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PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS AS > Natural Law Theory > Flashcards

Natural Law Theory Flashcards

1
Q

Normative ethical theories

A

Tell you what is wrong in relation to being moral in practise

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2
Q

Meta-ethical theories

A

Ask about the language used - how are words like ‘good’, ‘bad’ and ‘wrong’ used when ethical statements are made.

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3
Q

Natural Law Theory

A

To behave naturally and to behave morally are one in the same thing - morality and justice are biologically built into human nature

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4
Q

Is natural law fixed or changeable?

A

Fixed - depends on using reason to determine right or wrong

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5
Q

Is human law fixed or changeable?

A

Changeable - varies from culture to culture and over time

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6
Q

What is the meaning of telos?

A

Purpose

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7
Q

What, according to Thomas Aquinas, do humans have to achieve in order to achieve their telos?

A

Eudaemonia - excellence or happiness

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8
Q

Can eudaemonia be achieved in this lifetime according to Thomas Aquinas?

A

No - it can only be achieved when we reach heaven because we need God to restore our goodness since we have inherited sin from Adam and Eve and so it is impossible for us to behave completely morally and achieve eudaemonia

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9
Q

According to Aquinas, what do we need to do in order to get to heaven?

A

We need to live our lives as God’s servants and do as He intended them to do

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10
Q

What did Aristotle believe about eudaemonia?

A

He believed that it can be achieved in this lifetime through living as part of a polis or community

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11
Q

What were Aquinas’ four tiers of law?

A

Eternal law
Divine law
Natural law
Human law

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12
Q

Eternal law

A

The principles by which God created and controls the universe

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13
Q

Divine law

A

Direct laws from God, e.g. The Ten Commandments

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14
Q

Natural Law (as part of the four tiers)

A

Using reason to determine right and wrong

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15
Q

Human law

A

Laws created within human societies

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16
Q

Aquinas believed that God created humans to be reasonable - what did this lead him to believe about natural law?

A

He believed that natural law depended on reason, which is indirectly dependent on God as God created us to be reasonable

17
Q

What are the four natural virtues that we can discover using our reason?

A 
Fortitude -strength 
justice - fairness 
Temperance - patient and balanced 
Prudence - cautious 
Humans naturally possess these virtues
18
Q

What do the four virtues do?

A

Help us achieve our telos

19
Q

How many commandments did Aquinas believe humans would follow naturally?

A

Nine out of ten - they would not follow the sabbath commandment naturally as it is unlikely that it is built into our instincts to rest on a particular day

20
Q

What did Augustine believe about morality?

A

Humans had been corrupted by the Fall so they can no longer know what is good

21
Q

Did Aquinas agree with Augustine about morality?

A

No - he thought that all humans want the good - which is God - whether they believe in God or not. Natural Law enables everyone to live a virtuous life

22
Q

Why did Aquinas believe that humans share a common nature with god?

A

God created human beings so they could appreciate a companionship with him - they are also created in gods image

23
Q

What did Aquinas believe the main purpose of every human to be?

A

To be united with God in the next life

24
Q

What, apart from being united with god in the next life, other purposes did Aquinas believe that humans have?

A

Reproduction, learning, preserving life, worshipping God and the upkeep of a fair and efficient society

25
Q

What did Aquinas believe about sin?

A

It is a consequence of ignorance - it goes against natural law and so against God by acting in a way which is less than what he would expect of us

26
Q

What, according to Aquinas, do we need to do in order to consistently perform moral acts?

A

We need to practise performing them - train ourselves in what is right and wrong do that it becomes part of our nature - more retraining than training cos that’s part of our nature anyway

27
Q

Doctrine of double effect

A

If you do something morally right and it has a negative consequence, the action is still permissible as it was done with good intentions (e.g. abortion to save mothers life)

28
Q

Is killing as a form of self defence permissible?

A

Yes because it uses the doctrine of double effect

29
Q

Did Aquinas believe motives or consequences are more important?

A

Motives - as long as the consequence is not too terrible an action with a good motive is still permissible

30
Q

What is the ‘Key Precept’?

A

To do good things and not sin - the main message of natural law

31
Q

What are the five ‘Primary Precepts’?

A 
Our purposes on earth:
Learning
Reproduction 
Preserving life
The upkeep of society
Worshipping God
32
Q

How many ‘secondary precepts’ are there?

A

A large number

33
Q

Is natural Law theory factual?

A

No - there are many different ways in which individuals can form different perspectives and views

34
Q

Aquinas

A

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274)

35
Q

Aristotle

A

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

36
Q

Augustine

A

Augustine of Hippo - North Africa

354-430 AD

PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS AS (4 decks)

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