Aquinas' natural law

Question 1

What is Aquinas’ concept of telos in natural law

Answer 1

the purpose/ end goal of human life
- ie. to achieve eudaimonia (flourishing) and union with God

Question 2

What does Aquinas argue we have a human tendency toward

Answer 2

synderesis (good)

Question 3

what are Aquinas’ four tiers of law

Answer 3

1. eternal law
2. divine law
3. natural law
4. human law

Question 4

eternal law

Answer 4

God’s rational plan for creation

Question 5

divine law

Answer 5

revealed in scripture (ie. 10 commandments)

Question 6

natural law

Answer 6

discovered by human reason (ie. primary precepts)

Question 7

human law

Answer 7

derived from natural law (ie. civil laws)

Question 8

what are the primary precepts of natural law

Answer 8

preserve life, reproduce, educate, live in society, worship God,

Question 9

what are the secondary precepts of natural law?

Answer 9

ie. do not murder derive from primary precepts

Question 10

how does Kai Nielson critique natural law

Answer 10

he argues it relies on a “God- based morality” - if God’s existence is unproven, the theory collapses (why should one obey God’s commands?)

Question 11

How does Germain Grisez support Natural law

Answer 11

Grisez modernises it, arguing primary precepts are “basic goods” (ie. knowledge, life) that are self- evident, not dependent on God