Natural Moral Law

Question 1

Who wrote NML?

10m&15m

Answer 1

St Aquinas and he wrote about this in his book ‘Summa theologica’.

Question 2

What is NML?

10m&15m

Answer 2

NML is a deontological theory that say that we need to follow the primary precepts to achieve endominia.

Question 3

What are the primary precepts and what do they tell us to do?
10m&15

Answer 3

The primary precepts are: 
1)  preserve innocent life 
2) reproduce 
3) educate children 
4) live in an ordered society 
5) seek God
St Aquinas said that because we have reason we are able to understand these and we need to follow them to reach telos.

Question 4

What are the secondary precepts and what implication do they have on the theory?
10m&15m

Answer 4

They allow us to make informed choices by giving us another set of rules to follow to make sure we don’t break the primary precepts

Question 5

What is an example of a secondary precept?

10m&15m

Answer 5

Do not steal
Do not kill
You can't be homosexual 
Do not use contraception
Do not have an abortion

Question 6

What is a internal and external factor?

10m&15m

Answer 6

it says that the internal factor and the external factor must both be good to get a good outcome.
Internal factors the reason why you are doing the action.
External factor is the action that you are doing.

Question 7

What is the proportionalism said by Hoose?

10m&15m

Answer 7

It is when you make a choice that will hurt the least amount of people and will benefit the most amount of people.
Use love justice and charity to guide you when making a decision.

Question 8

What is the double effect?

10m&15m

Answer 8

It recognises that acts have good and bad effects.
A act with bad effects is only allowed if:
1) the bad outcome might have been foreseen but not
intended
2) The act is not intrinsically wrong - internal and external factors
3) The good effect is sufficient enough - proportionalism

Question 9

Strengths of NML

15m

Answer 9

1) Useful in everyday use as well as extreme situations
2) Account for bad consequence so it is easy to use in extreme circumstances
3) Focus on developing the person fully as well as the right and wrong
4) Rational – Natural Law uses practical reason, it is a common-sense approach.
5) Purpose - The world has meaning, purpose and values.

Question 10

Weaknesses of NML

15m

Answer 10

1) Each human is different rules may not apply to us all
2) They are outdated using contraception can stop STI does that outway not having children?
3) Does the consequence out way the intention?
4) Moore this commits naturalistic fallacy - which means that there is no way of defining good. As goodness is unanalysable and unnatural.
5) Assumes everyone believes in God