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A Level Religious Studies > Natural Moral Law > Flashcards

Natural Moral Law Flashcards

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1
Q

NML created by….

A

Thomas Aquinas

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2
Q

What type of ethics is NML?

A

deontological - morality of an action based on human duty

and

absolutist - follows law

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3
Q

Aristotle had 4 causes for anything and everything. What are they using a chair as an example?

A
  1. FORMAL CAUSE - the kind of thing something is e.g. chair shape
  2. MATERIAL CAUSE - the matter from what the thing is made from e.g. wood for chair
  3. EFFICIENT CAUSE - the agent that brings something about e.g. carpenter
  4. FINAL CAUSE - the goal or purpose that brings things forward e.g. to sit on
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4
Q

What are the 4 key laws?

A

ETERNAL LAW - God’s will and wisdom which humans cannot know. we cannot fully see or understand eternal laws

DIVINE LAWS - sacred texts of Christianity

NATURAL LAW - human ability to understand and know what is right

HUMAN LAW - man made laws that regulate human behaviour e.g. civil laws

  • each law is dependent on the one before
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5
Q

Whose theory did Aquinas develop?

A

Aristotle’s

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6
Q

What views did Aquinas and Aristotle share?

A
  • rationality (ability to reason) is a key element to human existence
  • idea of there being ‘efficient’ and ‘final’ causes
  • EVERYTHING HAS TO HAVE A TELOS (PURPOSE)
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7
Q

What did Aquinas believe about real and apparent good?

A

REAL GOOD - characteristics that will help people become closer to the ideal human nature that God has planned e.g. student doing hw

APPARENT GOOD - act which the individual thinks is good but takes people away from the ideal human nature e.g. student watching TV thinking that it will help with studies

AQUINAS ARGUED THAT HUMANS SIN AND FALL SHORT OF GOD’S ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY CONFUSE REAL AND APPARENT GOODS

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8
Q

What did Aristotle believe?

A
  • believed that humans purpose is to reach eudaimonia (flourishment)
  • achieved through following cardinal virtues
  • virtues need to be cultivated through education and habit

ARISTOTLE DIDN’T BELIEVE IN GOD

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9
Q

How does Aquinas develop Aristotle’s ideas?

A
  • AQUINAS WAS A CHRISTIAN

-everything has a purpose but purpose given to us by God so end is getting into Heaven + achieving eternal life (ultimate purpose)

  • God designed us for perfection which cannot be achieved by NML alone. have to use theological and cardinal virtues
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10
Q

What is good?

A

what contributes to the natural fulfillment of man so:
- what I ought to do to live life to the fullest and best

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11
Q

what is the synderesis principle?

A

“Good should be done and evil avoided”

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12
Q

What are the primary precepts?

A

5 main purpose (given by God) and outlined by Aquinas. Supported by Divine Law (Bible)

  1. Worship God
  2. Ordered society
  3. Reproduction
  4. Learn
  5. Defend the Innocent
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13
Q

What are the secondary precepts?

A

primary precepts are vague and basic.
secondary precepts are more scenario based
e.g. secondary precept for ‘worship God’ would be ‘go to church’

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14
Q

What are the 3 theological virtues (in the Bible)?

A
  1. Faith
  2. Hope
  3. Love (charity)
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15
Q

Which is the greatest theological virtue and explain why it is?

A

LOVE 💘 key to Aquinas’ view of morality
- love for God reflected in love for one’s neighbor

*love directs all other virtues towards God

LOVE HAS A HEALING PROPERTY WHICH RESTORES OUR FALLEN NATURE

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16
Q

How does wisdom link with love?

A

wisdom is vital aspect
wisdom = insight into supernatural truths of creation, goodness of God and beatific vision

  • those who are wise have understanding of the goodness of God that can guide them towards a virtuous life
17
Q

What is the beatific vision?

A

final and absolute end

state of perfect happiness through supernatural union with God

18
Q

What are the theological virtues according to Aquinas?

A

superlative virtues that define and direct all of the other virtues

they are ABSOLUTE + SUPERLATIVE = PERFECT

*however they are aspirational and cannot be fully achieved in this world as they are above capacity of human beings
*God’s grace allows humans to strive for perfection

19
Q

Describe faith as theological virtue

A

act of will for Aquinas
involves the whole person

20
Q

Describe hope as a theological virtue

A

constant and consistent truth in achieving the beatific vision

pure form of desire

inspired by spiritual energy and +tive state of being to achieve final end

21
Q

What are the 4 cardinal virtues?

A
  1. Prudence
  2. Temperance
  3. Fortitude
  4. Justice
22
Q

What is prudence?

A

being able to make good judgement in reasoning

awareness of both moral principles established through NML but also specific situations where principles need to be applied

23
Q

What other virtues does Aquinas link prudence to?

A

memory
intelligence
reason
shrewdness

24
Q

What is temperance?

A

moderation

Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean ( finding the middle of everything)

  • part of temperance is virtue of humility
  • how to present oneself in the correct and balanced manner
25
Q

What other virtues link to temperance?

A

meekness
generosity
as they both stop anger

26
Q

What is fortitude?

A

virtue of courage

A courageous person cannot be beaten or broken down AND not controlled by fear
NOT RECKLESS

27
Q

What other virtues link with fortitude?

A

discipline
patience
perseverance
(in the face of difficult circumstances whether physical, moral or spiritual)

28
Q

What is justice?

A

how our actions are governed

first 3 cardinal virtues to do with our individual qualities. this virtue focuses on others + our actions towards them

*covers law: community welfare + individual cases

29
Q

What is Aquinas’ idea of justice?

A

does not mean equality for all but recognises individual needs relative to circumstance

e.g. person in poverty requires more help than a wealthy person

30
Q

What aspects of NML are deontological?

A
  • Four levels of law
  • Primary precepts*
  • Interior and exterior acts
  • Real and apparent goods*
  • Cardinal virtues
  • Theological virtues
31
Q

What aspects of NML are teleological?

A
  • Primary precepts*
  • Secondary precepts
  • Reason
  • Real and apparent goods*
  • Eternal life
32
Q

What is the purpose of natural moral law?

A

Aquinas believed that humans innately try and do good and avoid evil in order to find fulfillment and happiness in life (synderesis rule)

A Level Religious Studies (3 decks)

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