Natural Law

Question 1

What are Aristotle’s four causes and their meanings?

Answer 1

Material-what something’s made of
Formal-the shape
Efficient-how good it is, how its made
Final-the purpose

Question 2

Define Eudemonia

Answer 2

Fulfilling your purpose, contributing to society

Question 3

According to Thomas Aquinas, what is our purpose?

Answer 3

To perfectly reflect Gods image

Question 4

List all five of the primary precepts

Answer 4

To reproduce
To learn
To live harmoniously
To preserve life
To worship

Question 5

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 5

Precepts derived from the primary precepts

Question 6

Define Synderesis

Answer 6

Synderesis is what we do when working out the secondary precepts from the primary precepts

Question 7

What is Hierarchy of Law? list its components

Answer 7

Heirachy of law is the laws in order of importance:

Eternal law-Gods intentions that we do not understand
Divine law-The bible and the church
Natural Law-human ability to reason
Human law-man made laws that an be ignored if they come into conflict with the above

Question 8

Define Double Effect

Answer 8

Your intention was good but you end up breaking a precept as a consequence. As your intention was good you have not technically committed a wrong act. For example if a woman’s life was in danger due to pregnancy and the only way to save her was to abort the baby then, although the precept “to preserve life” has been broken it was only done to save a life.

Question 9

Define proportionalism

Answer 9

Sometimes it is necessary to commit a wrong act because the problem it solves would be have graver consequences than the wrong act itself. For example giving a women a life saving operation that will result in the death of her foetus.