Natural Law Theory

Question 1

Normative ethical theories

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Meta-ethical theories

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Natural Law Theory

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Is natural law fixed or changeable?

Answer 4

Fixed - depends on using reason to determine right or wrong

Question 5

Is human law fixed or changeable?

Answer 5

Changeable - varies from culture to culture and over time

Question 6

What is the meaning of telos?

Answer 6

Purpose

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Eudaemonia - excellence or happiness

Question 8

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

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What did Aristotle believe about eudaemonia?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What were Aquinas’ four tiers of law?

Answer 11

Eternal law
Divine law
Natural law
Human law

Question 12

Eternal law

Answer 12

The principles by which God created and controls the universe

Question 13

Divine law

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Natural Law (as part of the four tiers)

Answer 14

Using reason to determine right and wrong

Question 15

Human law

Answer 15

Laws created within human societies

Question 16

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

Answer 16

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

Question 17

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

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What do the four virtues do?

Answer 18

Help us achieve our telos

Question 19

How many commandments did Aquinas believe humans would follow naturally?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What did Augustine believe about morality?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Did Aquinas agree with Augustine about morality?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

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

Answer 22

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

Question 23

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

Answer 23

To be united with God in the next life

Question 24

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

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What did Aquinas believe about sin?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

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

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Doctrine of double effect

Answer 27

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)

Question 28

Is killing as a form of self defence permissible?

Answer 28

Yes because it uses the doctrine of double effect

Question 29

Did Aquinas believe motives or consequences are more important?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What is the 'Key Precept'?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What are the five 'Primary Precepts'?

Answer 31

``` Our purposes on earth: Learning Reproduction Preserving life The upkeep of society Worshipping God ```

Question 32

How many 'secondary precepts' are there?

Answer 32

A large number

Question 33

Is natural Law theory factual?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Aquinas

Answer 34

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274)

Question 35

Aristotle

Answer 35

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

Question 36

Augustine

Answer 36

Augustine of Hippo - North Africa | 354-430 AD