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Religious Studies: Ethics and Religion > Natural Moral Law > Flashcards

Natural Moral Law Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Natural Moral Law theory?

A

An absolutist theory based on the belief that we are naturally born to know what’s right and wrong; it’s in our human nature

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2
Q

Who created the Natural Moral Law theory?

A

St Thomas Aquinas

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3
Q

Who was Thomas Aquinas?

A

1225-1274
Italian philosopher and theologian
He wrote a book called “Summa Theologica”

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4
Q

What are the 4 divisions of law?

A

Eternal law
Divine law
Natural law
Human law

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5
Q

What is eternal law?

A

Laws that come from God’s nature and reveals God’s rational purpose and plan for all things

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6
Q

What is divine law?

A

Law which consists of natural and moral order and can be found through revelations

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7
Q

What is natural law?

A

By following the natural law, we take part in God’s purpose for us (eternal law) and can be discovered through human reasoning

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8
Q

What is human law?

A

Laws that originate from God’s eternal laws and appear within the legal system but should not contradict natural law

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9
Q

What is Natural Moral Law’s main guiding principle?

A

“Good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided”
- Thomas Aquinas in “Summa Theologian”

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10
Q

What are primary precepts?

A

Key ideas of ethics

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11
Q

State and define the 1st primary precept

A

The “preservation of life” is the idea that all life is precious and should be protected at all costs

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12
Q

State and define the 2nd primary precept

A

“Reproduction” refers to the continuation of the human species

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13
Q

State and define the 3rd primary precept

A

An “ordered society” suggests keeping a calm and peaceful environment

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14
Q

State and define the 4th primary precept

A

“Worshipping God” means acknowledging God’s existence

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15
Q

State and define the 5th primary precept

A

“Learning” implies educating the young

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16
Q

What are secondary precepts?

A

Specific rules which are derived from the primary precepts

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17
Q

State a secondary precept of “preservation of life”

A

“Do not murder”
Establishing a healthcare system

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18
Q

State a secondary precept of “reproduction”

A

Don’t use contraception
No homosexuality

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19
Q

State a secondary precept of an “ordered society”

A

Policing
Democracy

20
Q

State a secondary precept of “worshipping God”

A

Go to church
Praying to God

21
Q

State a secondary precept of “learning”

A

Studying at University
Go to school

22
Q

What is the purpose of primary and secondary precepts?

A

To lead us to our telos (end/goal) which is human flourishing

23
Q

What is human flourishing?

A

Complete well-being/Human happiness

24
Q

Where can our telos be found?

A

Our telos can be found in the beatific vision and union of God that is promised in the next life

25
Q

What is beatific vision?

A

The direct self communication of God to humanity

26
Q

What is meant by cultural relativism?

A

The view that a person’s moral beliefs should be judged in the context of their own culture

27
Q

Give an example of cultural relativism

A

Polygamy can be seen as culturally relative because it is natural in some cultures such as mormonism and it doesn’t entirely contradict natural moral laws values

28
Q

Does Aquinas support polygamy?

A

Aquinas supports polygamy to some extent as he claims it increases reproduction rates, however it fails to reflect the monogamous nature of the marriage between Christ and the Church

29
Q

According to NML, how do we avoid making mistkes?

A

Knowing the difference between real and apparent goods
Following the cardinal virtues

30
Q

What is the difference between real and apparent goods?

A

Apparent goods might seem good but instead are being done for other reasons, whereas real goods are done to satisfy natural needs and are always positive.

31
Q

What are Aquinas’s cardinal virtues?

A

Prudence (wise)
Temperance (moderation)
Fortitude (facing pain with courage)
Justice (fairness)

32
Q

What are the Christian theological virtues?

A

Faith
Hope
Love

33
Q

What is the doctrine of the double effect?

A

A “neat algorithm” for solving moral disputes in which an act literally has a double effect, one good and the other bad

34
Q

What does the doctrine of the double effect say?

A

it is sometimes permissible to do a good act despite knowing that it will bring about bad consequences as long as it is proportionate to the bad consequences

35
Q

Give an example of the double effect

A

If a pregnant woman has ovarian cancer and needs an emergency hysterectomy resulting in an abortion or she will die, then it’s permissible for the woman to abort the baby because the good effect (saving the woman’s life) outweighs the bad effect (aborting the baby)

36
Q

What happened to NML when adopted by the catholic church?

A

Rules and obligations were given priority meaning it became deontological through manualism

37
Q

What is manualism?

A

Producing manuals for use
in Catholic seminaries

38
Q

What is proportionalism?

A

The idea that moral rules and acts should never be broken unless there is a proportionate reason to justify it

39
Q

Who created proportionalism?

A

Richard McCormick

40
Q

Who was Richard McCormick?

A

Jesuit priest and moral theologian;
expert on Catholic medical ethics.

41
Q

Why was proportionalism created?

A

Catholics struggled to obey NML as so proportionalism was created as a more lenient version

42
Q

Give an example of proportionalism

A

IVF procedures require masturbation which goes against church beliefs. However the masturbation can be justified because the intention is procreation/reproduction

43
Q

What are strengths of proportionalism?

A

It has been around for long and is fairly robust.
Based upon common sense.
A wide principle.

44
Q

What is a weakness of proportionalism?

A

Proportionalism has been condemned by the catholic church because they see it as intrinsically evil.

45
Q

What are strengths of Natural Moral Law?

A

“universal and absolute approach” meaning it’s for everyone and there is a clear list of rules.
“morality is about what is intrinsically good or bad” and eventually we will always understand and learn from our wrong doings.
acknowledges that people can make mistakes

46
Q

What are weaknesses of Natural Moral Law?

A

Aquinas assumes that everyone believes in God so NML would mean nothing to athiests.
The view that God created us all with the same sexual nature to procreate critizes human sexuality and condems same-sex relationships and masturbation.
Can lead to immoral outcomes such as not allowing contraception to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS

Religious Studies: Ethics and Religion (5 decks)

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