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P.RE > Ethics Natural Law > Flashcards

Ethics Natural Law Flashcards

1
Q

Aristotle

A

Student of Plato
Great Greek Philosopher

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2
Q

Eudamonia

A

Flourishing and living well, the ultimate end that all actions should lead towards

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3
Q

Aristotle idea on ‘Telos’

A

Aristotle believed that human beings ‘TELOS’ was Eudamonia

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4
Q

Aquinas

A

Italian Philosopher/theologian

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5
Q

Key Features of Aquinas’ Natural Law

A

Telos- Purpose
Reason -The world is ordered and rational
Nature- we have a human nature and it is important to do what is ‘natural’
As well as Christian Ideas

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6
Q

Aquinas’ Four Tiers of Law

A

Aquinas has four tiers of law each DEPENDANT ON EACH OTHER

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7
Q

Aquinas’ Four Tiers of Law In order of Importance

A

Eternal Law
Divine Law
Natural Law
Human Law

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8
Q

Eternal Law

A

The Law known in the mind of God
It is God’s Knowledge on what is RIGHT and WRONG.
Moral truths that we at a human level may be unable to fathom

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9
Q

Divine Law

A

The Law revealed by God through the COMMANDS and TEACHINGS through REVELATION such as SCRIPTURE.
E.g Ten Commandments and the Moral teachings of Jesus in the Sermon of the Mount

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10
Q

Natural Law

A

The MORAL THINKING that we are all able to do whether or not we have had the divine revelation of scripture.
Aquinas believed ALL HUMANS have the CAPACITY to work out these MORAL RULES necessary for achieving TELOS

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11
Q

Human Law

A

Law devised by governments and societies
It should be based on what we reason from Natural Law

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12
Q

Aquinas’ Synderesis Rule

A

The main moral rule or precept is we should ‘do good and avoid evil’

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13
Q

Primary Precept

A

Rules that emerge when reflecting on humans telos and the synderesis rule

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14
Q

5 Primary Precepts

A

Preservation of Life
Reproduction
Learn
Live in an Ordered society
To Worship God

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15
Q

Preservation of life

A

We are to preserve life
It is evident that life is important both our own and others

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16
Q

To reproduce

A

To ensure life continues Sexual Reproduction is key

17
Q

To Learn

A

Educating the young as well as humans being intellectual creatures it is natural for them to learn

18
Q

To live In Ordered Society

A

We are social beings and it is good to live in an ordered/structured society to fulfil our purpose

19
Q

To worship God

A

To recognise God as the source of life and to live in a way that pleases him

20
Q

Secondary Precepts

A

The more specific rules humans should obey when following the primary precepts

21
Q

Secondary Precepts Example- Reproduction

A

In the Primary Precept Reproduce
Aborting a baby would breaking both the primary and secondary precept

22
Q

Assessing Natural Law Strengths

A

The primary precepts are mostly agreed upon as desirable goods in human life. Reflection on natural world suggests that these are things that most humans pursue

It offers firm moral Principles

23
Q

Assessing Natural Law Strengths Part 2

A

It is not as absolutist as it may appear with the SECONDARY PERCEPTS providing reason within the CONTEXT AOF A SOCIETY creating FLEXIBILITY

It values life and values rights. It holds that life is intrinsically valuable regardless of the Usefulness

24
Q

Assessing Natural Law Weaknesses

A

Commits the Naturalistic Fallacy - it is GUILTY of OBSERVING what commonly happens in nature the arguing that this is what must happen

NL wrong to assume that there is a universal telos for human beings; Some people may wish to prioritise their career over act of reproduction

25
Q

Assessing Natural Law Weaknesses Part 2

A

Some people argue that there is no ‘Telos’ at all. Existentialist Jean Paul argue that there is no ULTIMATE PURPOSE TO HUMANS as he believes HUMANS EXIST FIRST and then WE can choose what purpose we have

Telos is subjective due to it being supposedly natural. For example if being gay to a person is natural to them then that prevents REPRODUCTION and HETEROSEXUALITY may be unnatural to them.

26
Q

Natural law issues

A

Can be seen as outdated. Society has moved on and more legalistic interpretations particularly HOMOSEXUALITY/CONTRACEPTION which prevent REPRODUCTION, would be outdated in modern society

Aquinas’ view on real and apparent GOODS can be seen as NAIVE. With some HUMANS knowingly commit EVIL ACTIONS, so suggesting that they are SEEKING APPARENT GOODS
is NAIVE

27
Q

Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law -GROTIUS

A

Philosopher Grotius Argues that NL does not require belief in God and that the LAWS themselves are obvious to reason and can be worked out without God

28
Q

Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law -BEST OF Both worlds

A

NL has the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS offer FIXED/CLEAR PRINCIPLES in the PRIMARY PRECEPTS
And FLEXIBILITY in the These PRINCIPLES being APPLIED to DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES with the SECONDARY PRECEPTS

29
Q

Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law - Reason

A

NL has a RELIANCE on REASONING. Treats humans as MATURE PEOPLE who are able to BE RATIONAL and reflect on MORAL PROBLEMS

30
Q

Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law-GROTIUS

A

It can be DIFFICULT to Accept GROTIUS argument
Due to Aquinas’ version of NL one of the PRIMARY PRECEPTS is to WORSHIP GOD

31
Q

Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law- REASON

A

Some Philosophers argue that relying on reason means that the role of scripture is REDUCED
As well as this, it can be argued Augustine teaching that humans are fallen and incapable of reasoning clearly. Counters this Argument

32
Q

Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law- BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

A

It is not clear that both these things can be the case.
There is tension on the idea that NATURAL LAW is ‘universal in its Precepts’-CATECHISM 1956

33
Q

Real Good

A

When an individual use proper reasoning to evaluate the situation which is morally good

34
Q

Apparent good

A

Aquinas belief that when an individual does something that is morally wrong; they are seeking apparent good (their own pleasure)

35
Q

Double Doctrine Effect

A

Aquinas theory: It is ALWAYS WRONG to a BAD ACT for a GOOD OUTCOME

But sometimes it is RIGHT to do a GOOD ACT that may lead to a BAD OUTCOME

36
Q

Double Doctrine Effect Example Good

A

If you fight off an attacker to save your OWN LIFE -(GOOD EFFECT)
But the attacker when pushed away hits his head and Dies (bad effect)
This Ok - Your intention is what is Key

37
Q

Double Doctrine Effect Example Bad

A

If you Kill a pedophile in your neighbourhood (bad act) to stop kids in this area being molested (good outcome)

P.RE (16 decks)

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