Natural law Flashcards
What is Natural Law primarily concerned with?
Natural Law is primarily concerned with moral principles derived from nature and human reason.
True or False: Natural Law is based on religious beliefs.
False: While it can be influenced by religion, Natural Law is based on human nature and reason.
Fill in the blank: Natural Law theory suggests that laws should reflect _______.
moral order
What are the two main types of laws in Natural Law theory?
Eternal Law and Human Law.
Which philosopher is most closely associated with Natural Law?
Thomas Aquinas.
Multiple Choice: What is a strength of Natural Law? A) It is flexible B) It provides universal moral standards C) It is purely subjective
B) It provides universal moral standards.
What is a key weakness of Natural Law?
It may not account for cultural differences in moral understanding.
Outdated can not be applied to moral situations we face in today’s modern society - Euthanasia
True or False: Natural Law claims that certain rights are inherent and universal.
True.
What are the primary precepts in Natural Law?
Preservation of life, reproduction, education of children, living in society, and worshiping God.
Fill in the blank: Natural Law is often critiqued for being too _______.
rigid
Short Answer: How does Natural Law view human laws that contradict moral principles?
Natural Law views such human laws as unjust and not valid.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a strength of Natural Law? A) It is easy to apply B) It is based on objective reality C) It ignores human emotions
B) It is based on objective reality.
What does the term ‘synderesis’ refer to in Natural Law?
Do good avoid evil
True or False: Natural Law is static and does not evolve over time.
False: While its core principles remain, interpretations can evolve, the secondary precepts allow for room to develop NL so that it is not static.
Fill in the blank: According to Natural Law, moral actions are those that align with _______.
human nature
What is the relationship between Natural Law and morality?
Natural Law posits that morality is derived from the natural order and human reason.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a criticism of Natural Law? A) It is too simplistic B) It is universally applicable C) It is based on rational thought
A) It is too simplistic.
What role does reason play in Natural Law?
Reason is essential for understanding and applying Natural Law. Reason is Ratio it is God given to go against our reason when infering what primary principle we should follow is to go against Gods will.
True or False: Natural Law allows for situational ethics.
False: Natural Law emphasizes absolute moral principles.
What is ‘natural rights’ in the context of Natural Law?
Rights that individuals possess simply by being human, derived from Natural Law.
Fill in the blank: Natural Law is often contrasted with _______.
Legal positivism
Short Answer: How does Natural Law address issues of justice?
Natural Law asserts that justice is achieved when human laws align with moral principles derived from nature.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a primary precept of Natural Law? A) Preservation of life B) Pursuit of happiness C) Education of children
B) Pursuit of happiness.
What is the significance of ‘the common good’ in Natural Law?
It emphasizes that moral actions should benefit the community and society as a whole.
True or False: Natural Law can be applied to modern ethical dilemmas.
True.
What are real and apparent goods?
Sometimes we do the wrong thing because we confuse real goods with apparent goods
APPARENT GOODS - misguided by sin or by emotions and choose the wrong thing
REAL GOODS - are the only acts we should aim to do.
What is the doctrine of double effect?
sometimes an action can be performed even if it has secondary negative consequences
This is because the intention of the act is something positive.
What are the 5 primary precepts
-preservation of innocent life
-reproduction
-education
-live in an ordered society
-worship God
Aquinas quote from Summa theologica
‘Good is to be done and pursued and evil is to be avoided’
ARISTOTLES VIEW
Virtue ethics
everything in nature has a final cause and that human should aim for eudaimonia (concept of eternal happiness)
Concept of 4 causes - provide basis for Aquinas belief that morality is built into nature
Cicero
supports idea that NL is universal and applies to all humans
NL is that ‘right reason in agreement with nature’ and is the same everywhere
Hugo Grotius
secular nL
argues that NL exists independently of God
Believed morality is rational and objective, making it possible for non-religious people to follow
Does religion have a role in society any more
SECULARISM - Dawkins - NO
religion is the root of all evil
Freud - NO
comparable to childhood neurosis
Bernard Hoose
argued rigid application of Nl is flawed of NL is flawed
suggested that sometimes breaking a moral rule could lead to a greater good.
Kai nelson/ JL Makie
there is no universal human nature - morality shaped by culture
