Natural Law

Question 1

What is NATURAL LAW?

Answer 1

The MORAL THINKING that WE’RE ABLE to DO, WORKED OUT by REASON, e.g. Secondary Precepts

Question 2

What TYPE of Theory is NATURAL LAW?

Answer 2

DEONTOLOGICAL - considered with the RIGHT ACTION , rather than Outcome
an ABSOULTIST THEORY - we’re Always Acting Accordingly to the Natural Law that Exist in the Universe

Question 3

Explain the TELOS, and SYNDERESIS RULE

Answer 3

AQUINAS, + ARISTOTLE -> We Have a UNIQUE TELOS (Aim).
AQUINAS - Main Moral Rule is that we ‘ DO GOOD and AVOID EVIL ‘. - the SYNDERESIS RULE.
We can ACHIEVE UNION WITH GOD throwing FOLLOWING THIS and the PRIMARY PRECEPTS FOLLOW THIS

Question 4

What are the 5 PRIMARY PRECEPTS

Answer 4

(1) PRSERVATION of LIFE
(2) TO REPRODUCE : Rational to Ensure Life Continues
(3) EDUCATION : particularly for the Young
(4) TO LIVE IN AN ORDERED SOCIETY : where it’s Possible to Fufil our Purpose
(5) TO WORSHIP GOD : we Should Recognise God as the Source of Life and Live in a Way that Pleases Him

Question 5

What is the LINK between PRIMARY and SECONDARY PRECEPTS

Answer 5

These PRIMARY Precepts are ABSOLUTE and UNIVERSAL, General Statements on What is Good for Humans - Don’t necessarily tell us exactly how to act
Aquinas Therefore SUGGESTS that SECONDARY PRECEPTS are NEEDED to PUT into PRACTISE the PRIMARY Precepts

Question 6

What is an SECONDARY PRECEPT For the Primary Precept - PRESEVATION of LIFE

Answer 6

e.g. HELPING the SICK, TAKE in REFUGEES, feed hungry

Question 7

What is an SECONDARY PRECEPT For the Primary Precept - TO REPRODUCE

Answer 7

e.g. IVF, DON’T USE CONTRACEPTION

Question 8

What is an SECONDARY PRECEPT For the Primary Precept - EDUCATION

Answer 8

e.g TEACH GOOD MORALS, GO to SCHOOL, EDUCATE on CURRENT WORLD ISSUES

Question 9

What is an SECONDARY PRECEPT For the Primary Precept - LIVE in an ORDERED SOCIETY

Answer 9

e.g. RESPECT EACHOTHER and BE ACCEPTING

OBEY AUTHORITIES

Question 10

What is an SECONDARY PRECEPT For the Primary Precept - TO WORSHIP GOD

Answer 10

e.g. PRAY DAILY, CONFESSION, ATTEND MASS, READ BIBLE

Question 11

Explain REAL and APPARENT GOODS

Answer 11

If we FOLLOW SYNDERESIS RULE and PRIMARY PRECEPTS, we WILL ACHIEVE REAL GOODS and Therefore BECOME CLOSER to GOD
The POWER of REASON would KEEP us ON the Right Path. Ability to Know Right from Wrong and Make Rational Decisions
IF we DO WRONG, it Must be BECAUSE we were MISTAKEN and were TRYING to ACHIEVE an APPARENT GOOD

Question 12

Explain INTERIOR and EXTERIOR ACTS , and example

Answer 12

a GOOD ACT MUST Have a MOTIVE (INTERIOR) aswell as Being a GOOD ACTION as VIEWED on the Outside (EXTERIOR).
BOTH ACTS MUST be GOOD
e.g. of a Good Act : INTERIOR ACT to PREVENT STARVATION , EXTERIOR of BUYING BREAD

Question 13

Explain the DOCTRINE of DOUBLE EFFECT

Answer 13

For AQUINAS, What MATTERS is Which EFFECT was INTENDED. He used the Example of SELF DEFENCE, if You INTEND the GOOD EFFECT, you’re NOT held RESPONSIBLE for the SECONDARY BAD EFFECT

Question 14

What are 2 WAYS that DOUBLE EFFECT can be APPLIED

Answer 14

• EUPHANASIA
• ABORTION

Question 15

How DOUBLE EFFECT , be APPLIED through ABORTION

Answer 15

DOCTOR would Carry Out ACTION (OPERATION) with the INTENTION of SAVING the MOTHERS’ LIFE (GOOD EFFECT) and the SECONDARY EFFECT of ENDING LIFE of the FOETUS (BAD EFFECT)

Question 16

How DOUBLE EFFECT , be APPLIED through EUTHANASIA

Answer 16

Doctor attempting to treat a seriously ill patient GIVES a LARGE DOSE of PAIN KILLER ( ACTION). This has Effect of RELIEVING PAIN ( GOOD EFFECT ) but runs RISK of CAUSING DEATH of PATIENT, ( BAD EFFECT

Question 17

What are 2 NEGATIVES of NATURAL LAW

Answer 17

• PRIMARY PRECEPTS : when Put into Practise through Secondary Precepts , they sometimes CLASH e.g Reproduction and Live In Ordered Society -> Some Reationships are those that Don’t Want to OR Cannot Have Children through Sex
• ISN’T SUPPOSED to BE RELIGIOUS but AQUINAS makes “ WORSHIP GOD “ as ONE of his PRECEPTS.
  How can you follow Natural Law Without a Knowledge of GOD