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RS Ethics > Natural moral law > Flashcards

Natural moral law Flashcards

1
Q

Deontology

A

The approach in Ethics in which rightness and wrongness of an act is judged by its conformities to rules, duties and obligations.

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2
Q

Telos

A

Purpose or end goal

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3
Q

Deontological

A

Always focusing on the right action

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4
Q

Teleological

A

Focusing on the consequence of the action

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5
Q

Character-based

A

Focus on “what person I should be?” rather than “What should I do?”

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6
Q

What is Natural Moral Law?

A

Natural law goes back to Aristotle, and his theory of Telos; the belief than everything in life has an end goal. Aquinas Christianised this idea, adding that it is the Christian God who sets laws and the Telos of all things and it’s the source of Christian moral principles.

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7
Q

Key Philosopher: St Thomas Aquinas

A

13th century theologian

Influenced by Aristotle

Believed humans can use God given nature to make moral decisions

Aquinas theorized God made us “pre-loaded” with reasoning, known as the natural law.

God wants us to want good things.

God has ordained natural law for us.

Humans desire 5 basic goods.

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8
Q

Aquinas quote

A

“The light of reason by nature in every man, to guide him in his acts towards the end.”

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9
Q

5 basic goods

A
  1. Self-preservation
  2. Reproduction
  3. Educate offspring
  4. Live in a society
  5. Seek God
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10
Q

Reasoning

A

Everything has a God-given purpose known through reasoning. Aquinas says our purpose is to honour God. This is a deontological theory, focusing on duties and intent.

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11
Q

Aristotle quote

A

“The natural is equally valid everywhere.”

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12
Q

Eternal law

A

Laws that exist within the creation because God put them there.

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13
Q

Divine law

A

Revealed principals of morality from God e.g. the Bible

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14
Q

Natural moral law

A

God’s eternal law that humans can understand through the application of reason

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15
Q

Human law

A

Formulated by humans based on the above 3 types of law.

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16
Q

Quote on NML

A

“That good is done and pursued and evil is to be avoided.”

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17
Q

Agent

A

The moral agent- the person involved in making an ethical decision.

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18
Q

Synderesis

A

The innate principal in the moral consciousness of every person which directs the agent to good and restrains him from evil. This directs our conscience and if humans apply God given reason it will lead to the right actions.

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19
Q

Human nature purpose and reason

A

Human purpose to achieve union with God.

According to Aquinas God has made all humans in his image, and we all have the ability to reason.

God has written moral laws into nature. Humans use their God-given reason, to observe nature and work out these moral laws.

All humans have natural inclination/desire to do good and avoid evil.

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20
Q

Quote on reasoning

A

“To disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to condemning the reason of God.“

21
Q

Cultural relativism

A

The view a persons belief should be judged in the context of their own culture

22
Q

Synderesis rule

A

Aquinas maintained there was a basic main precept within which all natural laws play a part. The synderesis rule directs our conscience to apply our God-given reason in order to lead to right actions

23
Q

Eudaimonia

A

Ultimate happiness through union with God

24
Q

Beatic vision

A

The telos of humanity is beatic vision, which is the ultimate direct, self-communication of God to humanity, and Beatic vision is the way to salvation

25
Q

Primary precept

A

W= worship God
O= ordered society
R= reproduction
L= learn (educate offspring)
D= defend life (self-preservation)

26
Q

Quote on primary precepts

A

“Natural law is the same for all men… there is a single standard of truth and right for everyone… Which is known by everyone…“

27
Q

What human reason has in common with all other substances?

A

The drive to preserve life

28
Q

What do humans have in common with other animals?

A

The desire to reproduce and care for their offspring

29
Q

What humans have uniquely as human beings?

A

To know the truth about God.

30
Q

Secondary precepts

A

Rulings about things we should or shouldn’t do because they do/don’t uphold primary precepts. These are established through reasoning.

31
Q

Intrinsic good

A

Something that is ethically good in and of itself

32
Q

Virtue

A

A quality, trait or disposition in a person, held to be of moral value

33
Q

Quote on mistakes in NML

A

“Since all have sinned and fallen short of God“

34
Q

Real and apparent goods

A

Aquinas believes human nature was essentially good, as natural law is within everyone. Human actions that are not in the pursuit of perfection can be explained as the pursuit of an apparent good.

35
Q

Quote on apparent goods

A

“A fornicator seeks pleasure which involves him in moral guilt.“

36
Q

What are the virtues?

A

Faith
Hope
Love

37
Q

Quote on virtues

A

“The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity.“

38
Q

Doctrine of double effect

A

If an action has an effect that goes against human reason but that effect is the accidental and unintended result of an action that follows the precepts so it’s acceptable, even if it is known beforehand

39
Q

Quote on the DODE

A

“It is sometimes permissable to do a good act despite knowing that it will bring about a bad consequence.“

40
Q

Manualism & Catholic Church

A

In the Catholic Church, it’s traditional to produce manuals to train clergy in applying NML in difficult cases.
The Catholic Church give greater importance to moral rules

41
Q

Quote on Catholic Church & virtues

A

“invaded the entire domain of moral life“

42
Q

Quote on manualism

A

“The manuals lost sight of essential questions.”

43
Q

What is proportionalism?

A

In recent decades there has been a move to simplify NML and make it more applicable to everyday life. Proportionalists such as Bernard Hoose have suggested that Natural Law is not just a list of absolutes. Instead it should take into consideration whether the good consequence of an action outways the bad.

44
Q

Why is proportionalism mote compassionate?”

A

In strict application of NML theft would be ok to save a life, but lying to save a life wouldn’t be, whereas in proportionalism lying to save a life is permissable as the good outways the bad.

45
Q

How is proportionalism different from DODE?

A

It allows you to directly break any precept as long as the outcome is good and outways the bad of breaking the precept.

46
Q

Catholic views on proportionalism

A

Its condemned by the Catholic Church. They believe it denies any action can in and of itself be intrinsically evil. The Church maintains that good consequences do not justify intrinsic evil.

47
Q

Cardinal virtues

A
  1. Prudence
  2. Justice
  3. Fortitude
  4. Temperance
48
Q

How do virtues help a person to reach the ‘real good’?

A

They allow the self to fufill it’s purpose and telos.

49
Q

The four conditions of DODE

A
  1. The nature of the act
  2. The right intention
  3. The means-end
  4. The proportionality

RS Ethics (2 decks)

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