Natural Law Theory - Content

Question 1

Define telos

Answer 1

Telos is a things behavioural inclination towards its good, due to its nature.

Question 2

How did God design telos in respect to natural law?

Answer 2

God designed telos such that harmony is achieved by following Natural Law.

Question 3

What is the synderesis rule?

Answer 3

We all seek the good as our telos and consequentially avoid evil - the privation of good.

Question 4

State the 5 primary precepts

Answer 4

Preserve life
Orderly society
Worship God
Education
Reproduction
(Acronym POWER)

Question 5

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 5

Secondary precepts are the judgements we get from applying the primary precepts

For example ‘Do not murder!’ is a judgement we get from applying ‘Preserve life!’

Question 6

What is Eternal Law?

Answer 6

Eternal law is the tier of law which encapsulates God’s plan built into the nature of everything that exists.

Question 7

What is Divine/Revealed Law?

Answer 7

Divine/Revealed law is God’s revelation through the Bible and character of Jesus Christ.

Question 8

What is Natural Law?

Answer 8

Natural law is the moral law encoded into human nature, discovered through human reason.

Question 9

What is human law?

Answer 9

Human law is the legislation we make that which should be based on the natural and divine/revealed law.

Question 10

What is the double effect doctrine?

Answer 10

An action can both follow and violate the 5 primary precepts. Aquinas argues the action is justified as good as the bad effect is beside the intention.

Question 11

What is considered being good within the context of natural law?

Answer 11

Being good involves becoming virtuous through the intention to follow natural law.