Natural Law Flashcards
What must you remember for natural law
Aquinas natural law + telos
Four tiers of law (eternal, divine, natural, human)
The precepts (always do good, POWER, primary, secondary)
What is Telos and what did Aquinas believe about it
End/Purpose, Aquinas believed that we all have a purpose (final cause) that we must fulfil by completing the precepts. This is a follow on from Aristotle’s causes (MEFF)
What are the four tiers of law
Eternal
Divine
Natural
Human
What is eternal law in the tiers of law
Law that is known in the mind of God, it is knowledge of what is right or wrong that cannot be understood on a human level
What is divine law in the tiers of law
Law that is revealed by God through commandments and teachings, we can use our rationality to understand God through these scriptures
What is natural law in the tiers of law
Law that we can recognise through being rational, Aquinas believed that every human has the God given power to be rational and understand good and bad
What is human law in the tiers of law
Law that is created by humans and in which governs society
What are the features of Natural law
it is absolutist meaning that its created by set rules
it is deontological, caring about the action (or intention) not the outcome
What is the main moral rule Aquinas uses (or very first precept)
‘Do good and avoid evil’ (synderesis)
What are the primary precepts in Natural Law
Preserve life
Ordered society
Worship God
Educate children
Reproduce
What are the secondary precepts in Natural Law
Not specific but can be:
Do not murder
Do not abort the unborn
Defend the defenceless
Go to Church
Obey laws
(etc)
What are interior and exterior acts and why are they important in Natural Law
Interior - thoughts
Exterior - actions
We must use our reason correctly to do the right thing
What are real and apparent goods in Natural Law
Real good - the right thing to do
Apparent good - something we think is good but isn’t
What ethics can you apply to Natural Law (+ doctrine of double effect)
Sexual ethics - real and apparent goods as a husband may be committing adultery as he believes he is in love
Euthanasia - Doctor uses euthanasia, he has ended life but his intentions were to end suffering which can be seen as a secondary precept, for Aquinas it is intention that matters
Abortion - Cannot abort as focus is on sanctity of life in natural law
The doctrine of double effect is that some things have both good and bad consequences (euthanasia) For Aquinas it is the intention that matters
What are strengths of Natural Law
Absolutist, you must follow the 5 primary precepts gang
Absolutist but allows flexibility in secondary precepts
Natural law looks at intention rather than consequence
