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natural law Flashcards

1
Q

what did aristotle think about telos

A

-tjhought telos found in rational beings, have unique in having ability to reason and reflect
-in excersising reason we are flourishing and achieving out telos

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2
Q

how did aquinas develop telos from aristotle

A

-as humans we have unique ability to reflect on our moral behaviour
-consider what we are doing is bad or not

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3
Q

synderesis rule

A

-do good and avoid evil main moral rule for humans

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4
Q

primary precepts

A

-preserving life
-reproduce
-education
-live in ordered society
-worship god

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5
Q

secondary precepts

A

-more specific rules deduced from primary precepts

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6
Q

flexibility of primary and secondary precepts

A

-primary fixed- whats good for humans
-secondary may be flexible depending on how primary precepts applied to situation

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7
Q

four tiers of law

A

eternal
-divine
-natural
-human

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8
Q

eternal law

A

-known as mind of god
-his knowledge of morals
-effects of eternal law moving all things towards purpose
-gods wisdom in his creation
-moral truths we cant fathom as humans

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9
Q

divine law

A

-law revealed by god through his commands and teachings
-ten commandments
-jesus teachings
-law rational
-however divine are reasonable to be revealed

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10
Q

natural law

A

-moral thinking we are all able to do
-all humans have capacity of to consider and work out moral rules for achieving purpose
-given capacity by god
-

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11
Q

human law

A

-human laws customs and practices of society
-government and societies
-relation between all heirachal with all relying on eternal law

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12
Q

summa theologica bound to secular rulers quote

A

-man bound to obey secular rules to extent that order of justice required
-if the command unjust things subject not obliged to follow

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13
Q

phronesis

A

-ancient greek word meaning wisdom or intelligence
-used to refer to practical wisdom and moral decision making

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14
Q

Catholic Church with secondary precepts

A

-manualists
-have fixed secondary precepts
-absolute rejection of contraception
-

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15
Q

secondary precepts for aquinas

A

-secondary precepts are possible applications rather than hard and fast rules

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16
Q

aristotle and int. on natural law

A

-aim of human beings eudaimonia
-unique telos of humans ability to reason
-virtue ethics argues we have to develop good character to enable us to fulfil out function and reach eudaimonia

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17
Q

eudaimonia

A

-greek word translated to flourishing or fulfilment

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18
Q

John Finnis int. on natural law

A

-uses aristotles idea of phronesis to suggest there are certain basic goods of human good like knowledge, play , work
-from these more specific rules can be put forward
-even if we think we know consequences end should not justify means
-

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19
Q

arguments arguing natural law is helpful for moral decision making

A

-primary precepts not controversial, good valued in all societies
-primary precepts lead natural law to be absolutist, clear rules
-some flexibility unlike other absolutist theories, CC dont have flexibility
-leads to belief in certain right exist regardless of context, all seen of world peace
-affirms importance of reason

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20
Q

natural law not helpfull for decision making arguments

A

-primary precepts good but good different for everyone, secondary precepts differently applied
-absolutist to legalistic, medical issues and contraception,
-commits naturalistic fallacy attempts to define moral values in non moral terms,
-tension between accepting primary and secondary precepts
-

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21
Q

naturallistic fallacy

A

mistake of defining moral terms with reference to non moral natural terms
-observing what happens in world and assuming thats is what must happen

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22
Q

satres views on telos

A
23
Q

satre and bad faith

A

-humans have tendency to deny our freedom and behave if we are mere objects
-cafe waiter playing a waiter
-his essence not fixed and can choose different employment

24
Q

arguments for natural law is right to base ideas of right and wrong on telos

A

-if aquinas right, essential human nature, there really is good for all humans we should strive to
-while aquinas supports telos with reason
-divide command theory makes similar point via revelation, bible reveals plans and purposes god has for humans

25
Q

divine command theory

A

-right and wrong are based on the revealed commands of god

26
Q

arguments arguing natural law is wrong for basing ideas of right and wrong on telos

A

-aquinas wrong for assuming all humans have same purpose, priests celibate exempt from reproduction
-if god doesnt exist, difficult to argue objective human purpose
-evolution suggests that purpose not feature of world, something human beings project on to natural world

27
Q

interior acts

A

-good act must have good motive

28
Q

exterior acts

A

-good action must be viewed as good on outside

29
Q

what must a good act have for aquinas

A

interior and exterior acts

30
Q

double effect

A

-idea that if something good also produced a bad side effect, it is still ethically permissible as bad side effect not intended

31
Q

self defense example for aquinas double effect

A

-if you were attacked and attacker was trying to kill you
-if you fight you defend yourself but attacker could die
-aquinas argues you are not guilty because its intention that matters
-if you intend good effect secondary bad effect doesnt matter

