natural law

Question 1

aquinas’ book -

Answer 1

summa theologica

Question 2

natural law is a system of law based on the close …

Answer 2

observation of natural order in the world

Question 3

telos

Answer 3

aquinas believed everything has a purpose

the telos of humans is the goodness of God

Question 4

telos AO2

Answer 4

it is empirical - its a biological fact that certain behaviours cause an organism to flourish
HOWEVER
the reason for the orientation towards certain behaviours is because evolution programmed them into us - enables survival
HOWEVER
polkinghorne - science is limited, explains the what but not the why
HOWEVER
Dawkins - not valid to assume there is a why

Question 5

telos aquinas quote

Answer 5

the light of reason is placed in every man

Question 6

4 tiers of law

Answer 6

1) eternal law
2) divine law
3) natural law
4) human law

Question 7

4 tiers of law - eternal

Answer 7

gods plan built into the nature of everything
highest form

Question 8

4 tiers of law - divine law

Answer 8

god’s revelation to humans in the bible

Question 9

4 tiers of law - natural law

Answer 9

the moral law god created in human nature

universal

Question 10

4 tiers of law - human law

Answer 10

laws humans make
if it contradicts with higher forms it can be broken

Question 11

synderesis

Answer 11

do good and avoid evil

Question 12

primary precepts

Answer 12

protect and preserve life
live in an orderly society
worship god
educate people about god
reproduce

POWER

all born with ability to know them

Question 13

primary precepts AO2

Answer 13

if all hum and are for with the ability to know these we should expect to find more moral agreements than we do

freud - may just be social conditioning

its outdates - medieval society = chaotic and so needed absolutist ethical principles
in secular society we don’t need them

Question 14

secondary precepts

Answer 14

deduced from primary precepts

applications of the PP in certain situations

e.g preserve life = abortion is wrong

Question 15

cardinal values

Answer 15

prudence
temperance
justice
fortitude

required for us to achieve human fulfilment

Question 16

cardinal values AO2

Answer 16

John finnis
humans desire to pursue a number of goods in life

Question 17

real goods

Answer 17

in accordance to the PP
contribute to0 eudaemonia

Question 18

apparent goods

Answer 18

tempt us
don’t further promote human flourishing

Question 19

doctrine of double effect

Answer 19

a single action has 2 effects
intention is important - if intention is good the action cannot be bad

Question 20

ao2 NL follows the bible

Answer 20

exodus ‘do not steal’
PP - live in an orderly society
HOWEVER
does conflict
corinthians ST PAul praises celibacy - contradicts PP reproduce

Question 21

ao2 utilitarianism

Answer 21

points to many cases in which upholding a rule causes more pain than pleasure

NL takes no account of the situation and or consequences

Question 22

NL ignores agape ao2

Answer 22

its based on fixed deontological rules so agape is not. major element

love strongly features in the bible - love thy neighbour

Question 23

NL promotes human rights

Answer 23

human rights charter - ‘the right to life’ right to education’

vary - nazis tried according to universal moral laws modelled on NL thinking

Question 24

ao2 cross culturally

Answer 24

there is a core set of moral views found cross-cultural
HOWEVER
could result from the basic requirement of a society to function - a practical basis not God

Question 25

ao2 Karl barth

Answer 25

NL places a dangerous reliance on human reason

Barth - the fall corrupted the ability to reason

Question 26

ao2 constant

Answer 26

it is objective as it gives us rules independent of our individual thoughts and desires - not biased by desires and feelings
= its constant