Natural Moral Law

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

NML is a deontological ethic as it focuses on the duty.

Rooted in ancient greek and roman world.

Question 2

Stoics

Answer 2

emphasised the importance of NML
- believing God is everywhere and in everywhere therefore enabling humans with the divine spark and the ability to live in accordance with God and nature.

Question 3

Aristotle on NML

Answer 3

emphasised the stoics
natural justice was not always the same as that which was just by law.
He observed that laws vary from place to place but natural justice is independent and applies to all.

Question 4

Aquinas

Answer 4

in the 13th century Thomas Aquinas developed NML.
NML as a moral code existing within the purpose of nature, created by God.
For Aquinas eudamonia wasn’t fulfiling perfection but instead more as attaining eternal life with God.
This natural law exists to assist humans to direct their actions in such a way that they may reach their eternal destiny with God.

Question 5

Reason

Answer 5

A moral life is a life lived in accordance with God.
Everything is created for a purpose and using our human reason we can work out what that is.
Reason determines the purpose for humans is fellowship with God.
Using our reason we can discover Gods intention

Question 6

Primary Precepts

Answer 6

Aquinas said through the synderis rule we can work out Gods law.
We know the main purpose is to live in accordance with God, to do this Aquinas developed the primary precepts

Question 7

Synderis Rule

Answer 7

Do good and avoid evil

Question 8

the precepts?

Answer 8

WORSHIP GOD
LEARN
REPRODUCE
SELF PRESERVATION
LIVE IN AN ORDERED SOCIETY

Question 9

secondary precepts

Answer 9

these are the commands developed from the primary precepts, they make the commands found clearer and more specific.
e.g. euthanasia = wrong as its against self preservation therefore doesnt uphold primary precepts

Question 10

Interior vs exterior

Answer 10

for Aquinas both the intention and act are of equal importance.
To act in a good way for the wrong reason is to perform a good exterior but a bad interior act.
e.g. helping an old lady (good) to impress someone (bad)
God is the only end and acts are intrinsically good or bad because when humans act in accordance with these acts, god is glorified.

Question 11

Strengths

Answer 11

• nml is universal and accessible
• enables flexibility with secondary precepts
• secular as it can go beyond any religion or culture
• not a set of rules but a way of living

Question 12

Weaknesses

Answer 12

• not all humans have the same culture e.g. Dr KAI NELSON and the Scandinavians killing elderly as a sacrifice.
• flexibility may mean room for negative interpretation
• saw as a relativist theory = different reasoning meaning different responses

Question 13

Cicero Quote

Answer 13

“true law is right reason in agreement with nature”

Question 14

Aquinas quote on all men

Answer 14

natural law is the same for all men… there is a single standard of truth and right for everyone - known by everyone

Question 15

Aquinas on ultimate end

Answer 15

our ultimate end is an unrelated good, namely God, who alone can fill our will to the brim because of our infinite goodness.

Question 16

Aristotle quote

Answer 16

that which is natural is unchangeable and has the same power everywhere, just as fire burns both here and in Persia.

Question 17

Aquinas quote on nature

Answer 17

Natural Law is the sharing in the eternal law by intelligent creatures