Module 8 - The Natural Law Theory Flashcards
Natural Law Theory
ethical theory that takes the natural essences of things as its moral standard.
Bridge statement: an act is right iff it is consistent with these natural essences
natural essences
the purposes for which things exist
person who developed Natural Law Theory
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Medieval (1225-1274), Italian, Philosopher who developed the Natural Law Theory.
Aquinas refers to a town near where Thomas was born (these ppl didnt have last names)
Aristotle
ancient Greek Philosopher (385-323 BCE), he was also a biologist
ethical theory which rationalizes nature and could provide a way to rationalize the world with 4 causes
The four causes that Aristotle’s ethical theory rationalizes. Used to explain how God created the world
Material Cause (hyle): refers to matter
Formal Cause (eidos): refers to idea
Efficient Cause (kinoun): refers to work
Final Cause (telos/teloi): refers to purpose (natural essences and are expressive of God’s plan for the world)
If you act consistently with natural essences,
then you act consistently with God’s plan for the world (according to a natural law theorist)
Theoretical Criticism of Natural Law Theory
Do natural essences even exist, as natural law theory understands them?
John Locke and David Hume questioned the _____ way of doing philosophy
Medieval. Medieval philosophy originally assumed a theory of reality (metaphysics) and developed a theory of knowledge (epistemology) to explain how that reality could be known. Used to develop natural essences concept
17th/18th cent philosophers thought it better to develop theory of knowledge (epistemology) and then explain what could be known about reality (metaphysics). These people consider the existence of natural essences questionable
Practical Criticism of Natural Law Theory
concerns how natural essences can ever be known (some things in natural have more than one purpose (ex tail=balance, communication, grabbing)
