Key words- NL do good and avoid evil Flashcards
Deontological
Based on following rules or doing ones duty. Suggests that acts are right or wrong
Absolutist
A command that is true for all time, in all places and in all situations. Suggests acts are right or wrong
Legalistic
The idea that one must obey religious laws or rules in order to gain eternal life
Reason
A gift given by God when he made human beings in His image, which enables human beings to identify their created purpose and follow it.
Recta Ratio
‘Right Reason’. refers to our conscience making right decisions in accordance with natural law
Telos
Greek word meaning goal or purpose ie that to everything aims, or the highest good which is sought. Aquinas this is eternal law with God in heaven
Teleological
From the greek meaning of purpose aims towards intended purpose
Natural law theory
Ethical theory based on the final cause or purpose, which determines everything nature or goal; a body of universal moral truths deduced from reason and experience; a view associated with Aristole and developed by Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
A Dominican priest, commonly regarded as the most influential phioopsher and theologian of the Roman Catholic Church. developed the ethical theory known as natural law and natural moral law ( Thomist thought)
Beatific vision
Aquinas’ ter for the ultimate telos of human beings- eternal life with god in heaven.
Summa theological
The name of Aquinas text which he wrote about natural law
Synderesis rule
‘Do good and avoid evil’. Basically sums up the whole of Aquinas’ natural law theory in 5 words
Cardinal rules
4 rules, indetified by reason; prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. ‘Cardo’ means hinge in latin. believed to be the the fundamental basis of a moral life and used by both aquinas and Aristotle
Revealed virtues
faith hope and charity, revealed or disclosed through scripture in 1 corinthians 13). can’t be obtainedd by human effort. A person can only receive them through divine grace into the person. also called theological virtues because they are directed by god
Interior acts
Our atention- what our aims is when we perform an action
exterior acts
The act itself- the physical behaviour that we perform
Real goods
An action that will help achieve their purpose of fellowship with god, helping others
Apparent goods
A sin, an action that may seem good if we lack virtue and have reasoned wrongly. These mistakes will lead people away from their purpose of fellowship with god
Double effect
Two effects. An aspect of natural law that allows us to judge intentions over actions. Eg. removal of foetus in an ectopic pregnancy to save the mothers life. otherwise both would die
Primary precepts- can have good primary precepts but can lead to unintended secondary ones
Primary precepts
Rules that are revealed to us by God
What are the secondary precepts?
HUmans then need to use their gift of reason (their conscience fro God) to establish rules that will fulfil the primary precepts. For example; do not murder
Advantages of natural law
Rules for everyone
What are the strengths of natural law?
Can eb followed by atheists- dawkins. Aquinas “pattern of life according to reason” Can be atheist due to empirical observation. Dawkins suggests an altruistic tendency; lust to be nice
What is EUDAIMONIA?
Natural Law has a purpose: a flourishing society and a person fulfilled and happy - EUDAIMONIA.