Natural Lq Flashcards
What does Natural Law theory claim?
We ought to do good and avoid evil by following the primary precepts.
According to Aqunias when is an action morally right or wrong?
An action that follows the primary precepts are right, and actions that violate the primary precepts are wrong.
What is the first level of Law?
The eternal law is Gods plan or blueprint built into the nature of everything that exists. this plan orders all things towards there purpose (telos). When something fulfils its purpose it follows the eternal law. We cannot fully understand the eternal law as we dont have the capacity to do so.
What is the second level of law?
The divine law is part of the eternal law that God revelas to people through divine revelation or scripture ( The Bible). this law directs humans on how to live, Jesus, also brought divine law with him.
What is the third level of law?
Natural Law is the part of the eternal law that is discoverable through the use of right reason (recta ratio). Natural law enables those who do not have access to the divine law to know the eternal law. Aquinas says that to follow the natural law, humans must reason correctly. Aquinas claims that huamns reason correctly when they fulfil their purpose in life, this is to achieve fellowship with God. purpose on earth is to follow the primary precepts.
What is the last level of law?
Huma law is the law that huamns have created to organise society. Aquinas believes that human law should always be influenced by divine law and natrual law.
What is the key precept?
“good is to be done and evil is to be avoided” - all other principles are based on this fundamental principle
What are the five primary precepts?
Preserve life, Order society, Worship God, Educate, Reproduce, these are rules to follow.
What are secondary precepts?
secondary precepts are rules derived from primary precepts, which give more guidance. For example from the primary precept ‘Preserve life’ the secondary principle ‘Do not smoke’ could be deduced by reason. The secondary precepts may be broken, if doing so helps to uphold the primary precepts.
How is Aquinas’s natural law theory deontological?
We have a duty to do good and avoid evil and thus follow the primary precepts.
How is aquians’s natrual law theory Teleological?
everything was created by God for a purpose or goal (telos). according to Aquinas, the purpose or goal of humans is to achieve fellowship with God in heaven.
What is a real good?
one that is actually good and aids an agent in achieving their ultimate purpose (fellowship with God)
What is an apparant good?
one that, while appaering to be good at first sight, is not actually good and does not lead humans towards achieving thier ultimate purpose.
What are the three revealed virtues?
faith, hope and love. Cultivation of these virtues is only possible through Gods grave and they cannot be fully achive in this life.
where in the Bible are these revealed?
1 Corinthinas “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love”.
What are the foru cardinal virtues?
prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. Cultivation of these virtues comes through habit and practice and will help humans to make correct moral decisions.
