Natural Moral Law Flashcards

1
Q

Natural Law:

What does Aristotle believe about telos?

A

We are unique in our ability to reason, through this we are flourishing and achieving our telos and reaching eudaimonia

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2
Q

Natural Law:

How does Aquinas develop Aristotle’s ideas?

A

We are uniquely able to reflect on our moral behaviour and to consider good and bad

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3
Q

Natural Law:

What is the main moral rule according to Aquinas?

A

Synderesis rule - ‘do good and avoid evil’

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4
Q

Natural Law:

What are the five primary precepts?

A
  1. Preservation of innocent life
  2. Reproduction
  3. Education
  4. Ordered society
  5. Worship God
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5
Q

Natural Law:

What are secondary precepts?

A

More specific rules derived from the primary precepts

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6
Q

Natural Law:

What is the highest tier of law?

A

Eternal Law - law as known in the mind of God, His knowledge of what is right and wrong

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7
Q

Natural Law:

What tier of law falls below Eternal Law?

A

Divine Law - laws as revealed by God through revelation

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8
Q

Natural Law:

Which tier of Law falls above Human Law?

A

Natural Law - the moral thinking we are all able to do

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9
Q

Natural Law:

What is the lowest tier of law?

A

Human Law - the customs and practices of societies

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10
Q

Natural Law:

How does TA’s original theory differ from modern Catholic interpretations?

A

TA’s secondary precepts were not fixed and up to interpretation, the Catholic Church has made fixed secondary precepts

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11
Q

Natural Law:

How do modern NL thinkers like George and Finnis develop the theory?

A

Use Aristotles idea of Phronesis (practical reasoning) to suggest that there are certain basic goods of human flourishing; knowledge, play, work and spirituality

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12
Q

Natural Law:

Give four points that suggest NL is helpful in moral decision making.

A
  • Absolutist - it gives clear judgement
  • There is some flexibility in the secondary precepts
  • Leads to belief in certain rights
  • Affirms the importance of reason
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13
Q

Natural Law:

Give four reasons NL is not a helpful moral decision making tool.

A
  • Basic goods vary across cultures
  • Too legalistic and absolute
  • Naturalistic fallacy - assuming that something that happens in nature is something that should happen
  • Tension between flexibility and clarity in precepts
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14
Q

Natural Law:

What does Aquinas say about telos and human nature?

A

He believes there is a fixed human nature and that we are made in the image of God and have a clear purpose

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15
Q

Natural Law:

What is Sartre’s existentialist view of human nature and telos?

A
  • Objects may have a fixed nature, but human beings are fundamentally different
  • We come into existence first and then must decide for ourselves what our essence is
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16
Q

Natural Law:

What does Aquinas say about the orientation of human beings?

A
  • Synderesis principle suggests that we are directed by something within us to pursue good
  • Follows Socrates in suggesting that no one ever deliberately does a wrong action
17
Q

Natural Law:

What do the stoics say about the orientation?

A
  • Zeno - the world is an ordered place, the gods created it and left it within the ‘logos’ or divine reason, this is within all of us and leads us to virtues
  • Cicero - the natural law is ‘right reason in accordance with nature’
18
Q

Natural Law:

What is an exterior act?

A

An action as viewed outside

19
Q

Natural Law:

What is an interior act?

A

Motive

20
Q

Natural Law:

What does Aquinas say about double effect?

A
  • Intention matters more in the event of two outcomes
21
Q

Natural Law:

What examples does Aquinas use when discussing double effect?

A

Self-defence - if you killed your attacker there would be two outcomes, you’ve saved yourself and killed someone

22
Q

Natural Law:

Give two strengths of Aquinas’ view on double effect.

A
  • Allows for some flexibility
  • absolutists have no answer for where two duties clash
23
Q

Natural Law:

Give two weaknesses on Aquinas’ View on double effect.

A
  • It is difficult to judge whether something is truly intended
  • It is difficult to know how far to press the idea