Natural Law Flashcards
What is natural law
Normative theological ethical theory based on the work of Aristotle
What are Aquinas’ 3 perception
Key set of goals which he identifies as good
3 groups
What is group 1 of Aquinas’ precepts?
Basic inclination to go existing which all things share
Basic moral principle to preserve life
What is group 2 of Aquinas’ precepts?
Natural tendency which humans and animals share to mate and bring up their young
What is group 3 of Aquinas’ precepts?
Distinctively human ends accessible through reason
What does Aquinas think ‘good’ is
Whatever a man naturally seeks as goal
Good should be done and evil avoided
What are the 5 primary precepts and what group are they in?
POWER Preservation of life - G1 Reproduction - G2 Education - G2 Live in an ordered society - G3 Worship God - G3
What are secondary precepts?
Produced when primary precepts are applied to specific situations
Not as absolute and only apply in certain situations
E.g national laws vary
What are Aquinas’ universal laws and why did he make them?
Develops natural law on his Summa Theologica so it fits with Christian theology
Eternal law
Divine law
Natural law
Human law
What is eternal law
Gods will for how the universe is to be
Mind of God, so we have limited understand that’s why we have to use reason to find our goals
Within are laws that govern the creation of universe and life cycles
What is divine law
The law of God which is revealed to humans through the bible
Jesus brought divine law with him and taught it through sermon in the mount
Teaches us what we are capable of knowing
What is natural law
Do good and avoid evil
Right reason in accordance with human nature
Worked out by what is good for human flourishing.
What is human law
Laws made by process of rational argument
Must be In accordance with natural law or not justified
Quote from Bible to support natural law
The law that is written in men’s hearts
Romans 2:15
What theory did Aquinas reject
Divine command theory
Belief that something is right because God command it
He argues rightness in itself
What is Christian humanism
Idea that morality is rooted in reason rather than scripture, it is justified and developed in scripture
What are 3 terms that describe his theory
Absolutism because laws are the same regardless of situation. Universal norms
Deontological- acts are intrinsically good you don’t commit an action for the consequences
Legalism - the idea that people should invest religious laws in order to be good
How does Aquinas think we know how act morally?
Quote to support this
Unique ability of reason which is God given
Quote- the moral life is the life according to reason
Gerard Hughes opinion
In Cambridge dictionary of philosophy he says
It is through natural law in which humans are made distinct to everything else in the natural world
Advantages of natural law
Fair set of universal rules
Humans are at the centre of the approach
Use reason so can’t control secondary precepts
Helps form structured communities
Rational - common sense
Based on empirical observations
Flexible allows secondary precepts according to culture
All - encompassing- some issues genetics not in Bible
Disadvantages of natural law
Hardy and Gross say Aquinas view of human nature is too simple
Natural instincts could be gained through evolution and not God
Leases to immoral outcomes
Double effect
Agape- Jesus opposed legalism
Outdated
Naturalistic fallacy - is ought
What is the telos
Things on earth seek to achieve the goal
What did Aristotle think our telos was
To flourish as a community as he didn’t believe in life after death
Ius and lex
Lex is the letter of the law
Ius is the principle of the law
