Natural Law - Ethics

Question 1

What is Natural Law ethics based on?

Answer 1

Aristotelian teleology – the idea that everything has a nature which directs it towards its good end goal.

Question 2

Who Christianised the concept of telos?

Answer 2

Thomas Aquinas.

Question 3

According to Aquinas, who designed everything with a telos?

Answer 3

The Christian God, as part of his omnibenevolent plan.

Question 4

What is the Christian source of moral principles, according to Aquinas?

Answer 4

Both the Bible and natural law discernible through reason.

Question 5

What ability does human nature possess, according to Natural Law?

Answer 5

The God-given ability to reason and intuitively know moral precepts.

Question 6

What does Romans 2:14-15 suggest about morality?

Answer 6

That moral requirements are written on the hearts of all people, including Gentiles.

Question 7

What does ‘telos’ mean in Greek philosophy?

Answer 7

A thing’s behavioural inclination towards its good end due to its nature.

Question 8

Why do acorns become oak trees?

Answer 8

Because of their inherent nature, according to Natural Law.

Question 9

How is human telos known, according to Aquinas?

Answer 9

Through reason, which inclines humans to follow God’s morality.

Question 10

What distinguishes human behavior from that of animals?

Answer 10

Humans have free will and can choose to follow or ignore God’s moral law.

Question 11

What is eudaimonia?

Answer 11

Flourishing – a concept from Aristotle meaning human and societal well-being.

Question 12

How is societal harmony achieved in Natural Law ethics?

Answer 12

By individuals following the natural law designed by God.

Question 13

What happens to societies that reject Natural Law, according to Aquinas?

Answer 13

They degenerate morally and fail to flourish.

Question 14

What are the four tiers of law in Aquinas’ ethics?

Answer 14

Eternal law, divine law, natural law, and human law.

Question 15

What is eternal law?

Answer 15

God’s plan built into the nature of everything according to His omnibenevolent nature.

Question 16

What is divine law?

Answer 16

God’s revealed law found in the Bible.

Question 17

What is natural law?

Answer 17

The moral law embedded in human nature, discoverable through reason.

Question 18

What is human law?

Answer 18

Laws made by humans that should derive from natural and divine law.

Question 19

What is synderesis?

Answer 19

The habit or ability of reason to discover foundational moral principles.

Question 20

What is the synderesis rule?

Answer 20

That good must be done and evil avoided.

Question 21

What are the primary precepts?

Answer 21

Worship God, live in society, reproduce, educate, preserve life, and defend the innocent.

Question 22

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 22

More detailed ethical rules derived from primary precepts using reason.

Question 23

What is conscientia?

Answer 23

The application of reason to apply moral precepts to specific situations.

Question 24

What is the difference between interior and exterior acts?

Answer 24

Exterior acts are physical actions; interior acts are intentions.

Question 25

Why does intention matter in Natural Law?

Answer 25

Only actions with the right intention glorify God and fulfill human telos.

Question 26

What is a strength of telos-based ethics?

Answer 26

They are empirical and based on observable natural inclinations.

Question 27

Why do some argue telos is unscientific?

Answer 27

Because modern science rejects final causation.

Question 28

Who rejected final causation in science?

Answer 28

Francis Bacon.

Question 29

What does Sean Carroll argue about telos?

Answer 29

Purpose is not built into the universe’s architecture.

Question 30

What is Polkinghorne’s defense of telos?

Answer 30

Science cannot answer ‘why’ questions, so it cannot disprove purpose.

Question 31

What is Dawkins’ criticism of telos?

Answer 31

We should not assume there is a purpose just because we can ask 'why'.

Question 32

What is a strength of Natural Law regarding universal morality?

Answer 32

Primary precepts are found across all cultures.

Question 33

What does moral disagreement suggest against Natural Law?

Answer 33

That morality may be culturally conditioned, not innate.

Question 34

What is Fletcher’s view on ethics?

Answer 34

Ethics must be based on faith, not reason.

Question 35

What is Aquinas’ view on human reason after the Fall?

Answer 35

It was damaged but not destroyed.

Question 36

How does Aquinas differ from Augustine?

Answer 36

Aquinas believed passions can be governed by reason.

Question 37

What is Karl Barth’s criticism of Natural Theology?

Answer 37

Human reason is corrupted and cannot know God.

Question 38

What does Barth mean by 'the finite has no capacity for the infinite'?

Answer 38

Human minds cannot grasp God’s infinite nature.

Question 39

What is Aquinas’ response to Barth?

Answer 39

Reason is still capable of discovering some truths about God with grace.

