natural moral law essay Flashcards
introduction?
- Religious ethical theory putting reason at the centre of moral thought and decisions
- As an absolut theory it focuses on things always being inherently right or wrong
- true law is right religion in agreement with nature (cierce
paragraph set out?
basis + principle of the double effect
Aquinas’ four tiers of law
five primary precepts
basis on nml?
- If you follow the primary precepts and the synderesis rule then your actions should have good intentions and then the outcome doesn’t matter
- Synderesis rule; do good and avoid evil
- telos (purpose) our purpose is to reach eudaimonia (human flourishing, a seed is only a good seed if it progresses into what it is meant to be)
- interior acts, why are u doing this?
- exterior acts, ,what do u do?
❌Pessimistic to assume we don’t have a purpose in life but is it more self entitled to believe that we do have a ‘god given’ purpose
aquinas’ four tiers of law?
- eternal law, God made and controls the universe so they have always been true
- natural law, moral law of God within human nature that makes divine law known
- divine law, the law that God revealed to us in the 10 commandments (reveals God’s eternal law)
- human law, the laws of nations which is derived from natural law (natural moral law basis)
AO2 on four tiers of law?
eternal law
✅The world has purpose,meaning and values
❌Dawkins and Darwin’s state that we observe such a perfect world now because of evolution and in fact the world is faulty, ‘God is the blind watchmaker’
Relies on belief of God (humanists would reject this idea as they dont believe God created the universe)
divine law
❌Commandment of do not kill (abortion/euthanasia?)
human law
❌Too simplistic,humans do not have a simple fixed human nature,NML is naive and limiting to a diverse 21st century
preservation of life?
✅rational, evidence to suggest that nature seeks to reproduce,educate and perform an orderly society
❌far❌ too basic for a complicated,diverse society,is it still relevant for 21st century)
Homosexuality goes against this precept and worshipping God but we can see homosexuality in animals such as lions with both males and femals being observed to interact homosexually (which precepts take priority)
reproduction?
❌Would not support abortion but what about in the instances of rape etc,surely less moral to allow a victim to suffer child birth than it is to reproduce,NML offers no guidance on this
Does Not factor outcomes and can lead to immoral ones eg not allowing contraception led to spread of aids and overpopulation in Africa (zero accountability for the christian church and NML ultimately failed to persevere life)
worship God?
❌Causes NML to not be applicable to atheists,we cant all follow NML making it inaccessible
Following the bible but not all modern issues are covered in the bible?
how is nml saved by the doctrine of the double effect?
- As long as intention is good then it is still a good act ;
- Action must be morally good or neutral
- Bad effect must not be the means by which good effect is achieved
- Good effect must be proportional to the bad effect
Eg giving ill people morphine to help with their pain
proportionalism :if intention to keep alive then okay
scholars against nml?
❌
- Dawkins and Darwin’s state that we observe such a perfect world now because of evolution and in fact the world is faulty, ‘God is the blind watchmaker’
- Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 1 Peter 2:18
- Kai Neilsen ,’theories of natural moral law have deep roots in our culture’ accurately, revealing the main weakness being the narrowness of moral law which doesn’t allow for variation within its believers
- Epicurus ‘through chaos order is seen,’
scholars for nml?
✅
- Supported by aquinas who believed there must be a prime mover creator
- Kierkaggard says “in nature everything is bound by law and hence governed by necessity”
- ‘ true law is right religion in agreement with nature (Cierce)’
