Aquinas And Natural Law

Question 1

What are the 5 primary precepts?

Answer 1

Preservation of life
Reproduction
Educating the young
Living in a society
Worshipping God

Question 2

Possible Secondary Precepts for a society for Preservation of life

Answer 2

Do not commit suicide

Do not switch off life-support machines

Question 3

Possible Secondary Precepts for a society for Reproduction

Answer 3

Permit IVF and surrogacy

Contraception is wrong

Question 4

Possible Secondary Precepts for a society for Educating the young

Answer 4

Education is free

Make schooling compulsory

Question 5

Possible Secondary Precepts for a society for living in a society

Answer 5

Build more homes

Encourage community activities

Question 6

Possible Secondary Precepts for a society for Worshipping God

Answer 6

Set one day a week aside for worship

Hold school assemblies

Question 7

Strengths of Natural Law

Answer 7

Because it can be seen as being absolutist, Natural Law provides a firm moral foundation to rules with clear guidance at all times.

Natural Law is flexible enough to accommodate different cultures because the secondary precepts are reasoned by the society, who can interpret the primary precepts in accordance with their time and practices.

It offers a universal moral code because most people believe in preserving life, building a good society, educating the young.

Because this code is based on reason it is open to everyone, religious or not.

Question 8

Weaknesses of Natural Law

Answer 8

Some scholars have claimed that Natural Law is not totally absolutist, however Grotius agrees that Natural Law holds even if there were no God because it can be reasoned along the grain of nature.

Natural Law can be difficult to relate to complex decisions to basic principles. Some philosophers have questioned this, pointing out that consequences matter in terms of human flourishing. Indeed modern philosophers like Peshcke and Gordley believe this theory is teleological and Aquinas himself seems to have agreed. When stating it was right to repay a debt, he acknowledged it would be irrational if that money was owing to be used to wage war you.

Natural Law relies on reason. This implies that human beings are capable of reasoning accurately on complex matters.