natural law

Question 1

who created natural law theory

Answer 1

aquinas

Question 2

what type of theory is natural law

Answer 2

relgious ethical nd somewhat influenced by the ctholic church
an absolutist ethical theory
a deontological theory
and a telelogical

Question 3

what is an absolutism theory and why does it relate too natural law

Answer 3

actions are morally good or bad in themselves, no other critieria is needed to assess whether an action is good or bad

natural law is an absolutist ethic - this is because quinas belived that god made all actions either good or bad in themselves

Question 4

what is a deontological theory and why does it relate too natural law

Answer 4

the action only should be judged right or wrong when deciding the morality of an action

natural law: it mostly judges actions

Question 5

what is a telelogical theory and how does natural law relate too this

Answer 5

right and wrong should be judges by the end purpose of our action

Question 6

what is the natural law theory in simple

Answer 6

attempt to find a rational basis for christian morlaity / ethics
by acting according to our god given nature we will flourish in our life with god, thus reaching the highest good
it focuses on rules that govern how we ought to behave however it has been adopted by the catholic church
so acing towards god rules that whats we should do and gods beliefs

Question 7

what is the purpose of natural law

Answer 7

aquinas reason that the universe was created by god with an end purpose. as humanity is the most impoartant part of gods created universe then humanity must two have an ultimate end purpose set by god
aquinas belive dthat natural law had two purposes: to explain what the god created the end purposes is for all humanity and to explin the way in which gods end purpose for humanity can be achieved.

Question 8

what did aquinas belive that the end purpose for all humanity

Answer 8

aquinas velived that the ultimate end purpose for all humanity was to achieve eternal life in heaven with god after death

Question 9

how did aquinas argues that natual laws second purpose was how to achieve the end

Answer 9

aquinas said that humanity can achieve eternal life in heaven by becoming more like god (our highest good) - he belived that people were born with the god given end purpose to develop as closly as we can to image of god
if a person can follow aquinas natural law then they can develop into the image of god and if they can do this that they have achieved their highest good and will achieve their ultimate purpose with god

Question 10

how did aquinas believe people good try and chieve thier highest goods (1st) step

Answer 10

the primary and secondary precepts

Question 10

what is orderly living

Answer 10

we should live toghther in harmony

Question 11

what is the primary precept

Answer 11

aquinas reasoned that becausehumanity was created by god into a pruposefull univer than humanity must also have god given purposes
he reasoned five purposes based on this
he said that the 5 primary precepts were permanant and unchanging because they were set by god from the beginning of time.
they include: preservation of life
orderly living
worship god
education
reproduction

Question 11

what is preservation of life

Answer 11

we should preserve their own life and those of the innocent

Question 11

what is worship god

Answer 11

We all have a duty to worship our creator

Question 12

what is education

Answer 12

everyone should seek to be eduacted and thus understand the nature of gods earth

Question 13

what is reproduction

Answer 13

humanity should procreate nd have babies

Question 14

what is the secondary precepts

Answer 14

the secondary precepts work on the idea that any action breaks one of the primary precepts above is a bad and any action that up holds a primary precept is good
for exammple: one of the precepts if reproduction so homosexuality and contrception goes against that primary precept.

Question 15

what are aqinzses virtues

Answer 15

if a persons characters was virtuous it would help them uphold the above deontological secondary preceps.
there was 7 good virtues that are split into two parts
the 4 cardinal virtues
the 3 revealed virtues

Question 16

what are the 4 cardinal viirtues

Answer 16

the first cardinal virtue is courage: the ability to overcome fear by having discipline and endurance - it should be used to stand up for whats right
temperance: self discipline with our physial appetities - the ability to resist the temptation of say casual sex
prudence - associated with wisdom - the ability to judge the appropriate action at a given time - when to back down when we know we are wrong
justice: enccourages a person to look outward from themselves and to make a stand when they see an injustice is committted - standing up for bullying

they are the originate writings of aristotle

Question 17

what are the 3 revealed virtues

Answer 17

faith: total belief in god
hope: the belief that god is always present with you - never give up on gods love
love: love everyone that we know and ourselves

they are the virtues originate from the bible

Question 18

what are naturals law ecterior and interior acts

Answer 18

exterior acts: the actions a person carries out - helping an old person cross the road

interior acts: the intentions behind our acts
- helping homeless people withbthe intention too just brag about it.

