natural moral law Flashcards
what is NML
innate knowledge within us, like a natural inclination to do moral acts
a natural reasoning we have
what makes people follow the Synderesis principle ( do good and avoid evil)
four divisions of law
eternal law - law from gods nature that reflects his orders
divine law - law found in special revelation
nml - discovered through human reason/logic
human law - laws and rules that states or governments make supposedly in support of nml
explanation of AQUINAS’ NML: (3)
- Final goal ( telos) = reach heaven
- because we follow synderesis principle we are inclined to find truth of God. (made in imago dei)
- the intention of act must be good or the act doesn’t hold meaning or purpose.
St. PAUL : NML BELIEFS
“requirements of the law are written on their hearts.”
- in reference to non religious people, show no matter your belief you still have that natural law
Cicero : NML BELIEFS
“True law is right reason in agreement with nature… its everlasting and unchanging and of universal application”
“we cannot be freed of its obligations by senator people”
FROM ‘on the republic’
roman lawyer
Aristotle : NML BELIEFS
- Laws of the gov/state werent the same as natural law.
- we are all subject to one natural justice that there is, which in fact may be problematic as its subjective.
Stoics : NML Beliefs
- we have a natural ‘divine spark’ within us
- logos= rationality/reasoning, they believed logos governed the world as it was reason free of emotion or human passion.
Aquinas : NML Beliefs
- theory is absolutist and deontological
- Believed in God but though blind belief was pointless, must still have rational arguments.
5 primary precepts
P - preservation of life
R - reproduction
E - educating the young
W - worshipping God
L - Living harmoniously in society
> God is the efficient cause and brought everything into existence for a purpose which is the final cause
Real Good
Good action that aligns with primary precepts also with good intent.
Apparent Good
seems good and seems to align with primary precepts but no good intention
Doctrine of the double effect
do something with right intent even though the consequences are bad
for e.g: self defence. Right intent is to protect yourself, even though consequence may be injuring another person
four conditions within the principle of the double effect
- nature of the act > action must be morally good
- means end condition > bad effect must not be way good effect is found
- right intention > intention must only be to achieve good effect even if it doesnt irl
- proportionality effect> effect must be equivalent to bad one ( cant go overboard in unnecessary violence even if its self defence)
principle of double effect summa theological quotes
“nothing hinders one act from having two effects”
“though proceeding from a good intention, act may be rendered unlawful if it be out of proportion to the end.”
Strengths 3
Weaknesses 3
Of NML
Clear and coherent
Strength: Natural moral law offers a clear and rational framework for determining what is morally right or wrong, providing individuals with ethical guidance. Aristotle: “The good for man is an activity of the soul in conformity with excellence or virtue… it must be a complete life in accordance with the best and most perfect way of living.”
ethical consistency + universal applicational
Strength: Natural moral law promotes ethical consistency and coherence in moral decision-making by emphasizing the importance of reason and logic in determining right and wrong. Germain Grisez: “The natural law’s primary precepts—life, procreation, knowledge, sociability—are common to all humans and call for the same fundamental norms everywhere.”
Strength: Can be universal in application if we look at John Finnis who made NML applicable for atheists- syneresis principle ‘do good and avoid evil’
Strength: Natural moral law suggests that moral principles are grounded in human nature, allowing for a deeper understanding of ethical values that align with human flourishing. John Locke “The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.”
absolutist and objective
Strength: provides an objective foundation of ethics that is ‘unchanging and everlasting’ (Cicero, On the Republic)
Strength: It is deontological- a ‘lie is always sinful’ (Aquinas, Summa Theologica), primary precepts- clear and easy to apply.
Strength: Natural moral law provides a foundation for objective morality, asserting that moral principles are not subjective or arbitrary but are rooted in the nature of human beings. “The natural law is nothing other than the rational creature’s participation in the eternal law.”
Strength: Natural moral law provides a foundation for moral absolutes, asserting that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the circumstances. G.E.M. Anscombe “The truths of natural ethics are not a set of commands imposed by a cosmic overlord… They are the rational reflections of the principles of practical reason.”
Weaknesses
Absolutist and deontological i restrictive
Both female cases 2012 and 2015