32
Q

abortion scenario application of double effect

A

-woman told if she continues being pregnant her life at risk
-catholics believe operation to save moms life permitted
-doctor carrying out operation has intention of saving moms life and bad side effect baby dying

33
Q

double effect good way of justifying moral action argument

A

-double effect has flexibility, in absolutist theory, action that has good and bad permitted provided good intention
-recognises real complex situations, Kant doesnt have answer to this, allows sufficient consequential thinking into natural law to solve some of these cases

34
Q

double effect not good way of justifying moral actions arguments

A

-idea that bad effect permitted of not intention difficult to judge, impossible to judge intention of person, no external actions to show intention
-difficult to know how hard to press effect and which area it may cover, contraception to prevent HIV hard case in RCC

35
Q

Stoicism and the orientation of creation

A

Zeno, Aurelius, world we live in ordered place
-god created it and left logos or divine reason
-divine spark in us each of us
-reasonable response of humans towards ordered universe to live ordered life of virtuous actions

36
Q

apparent good

A

-action someone think sis good but isnt because they have reasoned incorrectly

37
Q

real good

A

actions which are actually good and consistent with moral principles of natural law

38
Q

there is orientation towards good in humans arguments

A

-stoicism and religious thinkers appeal to order in creation, paleys design argument
-right that we do want to live well and we naturally aim for goodness
-aquinas ideas on natural law give dignity to human beings and places faith in ability to reason

39
Q

no orientation towards good arguments

A

-rejection of good rejection of teleological view of world, evolutionary views say world come by chance, dont have goal in mind Dawkins- blind watchmaker
-augustine- fallen and reason flawed, our will divided, aquinas places emphasis on image of god with gives us ratio
-aquinas places faith in reason but to optimistic
-real and apparent goods to naive, humans knowingly commit bad

40
Q

conscientia

A

-ability to reason to apply the primary precepts to situations or types of actions
-judgment we acquire is secondary precept
-

41
Q

strength of natural law is telos based ethics

A

-telos based ethics empirical
-aristotle observed everything in nature has inclination to purpose
purpose
-biological fact that certain behaviours cause organism to flourish
-thus telos empirically verifiable

42
Q

weakness modern science rejection of telos

A

-Francis Bacon- only material and efficient causation valid scientific concepts not formal and final causation
-aquinas and aristotle say unique essence gives us purpose
-science says atoms moving in fields of force
-if anything in human nature orients us towards behaving because of survival of the fittest
-telos not needed

43
Q

evaluation defending telos

A

Polkinghorne
-science limited and cant tell us everything
-cant tell us why and about purpose
-success argument because science limited
-if purpose existed science couldnt prove it so cant deny it

44
Q

evaluation critiquing telos

A

-dawkins said not valid to assume there is why
-what is colour of jealousy
-just because we ask about purpose doesnt mean there is
-burden of proof success argument
-those who claim purpose exists have burden of providing reason to think it exists
-science may explain why and even if they dont justnt justify non scientific telos

45
Q

strength of natural law based on universal human nature

A

-primary precepts found in morality of all societies
-synderysis rule found in ancient schools
-suggests moral view influenced by universal human nature
-evidence we are all born with moral orientation towards telos foundation of natural law

46
Q

weakness of natural law based on universal human nature

A

-if all humans born with primary precepts we would have moral agreement
-all have different moral beliefs
-social conditioning causes moral views- Freud
-Fletcher- no innate god given reason
-ethics must be based on faith- positivism

47
Q

evaluation defending aquinas- human nature based ethics

A

-aquinas claim that human nature contains orientation towards good
-knows there are faults that result in us doing bad
-mistakes in conscientia, OS
-fact there is cross cultural moral views shows his theory correct

48
Q

strength of natural law universal

A

-everyone born with ability to know and apply primary precepts
-gentiles who do not have law do by nature what law requires law written in hearts
-follow it even if your not christian

49
Q

weakness of natural law being universal

A

-Js Mill- old testamant barbarous and only for barbarous people
-Freud- religious morality reflected ignorant days of human race
-medieval society needed strict rules for order
-socio economic changed
-primary precepts no longer useful
-society now relaxed

50
Q

evaluation defending natural law not outdated

A

Conservative catholics argue natural law not outdated, important for society
-secular liberal western culture ethically retrograde because of no traditional morals
-self interest and materialism
-

51
Q

strength of double effect helps resolve hard issues

A

-jesus commands more about having right moral intention and virtue
-double effect provides clarity and intention for following moral law
-

52
Q

weakness double effect is unbiblical

A

-gods commands absolute and not dependent on someones intention
-distinction between intended effects of actions and foreseen effects, intention has no morally significance
-

53
Q

evaluation defending natural law

A

-criticism unsucess because natural law different to bible
-divine law unflexible
-natural law more flexible because its in form of general primary precepts that require application and telos of natural law glorifying god- intention relevant

54
Q
A

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