Theme 2: Aquinas’s Natural Law

Question 1

Background of Natural Law

Answer 1

• stoics (school of philosophy) believe God is everywhere, humans have a divine spark - according to the well of God
• Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) he believed humans are different and superior to other creatures, we have reason
• Work out goals and purpose
• Like every other natural object we have a function/telos

Question 2

Telos Definition

Answer 2

Having a purpose, an objective to achieve something

Question 3

Eudaemonia Definition

Answer 3

Happiness and ideal living, final goal in life
Teleological goal for man was to live a life of a certain kind and use reason to recognise how to behaveff

Question 4

Superior Aims Definition

Answer 4

Important aim to achieve, once completed it becomes a subordinate aim, eudaemonia is the Telos for everything, because it would make me happy, then it become a superior aim
“Eudaemonia is the meaning of purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence” - Aristotle

Question 5

Subordinate Aims Definition

Answer 5

What a superior aim becomes after it’s completed

Question 6

Where did Natural Law Come from?

Answer 6

• Cicero were the first account of natural law appeared
• “True law is the right reason in agreement with nature - it is of universal application. Unchanging and everlasting”
• For Cicero the author of the law was God

Question 7

St Thomas Aquinas (1125 - 1274)

Answer 7

• Natural law is located in human reasoning, applying reason to more problems such as everyone knowing right and wrong and how act deemed good or natural good since they are in line with other true human nature and purpose (telos)
• In doing actions that develop part image to reflect closely as possible to the image of God, however true perfection is only attainable in the afterlife
• “Natural law is the same for all men… There is a single standard of truth and right for everyone… Which is known by everyone”

Question 8

Other Natural Law Quotes: Buckle and St Paul

Answer 8

“Unchanging, normative order that is part of the natural world” - B
“The requirements of the law are written on their hearts” - P

Question 9

Why is Natural Law thought to be Deontological?

Answer 9

According to the deontological approach, it’s possible a action that causes suffering as shown as morally good
E.g. a woman can have an abortion as a result of rape

Question 10

Deontological Definition

Answer 10

Greek fur, obligation or duty, meaning certain criteria of good and bad regardless of consequence or action

Question 11

Why is Natural Law thought to be Absolutist?

Answer 11

It considers all moral norms that apply in all situations at all times

Question 12

Why is Natural Law thought to be Legalistic?

Answer 12

A person must obey a religious law in order to gain eternal life

Question 13

The Four Laws

Answer 13

1) Eternal
2) Divine
3) Natural
4) Human
Aquinas belief perfection wasn’t attainable or natural or alone, other laws which are universal and eternal, in his book, summa theologica Aquinas identifies four types of laws which are interrelated

Question 14

The Four Laws: Eternal Law

Answer 14

• Mostly unknown
• God knows all, we are only able to understand parts as God governs the universe
• refers to principles only God knows
• revealed to us through divine law
• we only know what God has revealed

Question 15

The Four Laws: Divine Law

Answer 15

• known through scripture
• church teach teaching us through scriptures - divine command
• only revealed if you are a believer
• evidence in pivotal figures such as Martin Luther King or Jesus Christ
• “Natural law directs people to their final destiny, divine law, God’s law” - Bowie

Question 16

The Four Laws: Natural Law

Answer 16

• innate law
• human choices-moral law, given by God, built in to human brains
• innate reason to follow the law
• using recent correctly (knowing right or wrong)
• everything achieving a telos

Question 17

The Four Laws: Human Law

Answer 17

• created by humans that we all follow
• recognition to seek common good
• Aquinas thinks of human law as laws, devised from human reasoning and religion
• directed by good, human law is no exception

Question 18

Double Effect

Answer 18

If doing something good results in a morally bad side-affect. it’s ethically acceptable, if the bad effect wasn’t intended (even if you foresaw it)
E.g. in the case, of a ectopic pregnancy the mother’s life can only be saved by removing the fallopian tube, but the baby will die

Question 19

What is the Purpose of Human Beings?

