Natural law key terms Flashcards
Aristotle’s idea of happiness:
Happiness is achieved by reaching ‘eudaimonia’, the full flourishing of a person. More than just simple flourishing.
Cicero
A roman, 106-43BC., ‘One eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and for all times’
St Thomas Aquinas
Italian friar, Catholic priest and philosopher
‘Beatific vision’:
Where human beings ‘attain their last end by knowing and loving God’, full flourishing with God in the afterlife.
Eternal law
God’s law over the whole of creation, knowledge that is not available to humans
Divine law
God’s revealed truths, such as in the 10 commandments
Natural law
General principles for living, based on human biology and revealed purposes of life
Human law
Practical laws for humans, ideally based on natural law
What is Aquinas’ most key rule?
The rule of synderesis
What is the rule of synderesis?
‘good is to be sought and done, evil to be avoided’ (Summa Theologica)
Five primary precepts: (Aquinas doesn’t use this term)
Preservation of life
Ordered society
Worship of God
Education
Reproduction
What a secondary precepts?
Rules based upon primary precepts
What do we mean when we say manualistic in relation to the catholic church?
When teachings become more like a strict textbook
What does the latin term ‘lex’ mean?
A specific rule or regulation
What does the latin term ‘ius’ mean?
A principle rather than exact wording. This word etymologically leads our word: ‘Justice’
What did Pope John Paul II claim?
1990 - claimed that condoms were a sin in any circumstance
What did Pope Francis claim?
2016 - claimed that condoms were fine when trying to prevent transmitting Zika infections
What is a real good?
Something that fits in with one of the five primary precepts
What is an apparent good?
May seem good, but does not fit into one of the 5 precepts. However, an apparent good cannot be really evil.
What is double effect?
Term not used by Aquinas, but added later: ‘two effects, only one of which is intended, while the other is beside the intention’
What is the principle of forfeiture?
A term not used by Aquinas, but coined later: if a person attacks another human, they are forfeiting their own right to life
What is causistry?
The name of given to the process of applying natural law principles to specific situations
What are the four cardinal virtues?
(From Greek philosophy - particularly Plato):
- Courage
- Temperance
- Prudence
- Justice
What does John Finnis (b. 1940) believe?
Most people are atheist, and so he aims to create a version of natural law that does not depend on the existence of God.
What did Finnis replace Aquinas’ primary precepts with?
Basic goods, e.g.,
adding: Friendship, sociability, play and aesthetic experience
