Natural moral law

Question 1

what’s absolutism?

Answer 1

things are always right or wrong

Question 2

what’s deontoligical?

Answer 2

focused on the rightness or wrongness of the action itself

Question 3

what’s relativism?

Answer 3

things can be right or wrong depends on the situation

Question 4

what’s teleological?

Answer 4

the idea that goodness is determined by the outcome of an action

Question 5

pro’s of teleological ?

Answer 5

• allows opinions
• can create greater good
• flexible
• takes account of different circumstances

Question 6

con’s of teleological?

Answer 6

• some things seem morally wrong
• doesn’t take account of personal relationships

Question 7

pro’s of deontological?

Answer 7

• rules provide safety and protection
• rules help organisation
• clear guidelines on right and wrong

Question 8

con’s of deontological?

Answer 8

• can seem as intolerant of cultural diversity
• can’t take circumstances into approach
• inflexible

Question 9

what are Aquinas’ four tiers of law?

Answer 9

1. Eternal law
2. Divine law
3. Natural law
4. Human law

Question 10

what’s eternal law?

Answer 10

God made and controls the universe so they have always been true

Question 11

what’s divine law?

Answer 11

the law God revelaed in the bible eg the commandments,reveals God’s internal law

Question 12

what’s natural law?

Answer 12

moral law of God within human nature that makes divine law known

Question 13

what’s human law?

Answer 13

the law of nations which is derived from natural law

Question 14

what was Aquinas theory of following the precepts?

Answer 14

that you would always do good and won’t be able to do wrong and therefore are following nml

Question 15

what are the five precepts?

Answer 15

1.preservation of life
2.education
3.reproduction
4.orderly society
5.worship God

Question 16

what’s the syndersis rule?

Answer 16

always do good and avoid evil

Question 17

how did Aquinas interpret the second precepts compared to the catholic church?

Answer 17

viewed them as possible applications not rules where as manualists have made fixed second precepts such as no contraception

Question 18

what it telos?

Answer 18

humans having a purpose

Question 19

did Aquinas and Aristotle believe humans had a telos ?

Answer 19

yes, Aristotle believed this was found in rational thought, we are unique in being able to reflect our moral behavior

Question 20

is natural moral law deontological or telelogical ?

Answer 20

most people view is as deontological as it’s duty based

Question 21

is natural moral law deontological or telelogical ?

Answer 21

most people view is as deontological as it’s duty based

Question 22

Aquinas’ quote on nml?

Answer 22

‘natural law pertains to everything that makes for the preservation of human life’
‘that nature has taught to all animals’

Question 23

what’s eudaimonia ?

Answer 23

human flourishing, Aristotle believed this is the aim of human nature and is achieved by developing a good character enabling us to fulfill our functions

Question 24

what is sartre’s existentialism?

Answer 24

objects may have a fixed nature but humans are fundamentally different,we must decide for ourselves what our essence is

Question 25

what did Robert George and John Finnis believe about natural law?

Answer 25

saw natural law as both ethical theory and philosophy of law,arguing that although we need to think about consequence we also should not think the end justifies the means

Question 26

what’s the doctrine of the double efftec?

Answer 26

actions can have more than one effect

Question 27

what’s the most important thing according to the double efftect?

Answer 27

the intention,if good intention it is good regardless of outcome

Question 28

what need to be concerned when using the double effect?

Answer 28

intention (deontological) and results (consequetilist)

Question 29

what did Bernard Hoose do?

Answer 29

created the idea of the need for proportionalism eg a doctor giving enough morphine to stop pain but not to kill

Question 30

what are the requirements for the doctrine of double effect ?

Answer 30

1. act can’t be evil within itself
2. the evil and good must be at least equal
3. the intention of the person must be good
4. a proportionality serious reason must be to present to justify allowing the indirect bad effect

Question 31

can it be used to justify an action (yes)?

Answer 31

• realistic (solving the problem of two moral goods conflict)
• natural law should be take situationally
• it is proportional so creates flexibility and judgement
  it is teleological

Question 32

can it be used to justify an action (no)?

Answer 32

-‘good’ is too subjective
some people view it as sloppy morality to decide the rightness or wrongness by looking at the act,intention to irrelevant
- can produce an unexpected moral result