1. Natural Law

Question 1

Aquinas - dates

Answer 1

1225-74

Question 2

Telos definition

Answer 2

purpose
* Aristole said somethings good if it achieved this - aim for eudiamonia.
* God should be ultimate end of human life.

Question 3

Aristole - key beliefs

Answer 3

• thought moral acts come from free raional beings - have to be free to make genuine decisons and use reason.
• God should be ultimate end of human lide.
• Thought people need help from God in order to direct motives and actions, to ensure the right thing is done for the right reasons.

Question 4

4 tiers of law

Answer 4

1. Eternal - God’s reason
2. Divine - Commandments, bible
3. Natural - Reason
4. Human - Law’s

Question 5

Primary precepts

Answer 5

1. Preserve innocent life
2. Orderly society
3. Worship God
4. Educate
5. Reproduction

Question 6

Secondary precepts

Answer 6

Derived from primary and illustrate practical application.
e.g. preserve life = no murder or abortion.

Question 7

Real goods

Answer 7

In accordance to primary precepts and help further human florishment + Gods wishes for humanity.

Question 8

Apparent goods

Answer 8

Things/actions which tempt up because they seem enjoyable but don’t further human florishment aim.

Question 9

Natural/cardinal values =

Answer 9

prudence, temperanc, fortitude, justice.
In bible = faith, hope, love

Question 10

Doctrine of double effect

Answer 10

Aquinas believed a single action had two effects.
that if doing something morally good has a morally bad side-effect, it’s ethically OK to do it providing the bad side-effect wasn’t intended
e.g. euthanasia = intention to relieve pain

Question 11

Strengths

Answer 11

• application varries widely - allows for considerations of different circumstances.
• offers clarity + consistancy in answers.
• way of viewing world = absolute, applies to all times and cultures = universal - appealing.
• Combines religion with reason - allows exercise of autonomy.
• Arguanly easy to conclude - clear cut rules, can’t argue both sides.

Question 12

Weaknesses

Answer 12

• Varies widely - not always a clear option.
• Aquinas’ version = presopposes belief in God, not everyone has.
• Understanding of what is vs isn’t natural isnt always accurate e.g. homosexuality.
• World has widely changed since Aquinas’ time, some application sare innappropriate for modern day e.g. contraception.