Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Religious Studies: Ethics > 1A: Laws and Precepts as the Basis of Morality > Flashcards

1A: Laws and Precepts as the Basis of Morality Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards
1
Q

Deontological

A

based on following rules or doing one’s duty. suggests acts are inherently right or wrong

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Absolutist

A

true for all time, in all places and in all situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Legalist

A

one must obey relgious laws or rules to gain eternal life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Aquinas’ Natural Law theory?

A

a theory that states everything is created by God for a particular function, and that fulfilling this purpose is the ‘good’ to which everything should aim

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

According to natural law theory, what makes a person moral?

A

fulfilling their essential ‘function’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What have humans been given to discover their essential function?

A

the gift of reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the basic core idea of any theory of Natural Law?

A

it is an ethical theory based on the concept of a final cause/purpose which determines everything’s natural use or goal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the classical background of Natural Law?

A
  • the play antigone (5th century BCE) by Sophocles addresses the idea that a state cannot overrule the immortal laws of the gods
  • the stoics (a school of greek philosophy) spoke of something which they called ‘Logos’. refers to a rational principle which they believed governed both the world and human nature itself
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What Greek philosopher has the biggest classical influence on Aquinas?

A

Aristotle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What 3 ideas did Aquinas agree with Aristotle about?

A
  1. the ability to reason is a key element of human nature
  2. everything in the world has a purpose. however Aquinas believed the purpose was given to things by god
  3. used many of Aristotle’s terms and phrases in writing his own version of the natural law theory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Efficient Cause

A

what brings the object/thing about

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Aquinas’ Efficient Cause

A

the efficient cause of humanity is God who is revealed in scripture as the creator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Material Cause

A

what something is made of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Final Cause

A

purpose/telos for which it was created

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Aquinas’ Final Cause

A

do good and avoid evil to achieve fellowship with God in the beatific vision

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the name of Aquinas’ book?

A

Summa Theologica

17
Q

What is Scholasticism?

A

a method of critical thought used by scholars of medieval universities in europe between about 1100 and 1790. began as an attempt to reconcile Christian theology with classical theology - an attempt to bridge faith and reason

18
Q

What is Natural Theology?

A

knowledge of God based on observation of the empirical world

19
Q

What are Aquinas’ 4 Levels of Law?

A
  1. eternal law
  2. divine law
  3. natural law
  4. human law
20
Q

Eternal Law

A

the principles that lie behind the universe based on God’s creation. only God can fully understand these. it is eternal because it is always true and never changes.
- most authoritative
- absolute

21
Q

Divine Law

A

God chooses to reveal parts of eternal law through sacred texts and teachings of the church
- found in bible
- bible
- absolute

22
Q

Natural Law

A

humans are able to use their god given gift of reason to work out elements of eternal law
- aims to achieve highest good, rational understanding of God’s final purpose

23
Q

Human Law

A

forms the legal system of our societies.
- relative
- subject to laws above

24
Q

What did Aquinas believe about human nature?

A

there is an ‘ideal’ human nature which all humans can potentially achieve. he did not believe people deliberately chose to be evil. all people can know what is right/wrong using their ability to reason

25
Q

What did Aquinas believe was humankind’s ultimate purpose in life?

A

to re-establish a ‘right’ relationship with God and by doing so gain eternal life with God in heaven

26
Q

What ‘gift’ did God give humankind to help achieve this ultimate purpose?

A

reason. “the moral life is the life according to reason”. our reason should help up make the correct moral decisions in order to establish the ‘right’ relationship with God

27
Q

How does God’s gift of reason link to the primary precepts?

A

the primary precepts are derived from rational thought and are based on the premise of ‘doing good and avoiding evil’

28
Q

What are the five primary precepts?

A

Preserve innocent life
Ordered society
Worship God
Educate
Reproduce

29
Q

What are the secondary precepts?

A

rulings about things we should or shouldn’t do because they either uphold or fail to uphold any of the primary precepts. (example: rulings such as “do not murder” or “do not commit suicide” would all seem to uphold the primary precept “preserve innocent life”

30
Q

Why are secondary precepts not absolutist?

A

they have to be interpreted in the context of the situation, and they may have to be broken in extreme cases. (example: primary precept of “ordered society” suggest it’s wrong to steal. however if someone has a gun and intends to kill people with it, it would be considered rational to steal a gun to fulfill living in an ordered society)

31
Q

What secondary precept could follow the primary precept of preserving human life?

A
  • don’t euthanise someone who isn’t sick
  • don’t commit suicide
  • don’t commit murder
  • don’t abort
32
Q

What secondary precept could follow the primary precept of ordered society?

A

uphold rule of law

33
Q

What secondary precept could follow the primary precept of worshipping God?

A
  • go to church
  • confess your sins
  • follow 10 commandments
34
Q

What secondary precept could follow the primary precept of educating?

A
  • educate others
  • be prepared to listen and learn
35
Q

What secondary precept could follow the primary precept of reproducing?

A

do not use contraception

36
Q

What is the syndresis rule?

A

do good and avoid evil

Religious Studies: Ethics (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions