✅Natural Moral Law

Question 1

Who’s Thomas Aquinas

Answer 1

Catholic priest. Dominican order. The dumb ox.

Question 2

Aquinas natural law

Answer 2

Moral code existing within the purpose of nature, created by God

Question 3

Which type of ethical approach is NML

Answer 3

Deontological.
Ethically ‘good’
The duty/deon where one follows the act if the act itself is good
The end/tells and consider if the end is good and justifies the act in getting there

Question 4

The four causes

Answer 4

Aquinas borrowed Aristotle’s idea.
Material, efficient, formal and final.
Final cause is the purpose and main cause to fulfil purpose of life.
We seek well being- eudaimonia, the stoics believe university has basic design and purpose, the idea of morality is that natural purpose of life is natural law

Question 5

Eudaimonia definition

Answer 5

General all round happiness and well being which enables us to thrive. M

Human flourishing

Question 6

Influences of the bible on Aquinas

Answer 6

Paul’s letter to the Romans

10 commandments

Question 7

Four cardinal virtues

Answer 7

Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Temperance

All of these are fundamental qualities for a good moral life

Question 8

Seven deadly sins

Answer 8

Seven vices;

Pride, avarice, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and sloth

Question 9

What are the 4 different types of law

Answer 9

Eternal
Divine
Natural
Human

Question 10

What is eternal law

Answer 10

Gods will and wisdom
The top law.
Comes from good, included all laws of creation and physics.

Question 11

What is divine law

Answer 11

Golds will and wisdom given in scripture through church
2nd most important.
Made to help Christians understand eternal law.
Eg, 10 commandments etc

Question 12

What is natural law

Answer 12

Gods law is known in humans

Doesn’t build on reason, but we use reason to understand it

Question 13

What is human law

Answer 13

Derived from God

Law implanted by humans which ultimately originated from God

Question 14

What are the primary precepts?

Answer 14

WORLD

Worship
Order society 
Reproduce 
Learn
Defend innocent

Question 15

What are the secondary prevents

Answer 15

Absolute, eg
Using contraception is always wrong, as it goes against first precept of reproducing.
2nd precepts we serviced from 1st precepts using reason.

Question 16

Malala quote

Answer 16

“I said to myself, Malala. You must not be afraid of anyone. You are only trying to get an education. You are not committing a crime”

Question 17

Facts about Malala

Answer 17

Activist
She fought for her natural right to have an education. We have a right to learn, one of the first precepts
Divine command theory- says what’s in the bible mirrors what we know in our hearts

Question 18

What is the purpose of human beings

Answer 18

The goal or purpose for humans to aim for is eudaimonia. The image of God. The supreme good. This fulfilment is a drawing closer to God, true happiness will be found in after life

Question 19

What is a law?

Answer 19

“A certain rule and measure of acts whereby man is induced to act or is restrained from acting.” -summa theologica.

All types of laws which reason can testify. Order is based on freedom.
If laws go wrong, choose a person to lead yet this power can be abused- eg hitler.

Question 20

Cicero quote

Answer 20

“True law is right reason in agreement with nature, it’s w universal application, unchanged and everlasting”

This understanding, true everywhere is promoted and made widely known by God. But we can have laws without God. As we are rational creatures, we are capable of doing things right or wrong.

Question 21

Eternal law in depth

Answer 21

Exists in all time and places.
Unchanged and universal.
It is God himself.
God planted eternal law into every person rational soul
None of us can grasp the entirely EL, only God
Way to understand eternal law is through NL
“The rational guidance of things in God, as in the existing ruler of the universe, it is fitting to call it eternal” -Summa theologica

Question 22

Divine law in depth

Answer 22

God revealed laws to us via sacred scripture.
Absolute, authoritative, we could never have found it ourselves.
None of divine law contradicts with eternal law
For Aquinas, divine law teaches us natural reason

Question 23

Natural law definition in depth

Answer 23

Right reason in accordance with human nature
People who haven’t ready divine law will still know eternal law through natural law.
Allows humans to understand that eternal law through human reason.
Humans have been given recta ratio- reasoning- as a gift from God
Enables our telos- human flourishing.

Question 24

Recta ratio sedition

Answer 24

Reasoning

Question 25

Quotes for natural law- summa theologica

Answer 25

“To disparage the dictate of radon is equivalent to condemning the command of god”

Question 26

What is synderedis

Answer 26

The very first thing understood by practical reason, which will pursue god. The starting point for natural law is the synderedis rule: Do good and avoid evil

Question 27

What is prudence

Answer 27

Wise, discreet, careful

Question 28

Fortitude

Answer 28

Mental and emotional strength.

Question 29

Temperance

Answer 29

Moderation or self restraint in action

Question 30

Justice

Answer 30

Quality of righteousness, or moral rightfulness

Question 31

What is tells

Answer 31

Our purpose or aim

Question 32

How can we know natural law?

Answer 32

Through revelation, Paul’s letter to the Romans, asked why gentiles obey laws from the Torah, they say they’ve never heard of it Through human reason-recta ratio.

Question 33

What are the superior aim/telos

Answer 33

Good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided and achieve fellowship with god- summa theologica

Question 34

What are superior and subordinate aims?

Answer 34

Helping others, achieved eudaimonia. Precepts- synderedis rule Partnership- reproduction Superior aims achieve subordinate aims

Question 35

Natural law strengths

Answer 35

Morality, rational, common sense, no need for belief in god. Flexible, double effect.

Question 36

Natural law weaknesses

Answer 36

Too simplistic, immoral outcomes, agape, optimistic, conflict rules

Question 37

What are real and apparent goods

Answer 37

Everything is basically good, therefore the evilness in the world is apparent goods, good that people think are good, they are apparent.

Question 38

What is the principle of double effect

Answer 38

An act may have more than one effect. What matters is the intention. Not to harm people. The act must not be evil. The agents intention must be good. And the final condition is important.

Question 39

John finnis

Answer 39

1940, Australian Natural law and natural rights Aquinas: moral political and legal theory. Basic form of human flourishing. Everyone has a natural right, to be happy etc. Basic methodological requirements- pursuit of goods, coherent life plan.

Question 40

Bernard hoose

Answer 40

Proportionalism- We live in a fallen sinful world. Suggest the best homage can strive to achieve moral compromise. More compassionate and flexible than strict nml Teleological and consequential.

Question 41

What is NML in terms of key words?

Answer 41

Deontological, absolute, normative, ethical, Christian theory