Imageo Dei (Natural moral law) Flashcards
What does Imageo Dei mean?
Image of the Lord
State Genesis 2:7
‘The LORD formed man from the dust of the groundand breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being
What is ‘making’ in the philosophical sense?
Turning something into something else
What is ‘creating’ in the philosophical sense?
Turning nothing into something
Explain the idea of Imageo Dei
The idea that we are made in the image of God
How does Aquinas interpret Imageo Dei?
It means seeking union with God; this is perfection
What is the only place Aquinas believes Imageo can be revealed?
Heaven/afterlife
What does Aquinas think is the only way to achieve Imageo Dei?
Following natural moral law
What type of cause does Aquinas see God as?
Efficient
What does Aquinas think we are all given at birth?
A final cause/telos
What is God’s ultimate intention according to Aquinas?
For good to be done and evil to be avoided
What 4 things did Aquinas believe allowed us to understand God’s ultimate intention?
- Basic moral law
- Divine inspiration
- The fact that it underpins all laws
- The fact that it seems to guide us in what we do and our understanding of how to do it
What did Cicero say about true law?
‘True law is right reason in agreement with nature’. This effectively means that using your logic and acting in accordance with nature are the same thing
What does Aquinas see as the two ways of gaining knowledge?
Reason and faith
Why did Aquinas see faith as consistent with reason?
Because all truths are harmonious
What does Aquinas believe will happen if we understand faith and reason correctly?
The will be no conflict between what faith tells us and what reason tells us
Give an example of what Aquinas meant when he said reason?
Natural Moral Law
Give an example of the kind of things Aquinas meant when he referred to faith
- Visions
- Miracles
- The Bible
Why was Aquinas seen as adopting a radical stance?
Due to his support of reason
What is reason?
What we can know through logic and experience alone. This kind of truth is accessible to anyone
What is faith?
What we can know through God’s special revelation to us
What did Aquinas think God had instilled within every human being?
An inclination to act in a certain way
