natural law Flashcards

1
Q

What type of theory is natural law?

A

Absolutist (theory that is never altered or changed), deontological (action based on duty)

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2
Q

Who is the main scholar?

A

Thomas Aquinas

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3
Q

What are the five primary precepts?

A

Preservation of Life, Reproduction, Ordered Society, Worshipping God, Learn (PROWL)

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4
Q

What is telos?

A

the purpose of something
for aristotle that is to flourish and achieve eudaimonia
for aquinas that is a perfect union with God, syndresis rule

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5
Q

what are the strengths of the syndresis rule and the five primary precepts

A

avoids evil so gives an ordered society
following the ten commandments (divine law)
clear structure to make decisions
allows people to develop their own sense of reason

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6
Q

what are the weaknesses of the syndresis rule and the five primary precepts

A

goes against devoting your life to the church
what about those who can’t reproduce (eg infertility)
doesn’t take into account the persons pain (not personalistic)
takes away freewill

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7
Q

what are the secondary precepts

A

they derive form the primary precepts and direct our actions, they are dependant on our own judgements of what actually to do in any given situation
more subjective

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8
Q

what are the four tiers of law

A

human law, natural law, divine law, eternal law

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9
Q

what’s human law

A

law created to establish order in society

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10
Q

what is natural law

A

to look at the world and use reason to establish morals

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11
Q

what is eternal law

A

moral code that only god understands

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12
Q

what is divine law

A

bible teachings found there morally - come from God

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13
Q

what’s aquinas’ explanation if humans purpose

A

“our ultimate end is unrelated good, namely God”

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14
Q

what is the syndresis rule

A

do good and avoid evil

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15
Q

how do we achieve real good

A

to follow the primary, secondary precepts and to “reason excellently”

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16
Q

what’s apparent good

A

reason incorrectly and to make the wrong choice

17
Q

what’s the difference between interior or exterior actions

A

interior is the intention, exterior is the action itself

18
Q

what’s the strengths of natural law

A

its a clear theory
everyone is held to the same standard
creates a link between God and humans
practical
allows us to reach our telos
allows humans the chance to reason excellently
allows christian’s to have clear moral guidelines that updates the bible

19
Q

what are the weaknesses of natural law

A

removes peoples freewill
ignores human emotions and circumstances
Aquinas is contradictory
Bias theory in the first place
what about those who can’t reason
telos is never met in this life time
do not apply to athiests

20
Q

give reasons why human nature has an orientation towards it good

A

giving last chocolate (altruism)
holding the door open (manners)
clarify
help those in need

21
Q

give reasons why human nature doesnt have an orientation towards the good

A

murder
stealing
selfish
rude

22
Q

give reasons why moral judgements can be based on its success or failure in achieving its telos

A

if we have a subjective purpose then meeting it is good

23
Q

give reasons why moral judgments cant be based on its success or failure in achieving its telos

A

aquinas - we can never tell if we reach our telos
who decides what the telos is eg the knife

24
Q

give reasons why the universe as a whole has been designed with a telos

A

world clearly has a reason - humans to live on
science - 02 - c02 cycle

25
Q

give reasons why the universe as a whole has been designed without a telos

A

our world is so small - removing it makes no difference
telos is a human concept - understand their purpose

26
Q

give reasons why the doctrine of double effect can be used to justify an action, such as killing someone as an act of self defence

A

bad consequences is not intentional
allows for more subjective stance - ‘do good and avoid evil’

27
Q

give reasons why the doctrine of double effect can be used to justify an action, such as killing someone as an act of self-defence

A

based on an assumption of the consequence
action (bad outcome) is always inherently wrong

28
Q

what is innate

A

syndresis rule