Ethics-Natural Moral Law

Question 1

Agent

Answer 1

The moral agent - The person involved with making an ethical decision

Question 2

Beatific vision

Answer 2

The ultimate , direct , self-communication of God to humanity

Question 3

Canon law

Answer 3

Ecclesiastical (Church ) law . In the Catholic tradition , especially given by the Pope

Question 4

Casuistry

Answer 4

From Latin ‘casus’ meaning case, so case law. The Catholic manuals are compilations of casuistry

Question 5

Consequentialism

Answer 5

The approach to ethics in which the rightness or wrongness of an act is judged by the consequences

Question 6

Cultural relativism

Answer 6

The view that a person’s moral beliefs should be judged in the context of their own culture

Question 7

Deontology

Answer 7

The approach to ethics in which the rightness or wrongness of an act is judged by it’s conformity to rules , duties and obligations

Question 8

Intrinsic good

Answer 8

Something that is (ethically) good in and of itself

Question 9

Magisterium

Answer 9

The teaching office of the Catholic Church , composed of the Pope and bishops , having the authority to lay down what is the authentic teaching of the Church

Question 10

Manualism

Answer 10

In the Catholic Church , the tradition of producing manuals for use in Catholic seminaries , to train clergy in applying NML to difficult cases

Question 11

Rights

Answer 11

NML is held by many to give all humans certain entitlements ( e.g liberty) which result from their common human nature

Question 12

Seminary

Answer 12

In Catholicism , a school for training clergy

Question 13

Sanctity of Life Principle

Answer 13

Based on Genesis 1:26-27 , that humans were created in the image of God from which Christian theologians deduced that human life is sacred

Question 14

Teleological

Answer 14

Refers to views of ethics where the emphasis is on the goal or purpose that and ethical approach is intended to achieve. In NML the primary precepts are teleological

Question 15

Virtue

Answer 15

A quality/ trait/ disposition in a person held to be of moral value

Question 16

Proportionalism quote

Answer 16

” certain moral rules and that it can never be right to go against these rules, unless there is a proportionate reason” (Vardy+Grosch)

Question 17

The main guiding principle of NML quote

Answer 17

“Good is to be done and pursued and evil is to be avoided. All other precepts of the natural moral law are based upon this” (Summa Theologica)

Question 18

Quote for NML being human nature

Answer 18

“There will not be one law at Rome, another at Athens , one now , another later , but one law both everlasting and unchangeable will encompass all nations and for all right”(Cicero)

Question 19

Quotes for NML changing with context

Answer 19

“Natural law is not changed but may be changed in some particular cases of rare occurrence” (Summa Theologica)

Question 20

Quote for the telos of NML

Answer 20

“Therefore God alone constitutes man’s happiness” (Summa Theologica)

Question 21

Primary precepts of NML

Answer 21

• W-worship God
• O-ordered society
• R-reproduction
• L-(preserve) life
• D-development of knowledge

Question 22

Secondary precepts

Answer 22

Rules that govern how we should act in specific situations

Question 23

The Doctrine of Double Effect conditions

Answer 23

1) The act must be morally good or at least neutral
2) The bad effect must not be the means by which the good effect is achieved
3) The intention must be good
4) The good effect must be at least equivalent in importance to the bad effect

Question 24

The strength of NML

Answer 24

1) Establishes rules people can live by in an ordered society
2) Encourages some people to think of acts as intrinsically wrong
3) Realistic as it lets people make mistakes
4) Can be adapted for non-theists

Question 25

The weaknesses of NML

Answer 25

1) The view we all share a common nature
2) Aquinas’ system does not help non-theists
3) Reject it’s legalistic approach
4) It can lead to immoral outcomes

Question 26

Who is Aquinas ?

Answer 26

• 1225-1274
• Italian Theologian
• Part of the Dominicans
• Wrote Summa Theologica

Question 27

NML four-fold division of law

Answer 27

1) Eternal Law-Comes from God’s nature
2) Divine Law - Can be found in special revelation
3) NML- Discovered from human reason
4) Human Law - e.g legal systems

Question 28

Catholic NML today

Answer 28

• Still essentially Thomist

* Became deontological after 17th Century preference for morality

Question 29

How to avoid mistakes in NML

Answer 29

1) Real and apparent goods

2) Following the virtues

Question 30

Aquinas’ Cardinal Virtues

Answer 30

1) Prudence
2) Fortitude
3) Justice
4) Temperance

Question 31

Aquinas’ three Christian Theological Virtues

Answer 31

1) Faith- belief in God and Scripture
2) Hope - of heaven and beatific vision
3) Love - of God above all things and love of one’s neighbour

Question 32

Negatives if the Doctrine of Double Effect

Answer 32

• Many would say it does not matter what your intentions are because a good act is one which has good consequences
• Consequentialists would say an act should be judged on results
• Counter intuitive as it goes against people’s intuitions

Question 33

Bible support from Natural Moral Law

Answer 33

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen , being understood from what has been made , so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20)

Question 34

Support for Natural Moral Law in Romans 2:14-16

Answer 34

“Indeed , when Gentiles , who do not have the law , do by nature things required by the law , they are a law for themselves , even though they do not have the law”