NML Flashcards
NML (SUMMARY)
- Development of NML
- Aquinas
- Contemporary Adaptations
Development (summary)
- The Bible (St Paul)
2. Aristotle (Telos and Eudomenia)
Aquinas (summary)
- Meaning of Telos (The Bible / World, Reason)
- Key Precept “we should aim to do good, and avoid doing evil”
- Primary Precepts (POWER)
- Secondary Precepts (Vardy x2)
- Real and Apparent Goods
- Doctrine of Double Effect
Contemporary Adaptations of Natural Law (summary)
- Hoose’s Proportionalism
- New Natural Law Theory
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
The Bible 1
- Numerous passages support moral law being instilled in us by God.
- Romans: “his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made”
Aristotle 1
- Aquinas was influenced by Aristotle’s concepts of Telos and Eudaimonia
- Telos: the ‘final cause’ of something.
- Eudaimonia: Aristotle argued the final cause was living the best possible life
Meaning of Telos 2
- Aquinas: we can understand our telos through the bible / the world. This is because the Bible is revelation of God and the world is evident of it’s creator
- We can also understand our telos through reason
Key Precept 2
- “We should aim to do good and avoid doing evil”
Primary Precepts 2
- Preservation of Life
- Live in an Ordered Society
- Worship God
- Educate Children
- Reproduce
Secondary Precepts 2
- Are application of the absolutist primary precepts to everyday life.
- Vardy: ‘unpacking’ the primary precepts and applying them.
- Vardy: Aquinas did see some flexibility. Although they were absolutist, the way they were applied may vary
Real and Apparent Goods 2
Real Goods: agent has used reason correctly and reached the moral action which is consistent with NML
Apparent Goods: Agent has used reason falsely and arrived at what they think is a real good (mistaken)
Doctrine of Double Effect 2
- Aquinas recognised some scenarios where it is impossible to do good without doing bad
- Aquinas used the example of killing in self defence
- “A bad consequence does not make an act morally wrong so long as that bad consequence was not intended”
Hoose’s Proportionalism 3
- Seen as an attractive middle way between absolutism and situational ethics
- Hoose: Never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which could justify it.
New Natural Law Theory 3
Finnis and Griesz argued Aquinas has a moral vision schewed to the ‘big’ metaphysical picture
(HARMFUL TO PRACTICALITY OF NML)
- Griesz: divided ‘goods’ into practical and moral goods
- Practical goods: helps a person’s attempt to be moral
- Moral goods: virtues such as wisdom and justice
- e.g. easier to be wise (mg) if you are educated (pg)
Strengths of NML
- Aquinas’ approach is universal (everyone has reason)
- Objective theory ewhich holds that certain actions are absolutely wrong
- DODE has an element of flexibility
- Pinker: aspectgs of moral behaviour are determined genetically
