Natural Law

Question 1

Deontological theory

Answer 1

An ethical theory that argued that the goodness of an action lies in itself regardless of the consequences

Question 2

Eternal Law

Answer 2

God’s will for how the universe is to be

Question 3

Eudaimonia

Answer 3

Living well as an ultimate end in life in which all other actions should lead towards. Human flourishing (happiness)

Question 4

Telos

Answer 4

The end or purpose - for Aquinas the purpose of humans is to have union with God

Question 5

Divine law

Answer 5

That which is revealed by God, e.g. the Ten Commandments (Bible)

Question 6

Natural Law

Answer 6

‘Right reason in accordance with human nature’

Question 7

Human Law

Answer 7

Rules made by humans for society to allow them to flourish

Question 8

Synderesis

Answer 8

Our rational capacity to follow good and avoid evil, the rule which all precepts follow.

Question 9

Primary Precepts

Answer 9

The most important rules in life – absolute and unchanging

WORLD

Question 10

Secondary Precepts

Answer 10

The rules which follow from primary precepts

Question 11

Doctrine of Double Effect

Answer 11

An act which may have more than one effect e.g you aim to save a life but in so doing
harm another

Question 12

Casuistry

Answer 12

Case or rule based reasoning in applied ethics.

Question 13

Real goods

Answer 13

Doing the right thing for the right reasons

Question 14

Apparent goods

Answer 14

The mistakes/errors people make when they think they are doing good

Question 15

Practical reason

Answer 15

The tool which makes moral decisions

Question 16

Phronesis

Answer 16

Practical wisdom learnt by experience

Question 17

Four tiers of law

Answer 17

Eternal, Divine, Natural, Human

Question 18

Strengths of Natural Law

Answer 18

There is a fair set of rules for everyone.
However, it is not just a large number of rules dictating what we should do.
All the things that are good for us are celebrated, rather than focusing on negative things.
Humans are at the centre of this ethical approach, not rules.
It allows us to use our reason and so feel in control of the secondary precepts.
It allows people to establish common rules in order to structure communities.

Question 19

Weaknesses of Natural Law

Answer 19

In modern forms Natural Law does not allow for negotiation because the Church has made the secondary precepts into absolute rules.
It is based on very complicated notions and doesn’t ask everyday questions such as ‘should hospitals get more money than schools’?
It could be argued that we have gained our natural instincts through evolution, not through God and so we do not need a God-based theory.
We can observe differences between cultures, which rejects the notion of a single natural purpose for all humans.
Natural Law could even be seen as a relativist theory - because the secondary precepts might change as we use our reason differently, perhaps because of the different circumstances we find ourselves in. This could be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage! Indeed, some say that we should not rely on our reason but on teachings from the Bible, the Church or from God’s revelation.
Vardy and Grosch in The Puzzle of Ethics said that Aquinas gives too simple a view of human nature. (E.g. is sexuality just about reproduction?)