Natural Moral Law

Question 1

What is Natural Moral Law?

Answer 1

Form of divine command theory
Absolutist theory most commonly associated with St Thomas Aquinas
Associated with Christianity - followed by Roman Catholic Church.
Argues that God created the universe according to rational principles - nature is ordered.
Humans can use reason - work out how to be moral

Question 2

What are the 5 primary precepts?

Answer 2

1. Self-preservation/preservation of the innocent
2. Continuation of the species through reproduction
3. Education of children
4. To live in society
5. To worship God

Question 3

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 3

Humans are then to use their reason to establish rules that will fulfil the requirements of the primary precepts. These rules are known as secondary precepts.

Some examples are:

Do not murder (fulfils the primary precept of preserving the innocent)
Do not abort the unborn (fulfils the primary precepts of preserving the innocent and of continuing the species)

Question 4

Key aspect of NML - Reason

Answer 4

Reason is used in order to establish how we should live our lives. We use our reason to fulfil the requirements of the primary precepts and therefore to achieve our aim of doing good and avoiding evil.

At times humans use their reason incorrectly because they are following apparent goods rather than real goods. An example of an apparent good is taking drugs - it seems like we are doing a good thing but in reality we are not!

Question 5

What is the Christian ethical view?

Answer 5

Sees motives and duty as source of morality
We have a duty to ourselves - but also to God
Christian ethics (NML) is absolutist and legalist.

Question 6

How is NML absolutist and legalist?

Answer 6

Absolutist - it advocates absolute moral rules - allow no exceptions ( God-given)
Legalist - It gives us a clear moral code to follow, similar to rules of law