Natural Law

Question 1

According to Aristotle, what are humans?

Answer 1

‘rational animals’, far more complicated than other beings as we have the ability to reason

As complex animals our design/purpose must be more complex - this is eudaimonia (happiness) - state of content

using reason we can achieve telos and be moral

Question 2

Aquinas birth/death

Answer 2

1224-1274

Question 3

How did Aquinas use Aristotle

Answer 3

Used aristotles concept of telos and reason but applied it with a christian sense.
Telos changes from happiness in this life to happiness and fulfilment of eternal life with God.

Question 4

Aquinas quote about NL

Answer 4

‘Natural law is the sharing in the eternal law by intellectual creatures’

Question 5

What else does Aquinas emphasis?

Answer 5

Reason
but we share some common characteristics with animals (fear,hate,desire for food…) its is our rational faculties that make us special

Question 6

What was Aquinas starting point?

Answer 6

The synderesis rule - ‘do good,avoid evil’

- believed all humans innately follow this rule

Question 7

Where does inner morality come from?

Answer 7

The four laws

• eternal law - the designers plan, everlasting and unchanging
• Divine law - scripture, the manual where we understand eternal law
• Natural law - what we observe - the natural order around us - (in essence the primary precepts)
• Human law - what we write down based on natural law - (secondary precepts)

Question 8

What are the 5 primary precepts?

Answer 8

P - preserve life 
O - order society (live in)
W - worship god
E - educate the youth 
R - reproduce

Question 9

What rules do we follow?

Answer 9

Secondary precepts/human laws are deducted from the primary precepts or what we observe in nature.
e.g ;
PP- preserve life
SP - murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide.. are wrong

Question 10

What was Aquinas mistake?

Answer 10

Thought all humans can’t actually sin (synderesis rule) but we can make mistakes.

Question 11

Reasons for our actions….

Answer 11

• must condsider motive. A good act only good if intention is good. Deontological theory. This is a real / interior cause. E.g give to charity as its a worthy cause
• an apparent or exterior good is when we mistakenly act thinking an action is good - not done for exterior gain or gratification

Question 12

what happens if theres a clash between the primary precepts?

Answer 12

e.g. ectopic pregnncy = reproduce & preserve life

Doctrine of Double Effect
-Action may be performed provided the intention and outcome is good but it is acknowledged that there is a bad side-effect. Side effect must be only foresaw not intended.

If theres another clash could apply the divine law