Natural Law

Question 1

Four tiers of law

Answer 1

Good and evil are determined by God who is omniscient- eternal law
God also gives us the ability to reason and therefore we can understand good and evil by working it out- natural law
Good and evil are known to humans through the revelation of God- divine law
Everyday rules we create through knowledge of divine law and natural law- human law

Question 2

Who came up with natural law?

Answer 2

Aquinas

Question 3

Doctrine of double effect

Answer 3

It is acceptable to do something good if it unintentionally brings about bad consequences

Question 4

Real good

Answer 4

Something that is good according to natural law

Question 5

Apparent good

Answer 5

A mistake, and it diminishes a persons human nature

Question 6

Telos

Answer 6

Our end goal or purpose

Question 7

What are the five primary precepts?

Answer 7

Preservation of life
Ordered society
Worshipping God
Education and nurture of children
Reproduction

Question 8

Secondary precepts

Answer 8

More specific rules that can be deducted from the primary precepts

Question 9

Strengths if natural law

Answer 9

Absolutist theory- offers clarity and firm moral principles
Primary precepts are mostly agreed upon as desirable goods in human life
Secondary precepts allow reasoning within the context of society
Natural law values life and rights

Question 10

Weaknesses of natural law

Answer 10

It may be wrong to assume that there is a universal telos for human beings
Telos is natural- very subjective- people can claim that things are natural to them