NML

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Humans possess intrinsic values that govern reasoning and behaviour on morality – not imposed by legal standards
- Deontological
- Universal
- Absolute
Many different versions but Aquinas is most famous for his approach

-believed reason was the root of morality not scripture

Question 2

Aristotle’s bronze statue analogy

Answer 2

Believed everything in the world was working towards a purpose via the four causes uses analogy of Bronze statue: (material cause is bronze, formal cause is its shape, efficient is the means it came about e.g. statue maker, and it final cause it its telos e.g. honouring the Gods

Question 3

Aristotle quote

Answer 3

Eudaimonia is a common higher law set in motion by the PM (human fulfilment and flourishing)
It is what all humans perceive for its own sake” – achieve by living life virtuously

Question 4

Russel and Dawkins critique of Aristotle

Answer 4

“Brute fact that has come about by chance and not by some divine purpose” does not allow NML approach as rejects premise in the first place

Question 5

Strength of Aristotle

Answer 5

humans seem to be working towards final purpose

• gives sense to human life and purpose
• all following NML to achieve final cause

Question 6

Counter to Aristotle

Answer 6

Claims observations are based on empirical evidence yet there is little evidence to support PM

• searching for beauty and purpose - needs to accept life as it is
• Russel fear of life after death
• Becker - trying to conserve our biological entities and make us seem purposeful

Question 7

Aquinas on Eudaimonia

Answer 7

for Aquinas the universe is purposive
things exist to reach their goal
we have rational will to do so
Ultimate end but cannot be achieved in this life but the next
- achieved when reach the beatific vision - direct presence and knowledge of God
- can only achieve when use rationalism to follow Gods purpose for humanity
- revealed through 4 tiers of Law: Eternal; Divine; Natural ; Human

Question 8

Support of Aquinas tiers of law

Answer 8

• Enables human to establish common rules in order to form communities and adhere to a universal law which is important within a relativist era at a time of breakdown within traditional social structures and moral uncertainty
• Gives people moral obligations and consequences for there actions and that if they don’t abide by the rules wont be able to reach eudaimonia and prevents anarchy

Question 9

Karl Nielson

Answer 9

argued against there being belief in basic human nature that is present across all societies and cultures e.g. members of the Inuit culture killed members of family who could not make it through the winter, Scandinavians killed elderly relatives to allow to get Valhalla – shows there is no common NML

Question 10

Synderesis rule

Answer 10

’ to do good and avoid evil’

- key rule in which all human inherit in human nature flow

Question 11

Primary precepts/ secondary

Answer 11

From these primary precepts: preservation of life; to reproduce; to learn; ordered society; worship
using rationalism discern rules secondary precepts from primary on how to live a virtuous life and reach eudaimonia

Question 12

Support of precepts

Answer 12

• appeals to instinctive conviction of what is right/wrong depends on more than personal opinion/ convention
• ways diff Soc come to same conclusions about NML supports idea human nature to recognise NML through both reason and intuition
• childhood absolute right and wrongs - justice ‘its not fair’ as soon as they suspect that they have received unequal treatment

Question 13

Criticisms of primary precepts

Answer 13

Darwin evolution - living things motivated by desire for survival - natural selection - strongest survive/ weakest die

• humans seek survival and are self interested - child’s demand for justice is due to inherent need for survival survival

Question 14

Wars

Answer 14

wars incentive peoples need to kill
- shows that there isn’t NML as people don’t all follow a higher law but rather ones that means that they’ve been told by leaders in power

Question 15

People don’t follow a NML but rather:

Answer 15

People behave in a way in which they want to be treated

• in Bible ‘ Do unto others as you would unto others’
• but there isn’t a NML guiding us
• evolve this way as it is how we look after ourselves as wouldn’t have been able to survive

Question 16

Slave trade

Answer 16

Shows how people don’t respect others, no NML, people are just selfish with nor regards to others

Question 17

Counter to slave trade

Answer 17

People saw Black people as animals - misusing there rationalism
- believing propaganda that black people were savages

• generally though people respect one another and establish principles that would benefit both sides in society in order to survive
• Don’t follow NML but rather follows principles that allow both sides to benefit and survive

Question 18

The four tiers of law

Answer 18

eternal law: ‘gods will for how the universe is to be’. the principles by which god created and controls the universe. understood by right reason and meaning in our lives
divine law: laws revealed by god, like the ten commandments and the sotm. affirmations of what is knowable by reason
natural law: ‘right reason in accordance with human nature’ ‘do good and avoid evil’
human law: societal regulations for order and human flourishing

Question 19

Aristotle quote

Answer 19

can be found as early as aristotle, and st paul called it ‘the law that is written on men’s hearts’

Question 20

John Finnis

Answer 20

john finnis developed a modern perspective, believing in forms of human flourishing: life, knowledge, play, work, friendship and spirituality among others
if deprived of these, a man cannot flourish
supporting them is a pursuit of good, a plan for life, following of conscience and respect for basic value in acts
we can also infer natural rights, not to be tortured, not to be lied to, not to be killed as a mean to an end or condemned on false charges

Question 21

Docterine of Double effect

Answer 21

an act can have multiple effects and this may be known
the intention matters
saving someones life but harming another in the process must be about the saving not the harm
this means a consideration of intention and consequence
a doctor may prescribe painkillers for extreme pain but kill the sufferer in the process
an important part of moral life is looking at both aspects
we do not condemn mistakes or if it was done with god intention
there are four conditions, though:
the act must not be evil in itself
evil and good of the outcome must be equal at least
intention must be good, not an accidental good
there must be a serious reason to allow inadvertent evil
the last in important, because aquinas insists on proportion
a serious circumstance may require harmful acts
a risky surgery may have to be done to avoid a slow and painful death

Question 22

Anthony Kenny

Answer 22

argues that he ‘believe[s] that a principle of double effect must form part of any rational system of morality…there are cases where it makes a huge difference’

Question 23

Weaknesses of NML

Answer 23

vagueness: what should actually be done? no concrete advice, just general principles
conflict: what if two principles conflict? how do we resolve this?
too optimistic: its view humans favourably. there is too much evil to accept this.
god: seems to require a belief in god and values leading from this to fully apply it.

Question 24

Strengths of NML

Answer 24

objective: gives us rules that are factual and constant
supports human value and right: promotes ideas of human value and absolute rights
virtues: focus on human betterment and promotes human excellence
no god: base don empirical observation of human nature