Natural Moral Law Flashcards
NML created by….
Thomas Aquinas
What type of ethics is NML?
deontological - morality of an action based on human duty
and
absolutist - follows law
Aristotle had 4 causes for anything and everything. What are they using a chair as an example?
- FORMAL CAUSE - the kind of thing something is e.g. chair shape
- MATERIAL CAUSE - the matter from what the thing is made from e.g. wood for chair
- EFFICIENT CAUSE - the agent that brings something about e.g. carpenter
- FINAL CAUSE - the goal or purpose that brings things forward e.g. to sit on
What are the 4 key laws?
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
Whose theory did Aquinas develop?
Aristotle’s
What views did Aquinas and Aristotle share?
- 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)
What did Aquinas believe about real and apparent good?
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
What did Aristotle believe?
- 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
How does Aquinas develop Aristotle’s ideas?
- 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
What is good?
what contributes to the natural fulfillment of man so:
- what I ought to do to live life to the fullest and best
what is the synderesis principle?
“Good should be done and evil avoided”
What are the primary precepts?
5 main purpose (given by God) and outlined by Aquinas. Supported by Divine Law (Bible)
- Worship God
- Ordered society
- Reproduction
- Learn
- Defend the Innocent
What are the secondary precepts?
primary precepts are vague and basic.
secondary precepts are more scenario based
e.g. secondary precept for ‘worship God’ would be ‘go to church’
What are the 3 theological virtues (in the Bible)?
- Faith
- Hope
- Love (charity)
Which is the greatest theological virtue and explain why it is?
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
How does wisdom link with love?
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
What is the beatific vision?
final and absolute end
state of perfect happiness through supernatural union with God
What are the theological virtues according to Aquinas?
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
Describe faith as theological virtue
act of will for Aquinas
involves the whole person
Describe hope as a theological virtue
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
What are the 4 cardinal virtues?
- Prudence
- Temperance
- Fortitude
- Justice
What is prudence?
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
What other virtues does Aquinas link prudence to?
memory
intelligence
reason
shrewdness
What is temperance?
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
What other virtues link to temperance?
meekness
generosity
as they both stop anger
What is fortitude?
virtue of courage
A courageous person cannot be beaten or broken down AND not controlled by fear
NOT RECKLESS
What other virtues link with fortitude?
discipline
patience
perseverance
(in the face of difficult circumstances whether physical, moral or spiritual)
What is justice?
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
What is Aquinas’ idea of justice?
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
What aspects of NML are deontological?
- Four levels of law
- Primary precepts*
- Interior and exterior acts
- Real and apparent goods*
- Cardinal virtues
- Theological virtues
What aspects of NML are teleological?
- Primary precepts*
- Secondary precepts
- Reason
- Real and apparent goods*
- Eternal life
What is the purpose of natural moral law?
Aquinas believed that humans innately try and do good and avoid evil in order to find fulfillment and happiness in life (synderesis rule)
