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Ethics > Natural Law > Flashcards

Natural Law Flashcards

1
Q

What is cultural relativism

A

The idea that we should follow whatever social norms suggest

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2
Q

What is subjective relativism

A

How you live should be determined by what you personally believe

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3
Q

Which philosopher is mostly associated with natural law

A

Thomas aquinas

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4
Q

Which denomination does aquinas’ teachings mostly influence today

A

Catholicism

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5
Q

What was Thomas aquinas’ book called

A

Summa theologica

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6
Q

What did aquinas say about natural law/divine order

A

“A certain order is to be found in those things that are apprehended universally”

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7
Q

Which was Thomas aquinas’ first rule

A

“Good is to be done and pursued and evil is to be avoided”

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8
Q

Where can the origins of natural law be found

A

The stoics believed that humans have a divine spark enabling them to discover eternal laws necessary for human happiness

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9
Q

What is aristotles golden mean

A

The balance between excess or defifcieny of something
Avoids extremes and achieves the best function of whatever is being examined

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10
Q

Give an example of Aristotle’s golden mean

A

A water tap exists to provide water
That is its function
It’s purpose may be to provide drinking water to quench your thirst
One day you go to the tap and a huge gush of water flows out, drenching you
The next day you go to the tap and there is a shrill sound but no water
On the third day a good supply of water comes out and it is now functioning at its best
It could be called virtuous

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11
Q

Give an example of aristotles golden mean ON HUMANS

A

The golden mean of a soldier is courage
If they lack courage, they are a coward
If they have too much courage, they become foolhardy
When they are able to strike a balance and act courageously, then they function as a soldier and are virtuous

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12
Q

In relation to the golden mean, what did Aristotle believe about humans

A

Each human has a specific role in society that means that they have a particular virtue that conforms their job or social position
The golden mean of a soldier is hence different to that of a slave

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13
Q

Which two fundamental authorities is Aquinas’ natural law based on

A

The bible
Aristotle

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14
Q

What did aquinas think about human nature

A

We have an essential rational nature given to us by god in order for us to live and flourish

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15
Q

How did Aquinas beleive we can practice natural law without knowledge of god

A

Reason can discover the laws that lead to eudaimonia

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16
Q

What 6 things did aquinas believe that morality is

A

Accessible to all
Universal
Given by god
Does not rely on knowledge of god
Unchanging and for all time
Accessible through the natural order

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17
Q

What is the synderesis rule

A

Good is to be done and persued and evil is to be avoided

18
Q

What was supreme good for aquinas

A

Humans are made in gods image, the supreme good is the development of this image-perfection
However this was not possible in this life time
Happiness begins now but continues in the next life

19
Q

What is a good exterior act and a bad interior act

A

To act in the good way but for the wrong reason

20
Q

What is a bad exterior act and a good interior act

A

To act in a bad way but for a good reason

21
Q

What did aquinas believe about interior and exterior acts

A

Both have to be good in order to be moral

22
Q

What are aquinas’ primary precepts

A

Preservation of life
Reproduction
Education
Peaceful society
Worship god

23
Q

What did Aristotle believe about eudaimonia

A

Flourishing in life
This should be our fundamental good
The only thing that people persue for its own sake
Where people both live well and behave well
If you don’t act morally you wont be happy

24
Q

How does Aristotle divide humans

A
  1. material dimensions - skin,bone,blood
  2. Form or soul- gives purpose to our lives
  3. Reason- the supreme human virtue,needed to be fully human
25
Q

What is phroneisis

A

The ability to think about our actions and match them up with a chosen telos

26
Q

What did Aristotle believe are the ideal human telos

A
  1. Be rational
  2. Be balanced
  3. Be independent
  4. Be good company
27
Q

How did aquinas explain evil

A

Aquinas thought evil was not desirable either by natural appetite or conscious will
But it is sought indirectly because it is the consequence of some good

28
Q

Give an example of how aquinas explains evil

A

A man might feel that to have an affair is desirable because temptation exists
The reason a man lusts after another mans wife is not because he thinks it is good to break up marriages , but because he is mistaken by what he truly desires
The desire leads to disaster and not what he truly wants
That man is falling short of the ideal human being that god intended because sin is falling short of gods wish for us

29
Q

Explain real and apparent goods

A

Apparent goods are an error of reasoning or absence of it
People need to use reason correctly to distinguish between the apparent goods that tempt them and real goods

30
Q

Influenced by Aristotle, what were aquinas’ natural virtues

A

Prudence
Temperance
Fortitude
Justice

31
Q

What were the three theological virtues revealed in sacred scripture

A

Faith
Hope
Love

32
Q

Why might the idea that we are naturally morally good be problematic in todays society

A

If we think that we need order in society to try and prevent chaos or if we think there is too much freedom in how people should go about living, then a legalistic morality might appeal

33
Q

When did philosopher Thomas Hobbes live and what did he think of natural law

A

Lived through the English civil war and saw parliament execute the king and families torn apart by conflict
Saw human nature as dangerous and murderous
“Men from their very birth..would have all the world if they could”
Human nature needs to be limited

34
Q

How has natural law influenced the Catholic Church

A

Catholic teaching forbids articfical contraception, masturbation, homosexual sex largely on natural law grounds because these acts cannot result in new life
The deliberate use of sex, outside marriage, is contrary to its telos and goes against moral order
St Augustine said “intercourse is unlawful and wicked where the conception of children is prevented”

35
Q

How could someone argue against these catholic teachings and give an example

A

They leave no room for human rationality
Rationality should guide human acts
Perhaps we need a more historically conscious world view that emphasises the changing, developing and evolving nature of the world
For example, women’s telos purely used to be to be a mother and homemaker, this is still true in some places, however society has changed in many places. Women can now have any job, remain single and childless if they wish

36
Q

How do the secondary precepts make natural law more flexible

A

They do not imply a body of principles from which we simply work out our moral decisions
It takes account of our human limitations and weaknesses
They have to be interpreted in the context of the situation

37
Q

Give an example of a secondary precept

A

the primary precept was reproduction (the purpose of our sexual organs)
In order for something to be good it should fulfill its purpose
So masturbation and homosexuality is wrong
Because they don’t lead to reproduction, do not fulfil its purpose and so are not glorifying god

38
Q

What is the doctrine of double effect

A

It is always wrong to do a bad act intentionally in order to bring about good consequences, but it is sometimes all right to do a good act, despite knowing it will bring about bad consequences
However these bad consequences must only be unintended side effects

39
Q

Give an example of the doctrine of double effect

A

If a pregnant woman has cancer, she could have a hysterectomy, even though this will lead to the death of the foetus
But any other pregnancy related life threatening condition whereby deliberately killing the foetus is the only way of saving the woman is not allowed

40
Q

Give three strengths of natural law

A
  1. Rational- don’t have to beleive in god, no emotions cloud judgement
  2. Absolute- easy to follow
  3. Appeals to human instinct
41
Q

Give three weaknesses of natural law

A

1.natural law is not universal- Kai Neilson, some primary precepts are not universal, eg in some cultures, until you are 3 you are not seen as human, therefore your life should not be protected as much
2. God did not create the world with purpose- big bang, Dawkins said the world is absurd and a brute fact, without design.
3. Sex is not just for reproduction. Vardy and Grosch, unhealthy to keep giving birth, see has hormonal benefits and can help to provide an intimate relationship

Ethics (2 decks)

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