Natural law AS Flashcards
What are the four levels of law?
Eternal, divine, natural and human
What is the main idea around natural law?
The idea that the universe has a natural order that works ti achieve a telos and humans are part of the natural order so also have purpose. People should use reason to achieve eudaimonia.
Is natural law teleological or deontological?
Could be seen as either - telos of eudaimonia but a focus on how we should behave to achieve it.
What is the telos of NL?
Eudaimonia
What did Cicero say?
“True law is right reason in agreement with nature”.
What did Aquinas and Aristotle agree on?
Rationality was a key element to human existence and that everything had a purpose.
What did Aquinas and Aristotle disagree on?
Aquinas believed that our purpose was God given.
Is NL relative or absolute?
Absolute
What is eternal law?
We only know part as it refers to the way that God governs the universe.
What is Divine law?
The Bible which guides us to reaching our goal of perfection but Aquinas said that we can only achieve this goal after death.
What is human law?
A recognition for the need to seek a common good.
What are the primary precepts?
- Preserve innocent life
- Orderly living in society
- Worship God
- Educate children
- Reproduce to continue the species
How do we know the primary precepts?
They are self evident and universal.
What are the three revealed virtues/ articles of faith?
Faith, hope and love
What does Corinthians say?
“And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love.”
What is beatific vision?
State of perfect happiness with supernatural union with God.
What are the cardinal virtues?
Prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice
What is prudence?
The capability and competency of rational evaluation - to be able to make sound judgements in reasoning.
What is temperance?
Moderation and be linked to the doctrine of the mean.
What is fortitude?
The virtue of courage which incorporates discipline, patience, endurance and perseverance.
What internal and external acts?
The intention and the action.
What is the doctrine of double effect?
Even if good acts result in bad consequences, it it still right to do that act.
Give an example of the doctrine of double effect.
A pregnant mother is treated for cancer and the unborn baby dies.
What are real and apparent goods?
Right and wrong reasoning, the ability to reason
Who first made the distinction between real and apparent goods?
Socrates said that we never desire anything that we do not judge to be good.
According to Aquinas, why can we be lead astray to choose things that we desire?
Our fallen nature
Give an example of an apparent good.
Eating as much food as possible because it tastes good but this breaks the virtue of temperance and cultivates a greedy character.
