Natural Law Essay Plan

Question 1

What is the definition of natural law ?

Answer 1

Deontológicas theory that is based on behaviour that fits with given laws or moral rules that exist independently of human societies and systems

Question 2

Who was natural law initially proposed by ?

Answer 2

Aquinas 13th century philosopher

Question 3

Which scholars will you be using ?

Answer 3

Finnis Aristotle aquinas
Fletcher

Question 4

What is the point in para 1?

Answer 4

Helps society today
Conservative catholics - we need to follow gods natural law in order to flourish - Aristotle telos - endemonia
Secular western culture - doesn’t follow primary and secondary presets
Uk marriages - 42 percent end in divorce

Question 5

What is the counter argument in para 1?

Answer 5

Outdated
Medieval society more chaotic due to political instability and religious upheaval
Strict absolutist principles needed
TALK ABOUT PRI PRECEPTS HERE
Why there needed
Socio economic conditions changed
Also causes discrimination
Reproduction pp causes homophobia
Doesn’t take into account the spread of HIV - as a result of catholic teaching opposing contraception

Question 6

How will you counteract the counteractment in para ?

Answer 6

HIV spread - could be to do with how the theory has been interpreted rather than anything to do with the theory itself

Question 7

What is the point in para 2 ?

Answer 7

Aquinas - fits into all societies they have cross cultural core similarities and its absolutist so universal
All cultures value reproduction and education - we have a telos to follow them

Question 8

What is the counter argument of para 2 ?

Answer 8

Fletcher - diff cultures have diff moral views
Aquinas wrong to believe we are all born with the same moral compass
Simplification of human behaviour and purpose suggests our activities are driven towards a single end
Also worshipping God wont fit into atheist societies
Using narrow rules cause division in society
Too simplistic - humans do not have a single ‘fixed’ human nature

Question 9

How will you counteract the counter argument in para 2 ?

Answer 9

John Finnis - uses Aristóteles ideas of practical reasoning or prhonesis to suggest that there are certain basic goods of human flourishing
Doesn’t requir a belief in god to follow natural law - its based on empirical evidence which are available to all
If someone is an atheist its fine because aquinas was celibate even thoug pp was reproduction - as long as the majority of society is following it