Question 19

why are the interior acts and exterior acts for natural law

Answer 19

aquinas says that he adds thie in because he accepts that we can hide our true intentions behind our good actions
therfore despite the good exterior this particular action was only carried out for the bad intention
so for aquinas to be morally goof a person must do both a good action and do it for a good action

Question 20

what is real and apparent good

Answer 20

people dont use thie god given reason corectly

Question 21

what is apparent good

Answer 21

aquinas belived that anyone who is bas isnt deliberatly bad they are just using their god given purpose wrong

Question 22

what is real good

Answer 22

aquinas called good reasoning the rea; good

Question 23

what are aquinas four levels of laws

Answer 23

eternal law
divine law
natural law
human law

Question 24

what is eternal law

Answer 24

the law states that god created all moral laws - however only god can know theses laws and humans dont have the brain knowledge for it they only know it partially.

Question 25

what is divine law

Answer 25

the reflection of gods eternal laws is seen through the bible - reveled in the ten commandments

Question 26

what is the natural law

Answer 26

aquinas accepts not everyone will have the opportunity to read the bible and see the divine laws

Question 27

what is human law

Answer 27

how we live day by day

Question 28

natural law applicarion

Answer 28

abortion: asvg

Question 29

Strength of natural law

Answer 29

Natural Law is Universal
* Natural Law is applied the same to all people, at all times i.e. it is universal.
* This is an excellent basis for morality because everyone will be treated the same regardless of gender, race or culture e.g. abortion is usually wrong according to Natural Law whether you are 16 or 30, British, Italian, South African etc

Provides society with much needed common morality
* It can be argued we live in a society in moral decline.
For example, serious attacks on people, abortions etc continually show an upward trend.
Therefore, what society needs in order to improve morality, is a universal, decisive and clear deontological moral ethic, like Natural Law, that everyone should follow.
* A supporter of this was Pope Benedict: he called modern ethics a ‘dictatorship of relativism’. What he is saying is that society needs a common, clear and decisive ethical standard: something that Natural Law could provide.
Natural Law promotes human rights
* This can be seen in the ‘Human Rights Charter of the United Nations’ signed in 1947.
* Some of the main rights that were agreed upon were:
’The right to life’, ‘The right to an education’ etc. Thes are similar to some of Natural Laws Primary Precepts.
Natural Law is Objective
• Natural Law is completely objective (it is not biased by our own feelings and desires). This is a good basis for ethics because Natural Law is constant and will not change to match any emotional whim.

Question 30

Weaknesses of natural law

Answer 30

Natural Law ignores consequences
* Natural Law ignores any potential bad consequences of our actions.
* For example, a Natural Law secondary precept is that
’contraception is wrong’ because it breaks the Primary
* Precept of ‘reproduction’.
* However, the consequences of this is that poor families, particularly in third world countries, are having children they can ill afford to bring up. Thus creating greater poverty and suffering.
* Natural Law ignores these bad consequences.
People are different
Natural Law states that God made us all the same - with the same 5 primary precepts (POWER).
Therefore, we all have the same purposes in life (the primary precepts) and thus can be judged by the same Secondary Precepts.
* This is an issue taken up by Philosopher Gareth Moore.
He claims people are different, for example, we are affected uniquely affected by our culture and up-bringing.
* Therefore, it can seem unjust to judge all people, on the same five criteria (the primary precepts).
Secular Society
* We live in a Secular Society (a declining religious society). Thus, Natural Law can seem irrélevant because Natural Law is based on the idea that God created us and we all have the same God given reason.
* This is something that society does not generally believe in anymore.
Postmodern Society
• Moreover, Sociologists argue we live in a Postmodern society (that includes the idea that people are not inclined to accept deontological rules). Therefore, Natural Law does not fit with Postmodern Society because Natural Law has fixed.