Natural law

Question 1

Who made natural law?

Answer 1

Thomas Aquinas

Question 2

What kind of theory is this?

Answer 2

Deontological meaning it focuses on humans actions not the consequences.

Question 3

what is the central principle?

Answer 3

“do good and avoid evil”

Question 4

who supports natural law?

Answer 4

William Paley, Hugo Grotius, John Locke, Aristotle and the catholic church.

Question 5

What is human’s end goal

Answer 5

The end goal is happiness (eudaimonia)

Question 6

What is eudaimonia?

Answer 6

The ultimate happiness that can only be achieved by being with god.

Question 7

Who supported Aquinas belief about happiness being the end goal?

Answer 7

Aristotle

Question 8

What is eternal law?

Answer 8

Eternal law is part of God, unchanging and universalisable

Question 9

What is divine law?

Answer 9

Law/rules from the bible

Question 10

What is natural law?

Answer 10

We can become aware of eternal law by observing the world and natural law.

Question 11

What is human law?

Answer 11

Laws human create

Question 12

What does Aquinas believe about human nature?

Answer 12

Humans have the desire to do good

Question 13

What are primary precepts?

Answer 13

These are rules to guide human behaviour, an good action will uphold the primary precepts.

Question 14

What are the primary precepts?

Answer 14

Preservation of life (protect human life)
Ordered society(lawful society)
Worship God(pray)
Education(learn and teach other about God)
Reproduction(have kids)

Question 15

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 15

These are made when making a choice to fix a problem, these must uphold the primary precepts and are applicable to a specific problem.

Question 16

What is a apparent good?

Answer 16

Making the wrong decision because you didn’t apply reason correctly, is done by accident. Its an mistake in what you think is the right thing.

Question 17

Why does sin exist?

Answer 17

Sin exists because people do apparent goods instead of real goods.

Question 18

What is the doctrine of double effect

Answer 18

That a good action may have a bad effect that is unintentional.

Question 19

Aquinas views on doctrine of double effect?

Answer 19

He allows it as the intent was to do good.

Question 20

What is some support for natural law

Answer 20

Easy to understand
Provides a framework for moral decisions
It supports human rights
It’s universalisable

Question 21

What are some criticisms of natural law?

Answer 21

It’s based on a belief in God, therefore, doesn’t help Atheist
Ignores the complexity of human nature
It has outdated views eg not agreeing with same-sex relationships.
It’s based on motives and we can’t know someone’s true motives

Question 22

Why does Hobbes disagree with natural law?

Answer 22

Human nature isn’t all good and can be dangerous as humans are selfish.

Question 23

Why does Hugo Grotius support natural law?

Answer 23

Laws themselves are from divine source