Natural Law Flashcards
What was Aquinas’ view on telos?
Telos is a source of Christian moral principles.
How was Aquinas influenced by Aristotle?
There is a natural end to all beings.
Everything has a purpose built into it by its nature.
Whereas Aristotle thought the final cause of all
things was a prime mover, Aquinas thought that it was the Christian God.
Aquinas quote on natural law
“our light of reason is placed by nature in every man, to guide him in his acts towards his end” -Aquinas
The eternal Law
Gods plan, built into the nature of everything which exists, according to his omnibenevolent nature.
The divine law
Gods revelation to humans in the Bible.
The natural law
The moral law God created in human nature, discoverable by human reason.
Human law
The laws humans make which should be based on the natural and divine law.
How did aquinas believe morality could be known?
aquinas believed morality was knowable by only reason
What is the root of morality?
he believed reason was the root of morality not scripture
