Natural Moral Law Flashcards
Who was Aquinas?
A 13th Century Catholic Monk who is the most significant Catholic Philosopher and founded Natural Moral Law
What are the five Primary Precepts?
Worship God Ordered Society Learning Reproduce Defend the Innocent
What is Aquinas’ key Precept?
“Good to be done evil to be avoided”
What are the cardinal virtues?
Prudence Fortitude Self-control Justice Courage
What are the theological (Christian) virtues?
Hope
Love
Faith
What are teleological ethics?
Ethics where the outcome of an act determined whether it is right or wrong.
What does telos mean and in what language?
It means “end” or “goal” in Greek.
What are deontelogical ethics?
Ethics where an act itself is intrinsically right or wrong regardless of the outcome.
What does “deon” mean and in what language?
It means “duty” in Greek.
Give the four levels of law.
Eternal Law
Divine Law
Natural Law
Human Law
What is Eternal Law?
It can be described as the mind of God.
What is Divine Law?
The “Word of God” eg. What is written in the bible.
What is Natural Law?
It is morality inherent in people and based on logical thinking. It is something that is naturally in most people that tells us what is right and wrong so is essentially out CONSCIENCE.
What is Human Law?
The moral laws created by us in everyday society and our way of making sure people follow natural law.
What are Secondary Precept?
The rules implied by the Primary Precept eg. Reproduce would suggest not using contraception as a Secondary Precept.
What is it called when an act is intrinsically wrong but seems good to an agent?
Real and Apparent Good.
Describe exterior and Interior Acts.
Interior acts are what you’re intention suggests whereas exterior acts are the physical act carried out.
Acting in a good way way for the wrong reason is to perform a good Exterior Act but a bad Interior Act.
Give and example of somebody performing a good Exterior Act but a bad Interior Act.
somebody giving money to charity but only to show off their wealth.
If a doctor has to give a mother an abortion with the intention of saving the mother’s life, what is this an example of?
Can you give another example of this?
Double Effect.
If somebody kills someone in self defence.
What are the Four Conditions of the Double Effect?
- The action must be intrinsically good or indifferent.
- The good effect must be intended.
- The good effect must not be produced through the evil effect.
- There must be a proportionally Grace reason for permitting the evil act.
Give a basic definition of the Double Effect.
What an action with good intentions has both a good and a bad outcome.
What is proportionalism?
Proportionalism is a view held by Catholics who consider the context of an action to determine its rightness.
It is s middle ground between teleological and deontelogical ethics.
Who wrote a book on proportionalism?
Bernard Hoose.
Give an example of when Hoose thought that proportionalism would be used.
In the case of an ectopic pregnancy.
What is beatific vision?
The direct, self-communication of God to humanity.
What is another name for teleological ethics?
Consequentialism.
What did Aquinas’ write and what was it originally intended as?
Summa Theologica.
It was intended as a textbook for theology students.
What is Absolutism?
A philosophical theory that holds all actions to either be intrinsically right or wrong.
What is a Catechism?
A document created by a religious authority (Eg. Pope) to provide guidance in matters of church law.
What is Legalism?
A theological view that says that following the biblical rules is of most importance.
Give 7 things to consider when applying Natural Moral Law.
- Primary Precepts
- Secondary Precepts
- Double Effect
- If an action is necessary
- Catholic View
- Virtues
- Proportionalism