Answer 19

All men want to be happy, but this can only be fulfilled when we fulfil our God-given purpose as humans (only good for humans)
- This purpose will help people understand right and wrong
- Synderisis rule says do good and avoid evil

Question 20

The Synderesis Rule

Answer 20

The right reason or recta ratio by which a person acquires knowledge of basic moral principles innate to see good because “sin is a falling shot of God’s ideals” and seeking what people think is good but it’s actually bad because they are not using proper reason

Question 21

The Primary Precepts (POWER)

Answer 21

Based on do good and avoid evil because God created what is good to achieve our telos of developing into God’s image (Imego dei)
- Aquinas believed humanity was created by God into a purposeful universe than humanity must also have been created with a set of God given end purposes
- “pointed out the path which, if we walk in it, will lead us back into his presence” - Herber J Grant
- Primary precepts act as a universal and permanent set of deontological rules that humanity must follow to achieve their telos

Preservation of life
Order in society
Worshipping the creator
Education
Reproduction of species

Question 22

The Secondary Precepts

Answer 22

Any action breaking a primary precept is evil and thus takes a moral agent away from their telos of becoming more like God and any action that upholds a precept is good
- conscientia (knowledge shared with others) arriving secondary precepts and applying them
- casuistry - primary precepts to secondary precepts
- Universally applying precepts such as preservation of life has rules of do not abort or do not commit suicide
- “do good and avoid evil”

Question 23

Apparent and Real Goods

Answer 23

Humans often fall short of God’s intention because they confuse an apparent and real good using their God -given ability to reason incorrectly. Desires and emotions overrides the rational sense of right and wrong (ability to think virtuously)
Apparent Good - something we think is good but in reality it does not fit the perfect human ideal e.g. drinking alcohol to be social

Question 24

What are Interior and exterior acts?

Answer 24

• check our use of reasoning by considering our interior acts
  ~ they identify our motives
  ~ Aquinas recognise it’s possible to perform a deed (exterior) with the wrong motive (interior) e.g. donating money to receive fame for doing good
  ~ people must have good exterior and interior intentions to glorify God showing real good
  ~ “and when you pray… Pray to your father which is in secret and your father which see secret shower reward you openly”

Question 25

What are virtues?

Answer 25

Good qualities Aquinas said there is a link between happiness and virtuous behaviour and that reason can guide people to develop the right virtues to help us live moral lives and gain access to heaven “And now these three remain faith hope and love with the greatest of these charity love“

Question 26

What is a Theological Virtue?

Answer 26

Aquinas identified three theological virtues which he refers to as the articles of faith to access those scriptures and not reason, for quietness dissipative virtues to define and direct everyone to the perfect path, they are aspirational and that they cannot be fully achieved in this world with their a look of aim to go into the next

Question 27

Theological virtue: faith

Answer 27

* involves the whole person and reflects a total outpouring and defence to the divine * Jesus said much about faith implied people could not be healed without it * with faith, anything is possible * “ Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand“ * Aquinas said faith is a state of mind

Question 28

Theological virtue: hope

Answer 28

* a constant and consistent trust in achieving the beatific version * inspired positive state of being * pure form of desire focused on the highest aim * combination of desire for something and the expectation of receiving it * faith allows Hope to be born

Question 29

Theological virtue: love (charity)

Answer 29

* occupy is one of the most important qualities and Christian should possess it at all times * in the gospel of Jesus teaches people to love their enemy * “love is patient love is kind it does not envy it does not boast” * Saint Paul agreed with Christ that lovers without doubt most important

Question 30

What are cardinal virtues?

