The Thory Of Natural Law Flashcards
(29 cards)
What idea is natural law based on?
There is a natural order to the universe which God designed. If we follow this we will always be fulfilling our purpose, to reflect God.
What did Aristotle reason?
That everything has a natural purpose
For Aristotle, what makes something good?
When something fulfils its purpose, e.g, if a knife cuts well, then it is a good knife.
How do we find out somethings purpose, according to Aristotle?
By observing it. We can observer the purpose of objects and observe the purpose of humans .
What is our natural purpose, which can be observed- Aristotle
Humans feel fulfilled when they contribute to society
Eudaimonia
A sense of fulfilment and flourishing, this occurs when we fulfill what we were created to do
Why, for Aquinas, would reason and the Bible create the same result?
Because they were both created by God.
Saint Paul
Everyone has God’s laws written in their hearts, even gentiles
For Aquinas, what is our purpose and what will we achieve by fulfilling it?
To reflect the image of God. If we do so, we will achieve perfection in heaven
What is eudiamonia for Aquinas?
When we are finally united with God in heaven
Why is Aquinas’ Eudiamonia different to Aristotle’s?
Because for Aquinas, our purpose isn’t fulfilled on earth, but in the after life
Why is following what is natural ‘good’
Because God designed our human nature so it must be good. We will be content I’d we behave as good intended us to.
What did Aquinas uncover after observing human beings?
The primary Precepts
Name the primary precepts (WORLD)
Worship Ordered society (live harmoniously) Reproduce Learn Don’t Die (preserve life)
How do we decide how to carry out the primary precepts?
By using our God given ratio
What are secondary precepts?
Rules that can be inferred by using the primary precepts
Examples of what would be secondary precepts, due to the primary precepts
The use of contraception is wrong, murder is wrong, homosexuality is wrong
Why would marriage be right
Because it leads to reproduction and an ordered society
What is the pursuit of doing good and avoiding evil known as?
Synderesis, our natural inclination to do good
What mistakes do we make when we reason incorrectly?
We carry out ‘apparent goods’
An example of fulfilling an apparent good?
A man who believed he was in love with another woman had an affaire and wrongly reasoned that this was good. If he had reasoned correctly then he would’ve realised that this was not a good natural way to act
What is fulfilling a good action which has a bad consequence known as?
The doctrine of the double effect
An example of the double effect in practice
Performing a hysterectomy on a pregnant tooth woman will save her life, but will result in the death of the foetus
Eternal law
Beyond human comprehension, they govern the universe but we can only understand them in part
