2.3 Natural Moral Law

Question 1

Natural Moral Law

Answer 1

A Christian system of ethical thinking developed by St Thomas Aquinas

Question 2

Thomas Aquinas

Answer 2

Thirteenth-century monk who developed natural law theory

Question 3

Absolutism

Answer 3

The type of morality system which has maxims which must always be adhered to regardless of the situation

Question 4

Legalism

Answer 4

A form of ethics which adheres stringently to the rules without flexibility

Question 5

Telos

Answer 5

The Greek term for an end of purpose

Question 6

Proportionalism

Answer 6

A form of natural law theory which stipulates that you can break precepts should you have proportional reason to do so

Question 7

Applications

Answer 7

The way in which ethical theories can be seen to work in practice

Question 8

Primary Precepts

Answer 8

The first set of governing rules within natural law

Question 9

Secondary Precepts

Answer 9

Smaller precepts which can be derived for specific situations within natural law theory

Question 10

Bernard Hoose

Answer 10

Individual who developed proportionalism

Question 11

Precept

Answer 11

A general rule which tells us how to behave

Question 12

Casuistry

Answer 12

Applying principles to individual cases

Question 13

Doctrine of Double Effect

Answer 13

Thomas Aquinas’ belief that the intention and action must be good even if the unintended outcome is negative

Question 14

Aristotle Quote

Answer 14

‘Good has been well described as that at which everything aims’

Question 15

Aquinas Quote 1

Answer 15

‘Man has natural inclination to know the truth about God, and to live in society: in this respect, whatever pertains to this inclination belongs to the natural law’

Question 16

Aquinas Quote 2

Answer 16

‘Our faith is measured by divine truth’

Question 17

Hoose Quote

Answer 17

‘It is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it’

Question 18

Five primary precepts - worked out by using reason and observing the natural world

Answer 18

• Preservation of life
• reproduction/procreation
• education
• an ordered society
• worship of God

Question 19

Applying a primary precept to a secondary one

Answer 19

Primary precept of ‘preservation of life’ is followed by ‘Do not kill’. A follower of natural law theory might also argue assisted suicide is immoral on the grounds that it goes against the same primary precept.

Question 20

Exterior and interior acts definitions - Aquinas makes the distinction

Answer 20

• An interior act is the intention behind the action
• An exterior act is the actual act that is performed
  e.g. I may have the good intention to help a friend in need which leads me to steal money from my parents. Here the interior act is good but the exterior act is not.

Question 21

Real and apparent goods

Answer 21

The function of humans is to use reason. Apparent goods go against secondary and primary precepts e.g. committing adultery is an apparent good: seems like a good idea, people involved feel some happiness but it is not a real good as it goes against primary and secondary precepts.

Question 22

Using reason, Aquinas identifies four main virtues which Aquinas calls cardinal virtues

Answer 22

prudence - judging correctly whether a given course of action is right or wrong
temperence - restraining our desires or passions (e.g. not overindulging in food) but not denying ourselves either
fortitude - having courage and, while not seeking danger unnecessarily, standing up to one’s fears
justice - connected with the idea of rights, giving everyone their due

To keep to natural law, an individual should seek to develop the virtues and eliminate the vices, and this requires practice. The virtues must become habitual.

Question 23

Strengths of natural moral law

Answer 23

• Firmly rooted in reason, which appeals to common sense, and in a vacuum it makes logical sense.
• Proportionalism and other modern amendments make the theory more flexible in application.
• Gives objective moral guidance which is not ambiguous. Meaning it is fairly easy to follow as there are clear rules about what is and isn’t considered moral.
• It appeals cross-culturally, many of the precepts are found across cultures e.g. preservation of life.

Question 24

Weaknesses of natural moral law

Answer 24

• Requires belief in God as it is based on the rules of the Bible. Meaning it would not work for all people.
• Aquinas makes an assumption of purpose and order which is arguably an issue as modern science proves there is a great deal of chaos in the world.
• Can be viewed as being too strict on moral principles where other systems aren’t e.g. situation ethics is more flexible.

Question 25

Hoose and proportionalism

Answer 25

Proportionalism is a modern development of the Natural Moral Law from the scholar Bernard Hoose. He argued we should generally follow the natural moral law until there is a significant reason that would mean it were temporarily fair to set aside these rules. Meaning acts are not inherently or always evil, assuming there is significant or proportional reason to set them aside.