Natural Law

Question 1

Name Aquinas’ tiers of law

Answer 1

Eternal- God’s will for the universe
Divine- God’s laws and teachings (eg 10 commandments)
Natural- God given reason
Human- Law and rules made by man

Question 2

Name the primary precepts

Answer 2

Preserve life
Order society 
Worship God
Educate children 
Reproduce

Question 3

Give examples of some secondary precepts

Answer 3

It is wrong to kill
Criminals should be punished 
You should go to church 
Send your kids to school
Homosexuality is wrong

Question 4

Strengths of Natural Law

Answer 4

Natural law has clear, fixed principles, and can be easily applied to differing situations
Double effect explains how to deal with contradictions (is therefore easy to use in every unique situation)
It treats humans as mature, and rational
GROTIUS argued it does not require religion

Question 5

Criticisms of Natural Law

Answer 5

You cannot judge whether the intentions of the person are moral (eg self-defence vs murder)
The role of scriptures is reduced as it is dependant on religion
Augustine contradicts himself, as he says humans and fallen and therefore unable to reason
A heavily religious theory, as its dependant on worshipping God and divine law

Question 6

Explain the doctrine of double effect

Answer 6

If a moral action has an immoral side-effect, the action is still good.

Question 7

What is a telos?

Answer 7

A purpose or aim

Idea created by Aristotle, used by Aquinas

Question 8

What is eudaimonia?

Answer 8

True happiness, a state of human flourishing

Question 9

Whats the difference between ius and lex?

Answer 9

IUS- genuine written law, the letter of the law, statute law

LEX- the principle of law (conceptual, an idea)

Question 10

Define prudence

Answer 10

thinking with reason

Question 11

What did Aquinas say about prudence?

Answer 11

‘Prudence entails not only consideration of the reason but also the application of the action, which is the goal of practical reason’

Question 12

What are John Finnis’ ‘basic forms of human flourishing’?

Answer 12

basic goods, areas in which humans all need to flourish

1. Life
2. Knowledge
3. Play
4. Work
5. Aesthetic experience
6. Practical reason
7. Religion/ spirituality

Question 13

What are Finnis’ 5 requirements for flourishing?

Answer 13

We must pursue goodness
A coherent life plan
No arbitrary preferences among values 
Follow your conscience 
'The (limited) relevance of Conservatives

Question 14

What did Finnis believe about rights?

Answer 14

Every human has natural rights, eg the right not to be tortured

Question 15

Define casuistry

Answer 15

Applying double effect to natural law

Question 16

Strengths of Finnis’ Natural Law

Answer 16

Gives a purpose to the world
Universal and absolute
Gives humans rule and structure
Double effect helps people in conflicting issues
Focuses on human flourishing, rather than right or wrong
Trusts human reason
Primary precepts have universal consent

Question 17

Define real and apparent good

Answer 17

APPARENT- things that appear good

REAL- actual good

Question 18

Explain common goods

Answer 18

People realising their own basic values as well as other reasonable personal objectives

Question 19

What did G.E. Moore say about Natural Law?

Answer 19

Goodness cannot be defined by nature
Aquinas commits naturalist fallacy
You cannot derive an ought from an is ( so secondary precepts cannot be decided from primary)

Question 20

What does Peter Vardy say about Natural Law?

Answer 20

His view of human nature is too simple and therefore flawed

You can’t work from general principles to lesser purposes

Question 21

What does Kai Neilsen say about Natural Law?

Answer 21

There’s no single human nature common to all societies. Cultural relativism challenges natural law
Human nature is more complex because it is changeable eg sexuality

Question 22

What did Karl Barth say about Natural Law?

Answer 22

Human nature is too corrupt to be trusted

Not enough focus on the consideration go God and revelation in the Bible