Answer 30

Aquinas identified some natural virtues, correct reasoning can be developed through the cultivation of specific natural virtues and they help humans become more God like and therefore the basis of moral life “Knowledge becomes evil if the aim is not virtuous” They work together helping humans to achieve you eudaemonia and if you don’t possess one or a spoiled and you don’t possess any virtues at all

Question 31

Cardinal virtues: prudence

Answer 31

* most important and is practical in common sense * ability to know when to say something and when not to * goes on the basis of intellect * to judge correctly, what is right or wrong

Question 32

Cardinal virtues: justice

Answer 32

* seeks to promote FairPlay, reward good and punish evil * covers law birth, general and individual * justice is relative to circumstance

Question 33

Cardinal virtues: fortitude

Answer 33

* ability to preserve in terms of trial and tribulation hang on when things are tough * do whatever is necessary to achieve good and one’s goal * courage to overcome fear and get through obstacles * “she endured her illness with great fortitude”

Question 34

Cardinal virtue: temperance

Answer 34

* use balance and self-control as a habit allowing person to relax * all men are required to develop the virtue of temperance govern their desires for pleasure by reason

Question 35

What is the golden mean?

Answer 35

Assert what virtues behaviours such as courage falls between two extremes one of access such as recklessness and one such as cowardice, moral behaviour is the mean between two extremes at one end is excessive at the other is deficiency e.g. prudence can either be cluelessness or arrogant

Question 36

The theory of abortion within natural law

Answer 36

Natural law traditionally rejected abortion is contrary to primary precept of the preservation of life. A termination of a pregnancy before 24 weeks, the abortion act of 1967 requires two doctors to agree that the woman’s physical health is under threat or any mental issues that could arise

Question 37

What are Roman Catholic beliefs on abortion?

Answer 37

They believe in the authority of the church and reject all forms of abortion there however accepting in case of rape, incest and safety of the woman. This does raise the whole question of when does life begin some say at the fetus Sunset contraception some say when the brain is active and most religious people believe life is a gift from God as life for every stage has the potential to become a fully actualised human being capable of loving and worship

Question 38

Quotes on abortion

Answer 38

“Do not kill “-10 Commandments “Do you know you are the temple of God and that God spirit dwells it within you”

Question 39

What does Aquinas say on abortion?

Answer 39

* synderesis is do good and avoid evil and aborting a baby is doing evil * abortion breaks a primary precept leading to the second precept of do not abort but these precepts are a guideline to make an ethical judgement

Question 40

How does double affect link to abortion?

Answer 40

allows flexibility if pregnancy is negatively affected the matter then it is not bad or evil termination is not abortion If you have to abort the child with the knowledge, you have to abort the child, but it saves the mother’s life then you were doing good not evil

Question 41

What did the Cardinal virtues think about abortion?

Answer 41

Human qualities that reason suggest helps us to live a more life. Abortion is against fortitude because you need courage to confront unexpected things

Question 42

What do theological virtues think about abortion?

Answer 42

Not doing God’s will therefore cannot fulfil his command “go forth and multiply” therefore no achieving of eternal life

Question 43

What do interior exterior acts think about abortion?

Answer 43

Aquinas natural law theory states even if the interior act/motive for an action is morally right if the exterior/act itself is wrong then the action is wrong

Question 44

Natural on the theory of euthanasia

Answer 44

Greek euthanatos meaning a gentle death a is a death is beneficial for party involved to assert the wish to die based on the suicide act of 1961 by aiding in assisted dying is illegal * quality of life of sacred unholy * if euthanasia was legalised, it would cause a slippery slope not fulfilling telos * ask our purpose or design using Recta ratio in accordance with a reason is the same in acting in a way Christine would * “do good and avoid evil” - synderesis

Question 45

Double effect opinion on euthanasia

Answer 45

If someone commits euthanasia with primary intention of relieving pain, but secondary outcome would be they die a good act but bad consequence

Question 46

What do the theological virtues say about euthanasia?

Answer 46

Faith one is not doing God will and cannot fulfil his commandments “do not kill” you will not achieve eternal life losing hope

Question 47

What did the Cardinal virtues think about euthanasia?

Answer 47

Human qualities that help us live a good moral life voluntary euthanasia would be against virtue fortitude which is a fight and be brave

Question 48

What’s an interior exterior act believe about euthanasia?

Answer 48

Exterior say euthanasia is bad but with the interior act of relieving pain which is good it is apparent good “It would be wrong to end life permanently as it would be to an extent artificially“