Ethics Natural Law Flashcards
Aristotle
Student of Plato
Great Greek Philosopher
Eudamonia
Flourishing and living well, the ultimate end that all actions should lead towards
Aristotle idea on ‘Telos’
Aristotle believed that human beings ‘TELOS’ was Eudamonia
Aquinas
Italian Philosopher/theologian
Key Features of Aquinas’ Natural Law
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
Aquinas’ Four Tiers of Law
Aquinas has four tiers of law each DEPENDANT ON EACH OTHER
Aquinas’ Four Tiers of Law In order of Importance
Eternal Law
Divine Law
Natural Law
Human Law
Eternal Law
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
Divine Law
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
Natural Law
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
Human Law
Law devised by governments and societies
It should be based on what we reason from Natural Law
Aquinas’ Synderesis Rule
The main moral rule or precept is we should ‘do good and avoid evil’
Primary Precept
Rules that emerge when reflecting on humans telos and the synderesis rule
5 Primary Precepts
Preservation of Life
Reproduction
Learn
Live in an Ordered society
To Worship God
Preservation of life
We are to preserve life
It is evident that life is important both our own and others
To reproduce
To ensure life continues Sexual Reproduction is key
To Learn
Educating the young as well as humans being intellectual creatures it is natural for them to learn
To live In Ordered Society
We are social beings and it is good to live in an ordered/structured society to fulfil our purpose
To worship God
To recognise God as the source of life and to live in a way that pleases him
Secondary Precepts
The more specific rules humans should obey when following the primary precepts
Secondary Precepts Example- Reproduction
In the Primary Precept Reproduce
Aborting a baby would breaking both the primary and secondary precept
Assessing Natural Law Strengths
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
Assessing Natural Law Strengths Part 2
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
Assessing Natural Law Weaknesses
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
Assessing Natural Law Weaknesses Part 2
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.
Natural law issues
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
Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law -GROTIUS
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
Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law -BEST OF Both worlds
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
Developing Arguments FOR Natural Law - Reason
NL has a RELIANCE on REASONING. Treats humans as MATURE PEOPLE who are able to BE RATIONAL and reflect on MORAL PROBLEMS
Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law-GROTIUS
It can be DIFFICULT to Accept GROTIUS argument
Due to Aquinas’ version of NL one of the PRIMARY PRECEPTS is to WORSHIP GOD
Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law- REASON
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
Developing Counter-Arguments AGAINST Natural Law- BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
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
Real Good
When an individual use proper reasoning to evaluate the situation which is morally good
Apparent good
Aquinas belief that when an individual does something that is morally wrong; they are seeking apparent good (their own pleasure)
Double Doctrine Effect
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
Double Doctrine Effect Example Good
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
Double Doctrine Effect Example Bad
If you Kill a pedophile in your neighbourhood (bad act) to stop kids in this area being molested (good outcome)
