wrong action takes us further away. Aquinas identitifes 5 things that enable people to fulfil their God given telos: Primary precepts
Primary precepts
- Preservation: most basic and natural good to seek preservation, necessary for all good.
- Reproduction: Once human survived, next obvious natural good is reproduction
- Education: Obligation to nurture and educate humans
4.Ordered society: once educated, learn to live together flourishing society
- Worship God: Society established, humans turn to ultimate source and worship God
Secondary precepts
Acts leading to God depend on it fitting the purpose of humans. Secondary precepts set out so PP can be put into practise. Second PP are rulings about rights/ wrong actions because they uphold PP. e.g. suicide is wrong breaks preservation, contraception breaks reproduction.
How can we know NML? Through revelations
- Through revelations : Paul’s letter to the romans–> asks why Gentiles obey laws from the Torah they’ve never heard, God’s law is written into nature and by-product of creation, God given inability to know right or wrong. God gave 2 laws, torah for the jews and natural law for the Gentiles.
How can we know NML? Through Reason
- Through Reason: a moral life is a life livid according to reason. An immoral life is one lived at odds with reason, reason tells us that ultimate telos of human life is fellowship with God. Aquinas’s assumption is all people seek to worship God as God created universe and moral law, every individual has telos, since moral law comes from God all humans should obey it . Human nature has remained same since creation.
Real and apparent goods
Aquinas assumes human nature is essentially good. If all humans seek good, why do we choose what is bad? Aquinas draws distinction between real and apparent goods: what is actually good and what seems good. Moral error involves choosing apparent good supposing it is really good e.g. Eating junk but not real good-> makes fat and depressed might seem good but aren’t. Real goods are in line with human telos and bring us closer with God.
Doctrine of double effects
Intention matters-> interior acts are about our motivation, an action may have 2 effects or ends and action cannot be bad but good or neutral. Bad effects should not be the means by which the good affect is achieved. Motive focused on good effect. Interior proportionate to exterior, intention to self-preserve ( first pp) not kill.
Proportionalism
Bernard Hoose. We live in a fallen sinful world and suggests the best that humans can strive to achieve is moral compromise not moral perfection. Do best we can knowing our actions are not always right because we will never be perfect e.g. abortion-> seen as always wrong but a proportionalism would allow it in certain circumstances. Not same as situation ethics where most loving excuses actions carried out. It’s more compassionate and flexible than strict application to NML.
Strengths 1-
Ceritanity: Absolutist system so source of clear values and miral certianity
Universal: focus on reason allows it to transcend differences between cultures and focus upon moral ideas shared by many
Purpose: Emphasis upon purpose of humanity give people structure and meaning into their lives
Strength 2-
NML appeals to many people’s instinctive conviction that right and wrong depend on more than just personal opinion and social convention. Ways in which different humans come to same conclusion about human existence of a natural law of morality supports the idea that it’s part of our human nature to recognise this law through both reason and intuition, self evident. Instincts from childhood tell us right from wrong.
Strength 3-
NML not as rigid as it appears since PP aren’t changeable but SP are in certain circumstances and doctrine of double effect- flexible
Weakness 1-
No agreed moral law: world is full of different moralities and no clear and common ethics
Weakness 2-
Kai Neilson: no such thing as essential human nature- “concept of human nature is a rather vague cultural concept and not scientific one”.
Weakness 3-
G.E. Moore: NML depends on definition of good, argues is not analysable and unnatural so it cant be defined by any reference to nature. You cannot derive an ought from an is. Hume’s “is-ought” gap
Weakness 4-
Karl bath- too dependent on reason as reason is corrupt and cannot be trusted and not enough in natural law on God’s grace and revelations
