Natural Law Flashcards
What is absolutism ?
The idas of what is right and wrong is fixed at all times and for all people
What is the apparent good ?
An action which someone mistakenly thinks is a real good , but they have not reasoned correctly
What is deontological ?
Ethics focuses on the rightness and wrongness of an action
What is the double effect ?
The idea that if doing something good also produces a bad side effect it s still ethically possible as the bad side effect was not intended
What is divine law ?
That which is revealed by God , such as the Ten Commandments
What is eternal law ?
Gods will for how the universe is to be
What is endemonia ?
An ultimate end in life which all actions lead towards
What is existentialism ?
A philosophical movement that stresses the uniqueness of each human individual by arguing that existence comes fore essence
What is human law ?
As humans are social animals they need to make regulations for society to be orderly so that people may flourish
What is naturalistic fallacy ?
The mistake of defining moral terms with reference to non moral or natural terms
What is natural law ?
Deontológicas theory that is based on behaviour that fits with given laws or moral rules that exist independently of human societies and systems
What is phronesis ?
An ancient geek philosophical term meaning wisdom or intelligence , mainly used to refer to practical wisdom and moral decision making
What is primary precepts ?
The most important rules n life
What is the principle of double effect ?
An act may have more than one effect
What matters is intention
what is the real good ?
Actions which are actually good and consistent with the moral principles of natural law
What is relativism ?
The idea of what is right and wrong is not fixed , but is dependant on situation or culture
What is a secondary precept ?
The laws which follow from primary precepts
What is situationalism ?
The belief that any moral theory must take note of the facts in each case before being appplied
What is synderesis ?
To follow the good and avoid evil . The rule which all precepts follow
What is the teleological ?
Moral goodness is determined by the end or result
What is telos ?
Greek word meaning the purpose or end of something
What is meta ethics ?
From the Greek word meta meaning above and beyond
The study of the meaning of ethical concepts
What is normative ethics ?
Considers ethical theories that gove advice on how we ought to behave
What is applied ethics ?
Discusses specific problems in ethics
What are the strengths of absolutism ?
Provides a universal code to measure everything against
Easier to apply than relativism
What are the weaknesses of absolutism ?
Doesn’t consider diffferemt circumstances
Not concerned with the outcome fo an actin
What are the strengths of relativism ?
Flexible
Focuses n people
Allows people to take responsibility
What are the weaknesses of relativism ?
No two people may agreee on a judgement
More difficult to apply than absolutism
For Aristotle where is telos found in humans ?
Rational thought
For aquí as what is the main moral rule ?
We do good and avoid evil
How do aquinas and Aristotle differ on the idea of telos ?
Aristotle believes that the goal and purpose of human life is endemonia and aquinas believes it is to go to heaven
What did arototle consider in his works on physics and meta physics ?
Not only does everything has a purpose but that its supreme good is found when it fulfils that purpose
What does Aristotle e believe a happy society is ?
One where all individuals and groups work for their own good in relation to everyone else
What did aquinas believe each law depended on ?
Each law depended on the authority of the level above , with god being the ultimate source of all authority
Did aquiasn believe we all had natural law inside of us ?
He believed that everyone has the sense of natural law within us
What are the five primary precepts ?
Preservation of life
Reproduction
Educating the young
Living in a society
Worshiping god
What are the five primar precepts for /
In order for us to live in a civilised society where we are free to survive and flourish
What is the primary precept of preservation of life ?
We are to preserve life
Natural and reasonable for a person to be concerned with preserving its own being
What is the primary precept of reproduction ?
Rational to ensure that life continues and this is the meaning purpose of sexual intercourse
What is the primary precept of educating the young ?
Humans are intellectual creatures and t is natural for us to learn
What is the primary precept of living in a society ?
We are social beings and it is good to live in an ordered society where it is possible to fulfil or purpose
what is the primary precept of worshipping god ?
We are also spiritual beings and we should recognise god as the source of life and live in a way that pelases him
Why do we need secondary precepts ?
We need clearer instructions
The primary precepts are absolute and universal
They are more specific rules which can be deduced from the primary precepts
What is the diffference between the primary precepts and the secondary precepts ?
Primary are fixed , they are what is good for humans
Secondary - may have some flexibility as we have to consider how the primary precepts are to be applied in each section
What deos aquinas regard each precept as ?
As part of a path towards the ultimate purpose in life
What are the secondary precepts of preservation of life ?
Do not commit suicide
Don’t turn off life support machines
Don’t murder
What are the secondary precepts of reproduction ?
Don’t have abortion
Don’t use contraception
Permit ivf
Male masturbation is wrong
What are the secondary presets of educating the young ?
Send kids to school
Bring children up in a good christian home
What are the secondary precepts of living in a society ?
Do not murder
Don’t break rules
Don’t cause unnecessary conflict
What are the secondary precepts of worshipping god ?
Pray
Go to church
Follow the 10 commandments
What is the link between aquinas and celibacy ?
Aquinas was celibate
This goes against primary precept two
According to Sartre what is the key difference between humans and man made objects ?
Objects which are given a purpose they must carry out that purpose
However for humans we must decide for ourselves what our essence is and it can change
What is divine command theory ?
All morality comes straight from god
Ten Commandments is an example
What is the doctrine of double effect ?
The idea that if ding something good also proudcues a bad side effect , it is still ethically permissible as the bad effect was not intended
What is aquinas view on the double effect ?
What matters is the effect that was intended . He argued that it is the intention that matters , if you noten the good effect then you are not responsible for the bad effect