Question 40

What makes Natural Law ethics accessible?

Answer 40

It is available to all humans through reason.

Question 41

What did Freud argue about religious morality?

Answer 41

It reflects primitive human thinking.

Question 42

Why might the primary precepts be seen as outdated?

Answer 42

They reflect socio-economic conditions of medieval times.

Question 43

What does Pope Benedict XVI argue about excluding religion?

Answer 43

It leads to a reductive and inhuman vision of society.

Question 44

What is the double effect doctrine?

Answer 44

Actions with good and bad effects are justified if the bad effect is unintended.

Question 45

What are the four conditions of the double effect?

Answer 45

Intentionality, proportionality, means-end, and nature of the act.

Question 46

What is an example Aquinas used to explain the double effect?

Answer 46

Killing in self-defence.

Question 47

Why is double effect considered unbiblical by some?

Answer 47

Biblical commands are absolute, regardless of intention.

Question 48

How does Natural Law defend the double effect?

Answer 48

It involves intention and application of general principles.

Question 49

How does proportionalism differ from Natural Law?

Answer 49

It allows breaking precepts if there is a proportionate reason.

Question 50

What condition of the double effect does proportionalism keep?

Answer 50

Proportionality.

Question 51

What is an ontic good?

Answer 51

Something that enables flourishing, like health or knowledge.

Question 52

What is an ontic evil?

Answer 52

Something that disables flourishing.

Question 53

What does Hoose argue about acts and morality?

Answer 53

Only the overall act can be morally judged, not its parts.

Question 54

What does John Paul II say about proportionalism?

Answer 54

It misdirects ethical action away from human telos.

Question 55

What is the purpose of Natural Law according to John Paul II?

Answer 55

To freely follow moral laws and reach our ultimate end.

Question 56

Why does Hoose criticize Natural Law's rigidity?

Answer 56

Because moral actions should be judged by outcomes, not rule-breaking.

Question 57

What is a key strength of proportionalism?

Answer 57

It offers flexibility and better moral decision-making in complex cases.

Question 58

What is the final critique of proportionalism?

Answer 58

It misunderstands the purpose of morality – to follow God’s law, not avoid suffering.

Question 59

Why is martyrdom relevant to Natural Law ethics?

Answer 59

It shows that following God’s law is more important than avoiding suffering.

Question 60

How did Cardinal Newman express commitment to morality?

Answer 60

By saying it's better for the world to end than to commit a single sin.

Question 61

Why is Natural Law not simply about happiness?

Answer 61

It’s about fulfilling our God-given telos.

Question 62

What does Aristotle say about flourishing?

Answer 62

It involves cultivating virtue, not just pleasure.

Question 63

How does Natural Law connect with Christian virtue?

Answer 63

It aligns our rational choices with God's design.

Question 64

What is a common Protestant critique of Natural Law?

Answer 64

It overemphasizes reason rather than sola scriptura.

Question 65

What role does conscience play in Natural Law?

Answer 65

It applies primary precepts to moral situations.

Question 66

What does 'beside the intention' mean in double effect?

Answer 66

The bad effect is foreseen but not intended.

Question 67

Why might contraception be allowed under Natural Law?

Answer 67

If used to prevent AIDS, it may be justified by the double effect.

Question 68

How do modern Catholics justify passive euthanasia?

Answer 68

As a double effect where death is a side-effect, not the intention.

Question 69

What does John Paul II say about intrinsically evil acts?

Answer 69

They can never be justified, even by good consequences.

Question 70

What defines an intrinsically evil act?

Answer 70

An act that cannot be ordered to God.

Question 71

Why is calculating ontic goods relevant?

Answer 71

To judge whether an act promotes flourishing.

Question 72

What does ‘eudaimonia’ mean in relation to telos?

Answer 72

It is the flourishing that results from following one’s telos.

Question 73

What does Aquinas believe about law and reason?

Answer 73

Law must be rooted in rational understanding of God's design.

Question 74

What does the double effect help distinguish?

Answer 74

Intended good vs. unintended but foreseen bad consequences.

Question 75

Why do some see Natural Law as outdated?

Answer 75

Because socio-economic changes have altered what is necessary for flourishing.

Question 76

How does Natural Law support moral realism?

Answer 76

It claims moral truths are based on human nature and reason.

Question 77

What role does original sin play in Natural Law?

Answer 77

It explains why people fail to follow their moral inclinations.

Question 78

What does Aquinas say about passions?

Answer 78

They can be natural if governed by reason.

Question 79

Why might proportionalism be better suited to modern ethics?

Answer 79

Because it deals flexibly with complex moral realities.