natural law

Question 1

what is telos for Aristotle

Answer 1

found in the rational thought and is why we are unique as we are able to use reason and reflect

Question 2

what is telos for Aquinas

Answer 2

developed Aristotle, as humans we are uniquely able to reflect on our moral behaviour and consider what we are doing is good or bad

Question 3

what is synderesis

Answer 3

do good and avoid evil

Question 4

what are the primary precepts

Answer 4

self-evident and are things that we are naturally inclined to pursue

Question 5

name the 5 precepts

Answer 5

preservation of innocent life, to reproduce, education, to live in an ordered society, to worship god

Question 6

what are the secondary precepts

Answer 6

humans use reason to apply the primary precepts. rules which are known as the secondary precepts

Question 7

an example of a secondary precept

Answer 7

do not murder (fulfils the precept of preserving innocent life)
do not abort (fulfils reproduction)

Question 8

what was the name of aquinas’ book

Answer 8

summa theologica

Question 9

what is ratio

Answer 9

god given reason

Question 10

what did Aquinas say everything is designed to do

Answer 10

reflect the image of god

Question 11

what is the four levels of law

Answer 11

the eternal law, divine law, natural law, human law

Question 12

what is natural law

Answer 12

the moral thinking that we are all able to do, whether or not we have the divine revelation of scripture. this capacity is given by god. involves rational reflection

Question 13

what did Aristotle view about natural law

Answer 13

the aim of human beings is eudaimonia (fulfilment, flourishing) the aim is to fulfil our telos by using human reasoning

Question 14

what does John Finns view about natural law

Answer 14

he uses Aristotles idea of practical reasoning or phronesis to suggest that there are certain basic goods of human flourishing eg knowledge. from these more specific rules can be put forward. Finns argues that although we should not think that the conseuquences of our actions of our actions, we should not think the ends justifies the means.

Question 15

natural law can be seen as a helpful way of making moral decisions because

Answer 15

1. the primary precepts are not particularly controversial. they are goods that are valued by all societies, both present and past
2. the primary precepts in particular lead natural law to predominantly be an absolutist ethical theory. this means that there is a clarity to its judgements
3. unlike other absolutist approaches to ethics, there is some flexibility in terms of the application of secondary precepts that may take situation into account. catholic interpretation not always been flexible
4. natural law leads to a belief in certain rights that exist regardless of context. the value of life, the right to education and to live in peace are seen as part of the natural order of the world
5. natural law affirms the importance of reason; humans are made in gods image and possess the rational capacity to work out right and wrong by observations of the world.

Question 16

natural law is unhelpful because

Answer 16

1. it can be argued that basic goods vary far more across societies than is generally realised. when these are taken to the level of secondary precepts, it becomes obvious that there are different attitudes to the value of life, which gods should be worshipped and how many people involved in marriages
2. as an absolutist theory, too legalistic and fixed on obeying the rules, particularly with obvious negative consequences. eg aids due to catholic disregard of contraception
3. natural law commits the naturalistic fallacy of observing what happens in the world and assuming that this is what must happen. attempts to define moral values in non moral terms
4. there is a tension between the clarity of the primary precepts and the flexibility of the secondary precepts. the catechism doesn’t recognise difficulty in claim that natural law is universal in its approach and application varies greatly

Question 17

what is Sartre’s existentialism

Answer 17

in contrast to essentialists ( aq and arist) Sartre’s view is that objects may have have fixed nature - for example a knife started as an idea in makers mind, is made for a purpose and must carry out that purpose. however human beings are fundamentally different. atheist = could only have purpose if made by god. he believes we came into existence first and then we must decide for ourselves what our essence is.

Question 18

what is essentialists

Answer 18

there is something that it is to be human that we cannot change even if we wish to. that we aim to fulfil primary precepts. aquinas and Aristotle

Question 19

what does Sartre mean when we live in bad faith

Answer 19

we have a tendency to deny our freedom and behave as if we were mere objects

Question 20

natural law is right to base ideas of right and wrong of telos because

Answer 20

1. if aquinas is right that there is an essential human nature, then there really is a good for all humans that they should strive towards
2. while aquinas supports telos with reason, divine command theory (based of revealed commands of god) makes a similar point via the revelation; the bible reveals the plans and purposes that god has for human beings in Jeremiah

