NATURAL LAW

Question 1

Eternal law

Answer 1

God’s mind and omnibenevolent plan for the universe – this is beyond our understanding.

Question 2

Divine law

Answer 2

Revelation - The Bible/Jesus.

Question 3

Natural law

Answer 3

The orientation towards the good built into our nature by God.

Question 4

Human law

Answer 4

The laws we make (which should follow the natural and divine law)

Question 5

Telos

Answer 5

Our purpose is to glorify God by following the primary precepts of natural law.

Question 6

Synderesis

Answer 6

The natural inclination to do good and avoid evil.

Question 7

Primary precepts

Answer 7

Preserve life
Reproduce
Ordered society
Worship
Learn/educate the young

Question 8

Link between primary and secondary

Answer 8

Applying primary precepts to moral actions/situations and get a secondary precept – a judgement on that particular action/situation. This process is called conscientia.

Question 9

Doctrine of double effect

Answer 9

Some actions have two effects – one that goes against the primary precepts, and one that fits with them. Aquinas says in situations like this, it is morally acceptable so long as you intended to bring about the good effect and the bad effect was beside your intention.

Question 10

J.S Mill on the divine law

Answer 10

The divine law of the bible – especially old testament – was clearly only relevant in an ancient more barbaric time. Similarly to natural law, made in the medieval time.

Question 11

Francis Bacon on telos

Answer 11

Science can explain everything in the universe, or is at least progressing towards explaining everything, without needing the concept of ‘purpose/telos’. The concept is unscientific.

Question 12

Polkinghorne’s defence of telos

Answer 12

Polkinghorne claims we do need the concept of purpose, to explain why the universe exists in the way it does - even if it is unscientific.

Question 13

Fletcher on cross-cultures

Answer 13

A weakness of Aquinas’ approach is cross-cultural moral differences. Different cultures have different moral views – e.g. some countries are more religious and thus ban euthanasia, but other countries allow euthanasia.

Question 14

St Paul quote

Answer 14

“The law of God is written on the heart of every human”

Question 15

Barth on reason

Answer 15

Rejected natural theology as placing a dangerous overreliance on human reason.
Reason is corrupted by original sin. Original sin might not have totally destroyed reason, but it does make it unreliable.

Question 16

Barth quote

Answer 16

“The finite has no capacity for the infinite”

Question 17

Defence against Barth

Answer 17

With natural law, reason isn’t grasping God’s infinite eternal law – just the lesser natural law within our nature.

Question 18

B.Hoose’s criticism

Answer 18

God designed the natural law and our telos within the garden of Eden. This means it only functions in our state of perfection. Back then, following the natural law perfectly enabled flourishing.
It needs to be more flexible.

Question 19

Real vs apparent goods

Answer 19

Real goods - intrinsically good actions which aren’t led by temptation or desire.
Apparent goods - actions led by temptation/desire which seem good at the time but have negative consequences.

Question 20

Aquinas quote on doctrine of double effect.

Answer 20

“Nothing hinders one act from having two effects…only one intended”

Question 21

Flaws of doctrine of double effect

Answer 21

How can we truly judge someones intentions?

Question 22

Catholic Church quote

Answer 22

“The natural law remains as a rule that binds men among themselves”

Question 23

Augustine on reason

Answer 23

Human reason was corrupted by the Fall.

Question 24

Mercier and Sperber on reason

Answer 24

We can never think truly rationally as we are affected by conformation bias - using reason to work in our favour.

Question 25

Maclyntyre on reason

Answer 25

“Rationality itself, whether theoretical or practical is a concept within history”

Question 26

Hobbes against synderesis

Answer 26

“The life of man; short, nasty, brutish”

Question 27

Bible quote for preserving life

Answer 27

“Do not kill”

Question 28

Bible quote for reproduction

Answer 28

“Be fruitful and multiply”

Question 29

Bible quote ordered society

Answer 29

“For there is no governing body except which God has established”

Question 30

Bible quote for worshipping God

Answer 30

“Worship the lord your God”

Question 31

Cicero quote

Answer 31

“Natural law is right reason in accordance with nature”

Question 32

John Finnis

Answer 32

Developed natural law in a modern perspective.
Humans need factors in order to flourish (eg work, play, friendship) - if they are deprived of these then they can’t flourish.

Question 33

Kenny on the doctrine of double effect

Answer 33

‘principle of double effect must form part of any rational system of morality…it makes a huge difference whether an outcome is intended or merely foreseen.’

Question 34

Weakness - vagueness

Answer 34

No concrete moral guidance given. simply knowing a general principle does not lead to any obvious specifics.

Question 35

Weakness - conflict

Answer 35

What if two precepts come into conflict?
eg HIV kills people so we must use birth control (condoms) to preserve life, but then you are forfeiting reproduction.

Question 36

Weakness - optimism

Answer 36

It views human nature in a very favourable light, it views human nature in a very favourable light.

Question 37

Weakness - God

Answer 37

Seems to require a fundamental belief in god and our values leading from this belief to be able to fully accept and apply natural law in our morality.

Question 38

Strength - objective

Answer 38

Gives us rules that are still true outside of our individual minds: factual and constant.

Question 39

Strength - supports human values and rights

Answer 39

Promotes and protects the ideas of human value and the absolute nature of human rights.