Natural Moral Law Flashcards
A) Essay outline
Introduction Sinderesis Rule Reason and Revelation Real and Apparent Good Interior and Exterior Acts Primary Precepts Secondary Precepts Conclusion
A) Introduction
Ancient Greek and Roman roots
Basis of Roman Catholic catechism and theology
Most prolific NML theologian is Aquinas
“that which everywhere is equally valid… unchangeable, and has the same power everywhere” Aristotle, Nichomacean Ethics
Deontological, intrinsic in all societies
A) Paragraph 1
Sinderesis rule is central according to Aquinas
Intrinsically, humans believe “good is to be done and evil is to avoided”
St Paul wrote of a law “written in the hearts” of humankind
“one eternal and unchangeable law… valid for all nations and all times” Cicero, Roman lawyer
A) Paragraph 2
Reason and revelation is using one’s own reason alongside God’s guidance
“man needs to be directed to his supernatural end in a higher way” Aquinas
Divine reason perceived through God’s word in the Bible
Must use both parts “to disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to condemning the command of God” Aquinas
A) Paragraph 3
Real and apparent good
Never knowingly do something with evil intent
“No evil can be desirable by natural appetite or by conscious will. It is sought indirectly, namely because it is the consequence of some good”
Evil is the result of seeking apparent over real good
A) Paragraph 4
Interior and exterior acts
Both must be good to be fulfil ultimate purpose- to glorify God according to Aquinas
Physical pleasures are animalistic, academic are not universally accessible, so God is the only end of value.
A) Paragraph 5
Primary precepts are the 5 essential rules directly derived form the Sinderesis Rule
E.g. self preservation and reproduction
“a single standard of truth and right for everyone… which is known by everyone” Aquinas
Forms the basis of Catholic teachings
A) Paragraph 6
Secondary precepts help uphold primary precepts
E.g. don’t commit suicide, self preservation
It is here where people begin to seek apparent over real goods
A) Conclusion
Detailed ethic to live by
Historic evidence indicates validity
Not unchallenged
B) Essay Outline
Introduction
Doesn’t require belief in God vsUnholistic
Cultural relativism vs Flexibility of secondary precepts
Agape vs Absolute
Conclusion
B) Introduction
Explore strengths and criticisms
B) Paragraph 1
Too rigid, what about individual circumstances. SE or Util, Agape of Jesus
Secondary precepts make it flexible, fit variety of cultures
B) Paragraph 2
Empirical observation, doesn’t need belief in God
“Unholistic” Vardy & Grosch. Aquinas oversimplified human nature
B) Paragraph 3
Absolute and universal, Pope Benedict calls our post-modern secular society the “dictatorship of relativism”. Human rights are absolute.
Wolfe calls “moral saints” “dull witted or humourless”. NML relinquish need for thought, so don’t develop as humans. Nielsen’s cultural relativism shows outdated
B) Conclusion
“there are no universal laws held by all men everywhere at all times” Fletcher
“The semi-official philosophy of the Roman Catholic Church to this day” Singer
