Natural moral law Flashcards
what’s absolutism?
things are always right or wrong
what’s deontoligical?
focused on the rightness or wrongness of the action itself
what’s relativism?
things can be right or wrong depends on the situation
what’s teleological?
the idea that goodness is determined by the outcome of an action
pro’s of teleological ?
- allows opinions
- can create greater good
- flexible
- takes account of different circumstances
con’s of teleological?
- some things seem morally wrong
- doesn’t take account of personal relationships
pro’s of deontological?
- rules provide safety and protection
- rules help organisation
- clear guidelines on right and wrong
con’s of deontological?
- can seem as intolerant of cultural diversity
- can’t take circumstances into approach
- inflexible
what are Aquinas’ four tiers of law?
- Eternal law
- Divine law
- Natural law
- Human law
what’s eternal law?
God made and controls the universe so they have always been true
what’s divine law?
the law God revelaed in the bible eg the commandments,reveals God’s internal law
what’s natural law?
moral law of God within human nature that makes divine law known
what’s human law?
the law of nations which is derived from natural law
what was Aquinas theory of following the precepts?
that you would always do good and won’t be able to do wrong and therefore are following nml
what are the five precepts?
1.preservation of life
2.education
3.reproduction
4.orderly society
5.worship God
what’s the syndersis rule?
always do good and avoid evil
how did Aquinas interpret the second precepts compared to the catholic church?
viewed them as possible applications not rules where as manualists have made fixed second precepts such as no contraception
what it telos?
humans having a purpose
did Aquinas and Aristotle believe humans had a telos ?
yes, Aristotle believed this was found in rational thought, we are unique in being able to reflect our moral behavior
is natural moral law deontological or telelogical ?
most people view is as deontological as it’s duty based
is natural moral law deontological or telelogical ?
most people view is as deontological as it’s duty based
Aquinas’ quote on nml?
‘natural law pertains to everything that makes for the preservation of human life’
‘that nature has taught to all animals’
what’s eudaimonia ?
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
what is sartre’s existentialism?
objects may have a fixed nature but humans are fundamentally different,we must decide for ourselves what our essence is
what did Robert George and John Finnis believe about natural law?
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
what’s the doctrine of the double efftec?
actions can have more than one effect
what’s the most important thing according to the double efftect?
the intention,if good intention it is good regardless of outcome
what need to be concerned when using the double effect?
intention (deontological) and results (consequetilist)
what did Bernard Hoose do?
created the idea of the need for proportionalism eg a doctor giving enough morphine to stop pain but not to kill
what are the requirements for the doctrine of double effect ?
- act can’t be evil within itself
- the evil and good must be at least equal
- the intention of the person must be good
- a proportionality serious reason must be to present to justify allowing the indirect bad effect
can it be used to justify an action (yes)?
- 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
can it be used to justify an action (no)?
-‘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
