human application Flashcards
1
Q
give natural law’s perspective on theft
A
- theft could sometimes violate the preservation of life, eg if you steal a person’s limited resources
- theft goes against the primary precept of an orderly society
- however, if someone is in danger and theft is the only way to save them, then theft can be justified and shoudlbnt technically be called theft
- eg the doctrine of double effect allows theft if the intention is to save a life, and theft is beside the intention
2
Q
give a situation ethicist’s perspective on theft
A
- situation ethics would be in favour of an action when it maximises agape and against it when it does not
- theft could be justified to save a starving family
- theft would not be justified if it was unnecessary and purely done for greedy purposes
3
Q
give a virtue ethicist perspective on theft
A
- aristotle regards theft as ‘base’, meaning that it is always wrong
- however, the context is that Aristotle’s ethics is meant to be relevant to rich greek men of high social status. theft would always be wrong for them, but it could today be acceptable fir those of a lower class if it is to save others which would enable eudaemonia
4
Q
give natural law’s perspective on lying
A
- lying goes against the precept of an ordered society
- however, aquinas accepts that to prevent harm or danger it could be acceptable to ‘hide the truth prudently, by keeping it back’ - eg with the murderer at the door example - if you know where their victim is you just shouldnt tell the
5
Q
give the situation ethicist perspective on lying
A
- situation ethics would be in favour of an action when it maximises agape, and against it when it doesn’t
- lying could be justified to save a life or prevent danger (eg the murderer at the door)
- lying would not be justified if it was done for unloving purposes of manipulation, e.g lying to someone in order to defraud them
6
Q
virtue ethics on lying
A
- lying is not a virtue whereas honesty/truthfulness is.
- lying could become habitual and lead to a disordered society where moral character is questionable
- however, overdoing honesty to the point where it becomes harmful to the honest person as well as others is not a good course of action either
- however the issue comes when. virtuous person tells a lie as a result of other virtues, eg compassion - the solution is to perhaps consider what an ideal person would do
- in the case of conflicting virtues, you may sometimes be justified in lying to achieve the golden mean.
- Aristotle would argue that knowing how to use practical wisdom to handle moral situations correctly means that lying or withholding the truth can become morally acceptable
- eg corrie en boom
- Aristotle said ‘falsehood is in itself bad’ - however, he later describes degrees to which telling lies is bad - eg lying to protect your reputation sins as bad as lying to gain money. therefore there are arguably situations where it is morally acceptable to lie.
7
Q
what is the uk law on abortion
A
Only allowed if two doctors agree that
- the mother’s life is at risk
- mental/[jysical health at risk
- handicapped
- effect on other children in the fsmily
- only allowed up to 24 weeks as this is the point at which it could survive outside of the womb
8
Q
what does Peter signer say about abortion
A
- the criteria for personhood should replace the sanctity of human life
- there are qualities that comprise personhood, and foetuses cannot exhibit them
9
Q
give natural moral law’s opinion on abortion
A
- it could be acceptable if it could save the life of the mother via the doctrine of double effect
- however, life begins at conception according to divine law
- preserve life is a primary precept - secondary precept = do not murder
- catholic tradition teaches that abortion is always wronggi
10
Q
give nml approach to euthanasia/asissted suicide
A
- painkilling drugs mat be administered t someone which may have the accidental secondary effect of ending their life - passive euthanasia - doctrine of double effect
- however, self preservation is a primary precept
- divine law outlaws suciide
- catholic tradition views sucide as an unforgivable sin
11
Q
give NML’s approach to capital punishment
A
- aquinas is in favour, as it maintains order and justice in society, meeting the primary precept
- C.P is allowed in the bible - ‘an eye for an eye’
- the precept to preserve life only depends on preserving innocent life, and those who are convicted of a capital crime are not innocent
- however it goes against the precept to preserve life - and people can be wrongly convicted
12
Q
give NML opinion on embryo research
A
- can be used to preserve life, eg through eradicating genetic diseases - this fits with the syderisis principle
- however, life begins at conception so the embryo is consiered to be a fully human person
- any research discarding embryos is murder
- reproduction should be natural - no IVF
13
Q
give NML’s opinion on designer babies
A
- it could be used to preserve life - eg making a ‘saviour sibling’, and this could even be argued from the perspective of double effect
- however, ti is wrong to play god as this goes against the primary prep of worship god
- reproduction should be antrual
- it would be wrong to raise a child thinking it is special as it has been designed, going against the primary precept to educate children
14
Q
Give NML’s opinion on cloning
A
- therapeutic cloning can be used to create stem cells which can be used to help treat fatal diseases such as leukaemia
- however, it is wrong to play god as this goes against the primary precept of worship god
- reproduction should eb natural
- any closing that destroys embryos is murder as life begins at conception
15
Q
give situation ethics’s approach to abortion
A
- in specific cases, it may be more loving e.g abortion in the case of rape or incest when the baby will be born severely disabled and have a low alit of life
- however, in some cases it may not be low
