Aquinas' natural law theory Flashcards
What is purpose?
The reason for which sometging was created or for which it exists
What is reason?
The human ability to think logically and make judgements
What is a precept?
A rule
What is a primary precept?
Fundamental rules which can never be broken and from which primary precepts are drawn
What is a secondary precept?
Rules developed on the basis of primary precepts
What did Aquinas believe to be the human telos which God wanted us to aim at?
To achieve fellowship and unity with God in order to reach the highest human potential
What were the two sources aquinas thought could be used to understand the purpose God had given humanity?
- The Bible and the world
- Reason
How did Aquinas believe that the bible could be used to understand the purpose god had given humanity?
Its considered to be a revelation that reveals something about God
How did Aquinas believe that the world could be used to understand the purpose god had given humanity?
It reveals natural moral law because it was designed by God and therefore shows signs of its creator in its design
How did Aquinas believe that reason could be used to understand the purpose god had given humanity?
Believed strongly in the human ability to gain knowledge of God through reason. Argued that through reason we could know the actions that would fulfil their natural purpose
What did Auqinas have to say about the sanctity of reason?
To disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to condemning the command of God
Why did Aquinas believe God gave us freedom and reason?
- So we could discover and fulfil our natural purpose
- So that we could freely choose to follow natural moral law
What did Aquinas believe each individual person had?
A specific, unique purpose that could be fulfilled by the skills and talents given to them by God
Why had previous theologians, like Augustine, disregarded the use of reason?
They thought that the fall had corrupted mankinds nature and the inherent order in the world to such an extent that humanity could not use reason to know anything about God
Why had many previous theologians rejected the idea that humanity could know anything about the will of God?
They believed humanity had become too corrupted and fallen too far away from the will of God
What is the key precept?
The single moral principle from which everything else is derived; this being that we should aim to do good and avoid doing evil
How did Aquinas form the primary precepts?
He derived them from natural law using a combination of reason, the bible and the world around us
What the five most important primary precepts in the eyes of Aquinas?
- Preserve life
- Reproduce
- Educate children
- Worship God
- Create an orderly, harmonious society
Why did Aquinas believe disobeying the primary precepts was always wrong?
Because he saw them as absolute
How does Vardy describe the secondary precepts?
Unpacking the primary precepts and telling moral agents what they mean and involve for daily decision making
What type of ethical principle to the secondary precepts show?
Legalism; as they see doing the right thing as a case of deciding which rule to apply to a given situation
How did Vardy describe the difference between how the primary and secondary precepts were applied?
Said that Aquinas saw some flexibility in how secondary precepts could be applied. Although primary precepts could never be broken, how they could be applied varied depending on situational factors
What two types of goods did Aquinas distinguish between?
Real and apparent
What are real goods?
Actions that are concerned with natural purposes and are naturally good
What is an apparent good?
Actions that the moral agent thinks are real goods, but they have been mistaken. They have not used their reason properly and have arrived at a conclusion about how to morally act that is wrong and inconsistent with human purposes. Aquinas held that apparent goods were arrived at by mistake, rather than deliberately
Why did Aquinas see life as the supreme good?
Because it is the basis for all other goods
Why did Aquinas see education as important?
Because it enables people to become fully independent adults
Why did Aquinas see reproduction as important?
Because it ensure the continuation of the human race
Why did Aquinas see law and order as important?
Because it ensures that justice is upheld and people are able to act without fear of oppresion
Why did Aquinas see worshipping God as important?
Because God is the creator and sustainer of the world and humanity; worship offers love and fulfilment
Why did Aquinas see human nature as basically good?
Because natural moral law is instilled within everyone. He thought human beings were naturally orientated towards perfection and that they could never knowingly pursue evil
Give a quote from Aquinas summarising his idea that human nature is basically good
‘No evil can be desirable, either by noted appetite or conscious will. It is sought indirectly because it is the consequence of some good
What did Aquinas believe we had to do to distinguish between a real and apparent good?
Correctly apply our God-given reason. We must inform our conscience; ignorance is not an acceptable justification for wrongdoing
How did Aquinas describe acting in a good way for a bad reason?
This would be a good exterior act but a bad exterior act.
How would Aquinas describe someone with the right intentions acting for the wrong end?
This would be a good interior act but a bad exterior act
Why did Aquinas disagree with the idea that physical pleasures could be our final cause?
Because animals can experience them too
How did Aquinas see individual acts?
As intrinsically good or bad
How did Aquinas think we could glorify God?
By acting in accordance with our natural purpose
What did Aquinas think a truly good act must be?
One that has both external and interior ‘goodness’
