2.3 Natural moral law Flashcards
What did Cicero mean when he said “True law is right and reason and in agreement with nature… there will be no different laws in Rome and in Athens or different laws now and in the future but one eternal and unchangeable law that will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is God”?
- Natural moral law can be applied to all time periods
- It is logical and coherent
- Applicable to all different people
- type of divine command theory
What is absolutism?
A version of morality that is revelant to all people all the time
“thou should not steal”- stealing is never excusable even to feed yourself
What is legalism?
Within morality we should base our decisions off of previously established laws
- for christians they would follow the commandments without question
Who was the leading figure of natural moral law?
Not the founder
Thomas Aquinas
What does systematise mean?
There is a defined system in place of moral decisions
What does rational mean?
Based on reason and logic
What is the church doctrine?
Rules of the roman catholic church, supports natural moral law
Who founded natural moral law?
Plato and Aristotle
What are Aristotle’s 4 causes for?
causes for anything to exist
What are Aristotle’s 4 causes?
- Material cause- the substance
- Formal cause- the shape
- Efficient cause- the designer
- final cause- it’s final state (telos)
Why is the final state/ telos the most important cuase for natural moral law?
Shows the purpose for which a thing is created and the purpose of anything they do
What is the purpose of a human?
To flourish and fulfil their Eudaimonia
What is a bible quote showing natural moral law was instilled by God in nature?
Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Romans 2:14-16
What did Aquinas believe people’s telos was?
That humans should strive to achieve God’s goal for them, so they can be a good christian- causing you to flourish
Where did Aquinas believe humans could understand their God given purpose?
- The bible - follow the bible and the consequences will take care of themselves
- Reason- humans need to use our reason to work out an ordered society because if we don’t use reason or logic to provide us with guidance or logic then it won’t be practical
What is the key precept of natural moral law?
Humans should aim to do good and to avoid doing evil
What were Aquinas’ primary precept?
- Preservation- to preserve and protect life
- orderly- to create a harmonious and orderly society
- worship- to worship god
- educate- educate people
- reproduction- to reproduce
How did Peter Vardy describe the secondary precepts?
“unpacking” the primary precepts and telling the moral “agents” what they involve and mean for daily decision making
What are the sceondary precepts for Preservation that the Catholic church might say?
- do not abort
- do not euthanise
- do not kill
What are the sceondary precepts for reproduction that the Catholic chruch might say?
- no condoms
- no IVF
What is proportionalism?
An ethical theory commonly associated with Bernard Hoose. Seen as an attractive middle way between the absolutism and the relativism of situation eithcs.
What is the principle of double effect?
You have a positive intention and you wnat to have a positive action leading to a positive consequence. BUT in some situations the end result is negative
e.g double dosing on morphine. With intention of stopping pain you end up dying- under natural moral law this action is considered good because it had good intentions
What is an apparent good?
When we do something that doesn’t fulfil our purpose and allow us to flourish but something we still believe is good
e.g eating junk food brings happiness and makes us feel good but doesn’t fulfil our God given purpose.
What did John Finnis do?
He attemted to re-vitalise Natural moral law and added a modern spin
Focuses on concrete things that are good and contrasts the previous abstract qualities for good
What are Finnis’ 7 basic human goods?
- life
- knowledge
- friendship
- play
- asthetic experience
- practical reasonableness
- religion
What precept does Euthanasia break?
Preservation of life
what are the different types of euthanasia?
- Active and passive
- voluntary and involuntary
What does deontological mean?
decisions made which are concerned with the actions not the consequences
what does Eudaimonia mean?
to flourish and accomplish your goals, purpose
what are the Cardinal virtues?
- Justics
- prudence- careful
- temperance- balance
- fortitude- mentally strong
What is the end goal when following natural moral law?
Achieveing an eternity with God in heaven
What are the advantages of Natural moral law?
Rational- uses practical reason
objective- rules can be independent and flexible
purpose- the world has meaning
absolute and deontological- allows for a clear cut approach to the rules
Organised- primary precepts make it easy to follow
What are the disadvantages of natural moral law?
Too simplistic- humans do not have a fixed purpose
Can lead to immoral outcomes- not allowing contraception led to spread of aids and overpopulation in Africa
too religious- non religious people can’t follow it
Vague- no clear definition of what is good and what isn’t
Double effect- permits abhorent outcomes if intentions were ‘good’
Too optimistic- assumes everyone has reason, and that everyone is capable of making a ‘good’ decision ( Augustine disagrees due to the fall, and belief that humans are inately flawed)