Question 21

natural law is wrong to base ideas of right and wrong of telos because

Answer 21

1. aquinas may be making the mistake of assuming that all human beings have the same purposes; it may be possible that each of us has different purposes. aquinas himself seems to allow this in his recognition that priests who are called to celibacy are exempt from precept of reproduction.
2. existentialists dispute whether humans have any purpose except the ones they freely choose for themselves. if god doesn’t exist then it seems difficult to argue for objective human purpose
3. the scientific theory of evolution seems to suggest that purpose is not a feature of the world, but is rather something that human beings project onto natural world.
4. the idea of telos entails that some things are natural to human beings and other things are unnatural

Question 22

what is double effect

Answer 22

one action may produce several effects; some good some bad

Question 23

what does aquinas believe about double effect

Answer 23

the effect which is intended matters

Question 24

what is aquinas’ example of double affect

Answer 24

self-defence - if attacked and someone is trying to kill you your actions of fighting of would have two effects. one good of saving your life however bad if attacker killed. Aquinas argues not guilty of doing anything wrong, if you intend the good effect, you are not held responsible for secondary bad effect

Question 25

where would you apply double effect

Answer 25

euthanasia and abortion

Question 26

double effect is a good way of justifying moral actions because

Answer 26

1. double effect allows some flexibility in an otherwise rigid moral decision making procedure. an action that produces both good and bad effects is permitted as long as good one is intended 2. recognition of complexity of real-life situations. some absolutists such as Kant have no answer for situations where duties clash or competing goods cannot be achieved. DE allows sufficient consequential thinking into natural law to solve these cases

Question 27

double effect is not good because

Answer 27

1. idea that a bad effect us permitted if it is unintended and secondary is difficult to judge. almost impossible to genuinely judge the intention of a person. it may appear that someone was defending themselves but only they will know. 2. it is difficult to know how far to press the idea of double effect and which areas it might cover. the use of contraception in preventing aids proved a controversial idea for Roman Catholic Church. - slippery slope

Question 28

natural law and orientation to good

Answer 28

Aquinas believes that the whole of creation ordered by god and is orientated towards the good

Question 29

what's the orientation of creation

Answer 29

view that the world is an ordered place. god created it and left the logos or divine reason in it. this divine spark is within each of us, so the reasonable response of humans towards the ordered universe is to live an ordered life and virtuous actions. right actions are those that we are able to rightly reason

Question 30

who took the view of orientation of creation

Answer 30

Zeno and Marcus Aurelius

Question 31

who took the view of orientation of human beings

Answer 31

aquinas

Question 32

what is the view of orientation of human beings

Answer 32

uses Aristotles prime mover and universe is drawn towards it. people are created in the image of god, the most important part being ratio. the synderesis principle suggests that we are directed by something within us to pursue good and avoid evil. hence can achieve goodness if use reason correctly.

Question 33

what is aquinas' view on moral mistakes

Answer 33

follows socrates suggesting that no one ever deliberately does a wrong action. they make a reasoning error in pursuing an apparent good rather than a real good. eg affair

Question 34

there is an orientation towards the good because

Answer 34

1. stoicism and religious thinkers are able to appeal to the order present in creation - pales argument on design 2. aquinas is right that we do want to live well and we naturally aim for goodness/ happiness. where we miss this, it is because we are unclear on what goodness is or differ about how to achieve it, but our aim is nevertheless the same. 3. Aquinas' ideas on natural law give a dignity to human beings and places of faith in their ability to reason.

Question 35

there is not an orientation towards the good because

Answer 35

1. reacting the teleological view of the universe that comes from the assumption of God or gods. Modern evolutionary views suggest that the universe and life on earth are as a result of random chance and don't have any orientation or goal in mind. Dawkins famously suggests that evolution is a 'blind watchmaker' 2. the idea that humans have an orientation towards the good raises issues for some theologians. Augustine argues that humans are fallen and affected by original sin. this extends to our ability to make good moral decisions and act upon them. Our will is divided. Aquinas recognises this point to some extent but places more emphasis on the image of God, which goes us our 'ratio' or ability to reason. 3. there is some suggestion that although it is commendable that aquinas gives such priority to reason, he is being overly optimistic about what reason can achieve. 4. aquinas' view of real and apparent goods could be seen as a little naive. it seems that some humans knowingly commit evil actions, and it is mistaken to suggest they are merely pursuing apparent goods. a glance at the days news suggests not all humans gave a natural inclination towards doing gapped.