NML - content Flashcards
define deontological
ethics focused on intrinsic rightness/wrongness of actions
define telos
purpose/end
define natural law
deontological theory based on behavior that accords w/ given laws/moral laws (e.g given by God) that exist independently of human societies and systems
define synderisis
follow good and avoid evil, rule which all precepts follow
define secondary precepts
laws which follow primary precepts
what are the primary precepts? (WORLD)
most important rules for life
- WORSHIP God
- live in an ORDERED society
- REPRODUCE
- LEARN and educate youth about God
- DEFEND innocent life
define practical reason
tool which makes moral decisons
define eudamonia
living well, as an ultimate end in life which all other actions should lead towards
what do natural law thinkers argue there is?
human nature - which we should live in accordance with
define cultural relativism
abiding by whatever social norms suggests
what is subjectivity?
what you personally believe
when was Thomas Aquinas born and when did he die?
1225-74
which natural law thinker’s work is a central influence on Catholic moral thought?
St Thomas Aquinas
who made the Summa Theologica (1265-74)?
St Thomas Aquinas
what was Thomas Aquinas’ major work?
Summa Theologica (1265-74)
what book was created in 1265-74?
Summa Theologica
what can Aquinas’ ideas be linked with in the present day?
universal human rights
Who said this quote? “Now a certain order is to be found in those things that are apprehended universally”
Thomas Aquinas
What does Thomas Aquinas think can be perceived by using reason?
certain laws
what is the first law that can be perceived by using reason? what is the rule called?
“Good is to be done pursued, and evil is to be avoided.”
- Synderisis Rule
What is the name given to the law that follow from the Syndersis rule?
primary precepts
what view directly influenced the teachings on the Catholic Church?
the Syndersis Rule and “all other precepts of the natural law are based upon this”
Fill the gaps: “The _______ ___ is written and ________ in the ____ of each and every man…” - The NML, the Catechism of the Catholic Church
“The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man…”
“The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man…” Where does this quote come from?
The NML, the Catechism of the Catholic Church
“…this command of human reason would not have the force of law if it were not the voice…of a higher reason to which our spirit..must be submitted.” Where does this quote come from?
The NML, the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Fill in the gaps: “…this _______ of human reason would not have the _____ __ ___ if it were not the voice…of a ______ ____ to which our spirit..must be _________.”
“…this command of human reason would not have the force of law if it were not the voice…of a higher reason to which our spirit..must be submitted.”
Where did the belief/idea of natural law come from?
Greek Stoics believed human beings had a divine spark, enabling them to discover eternal laws necessary for human happiness. The Stoics saw themselves to be the citizens of the universal law.
What group believed human beings had a divine spark, enabling them to discover eternal laws necessary for human happiness?
Greek Stoics
How did the Stoics view themselves?
The Stoics saw themselves to be the citizens of the universal law.
Who says this quote? “The natural is that which everywhere is equally valid…natural is unchangeable, and has the same power everywhere…”
Aristotle
Fill in the gaps: “The______ is that which everywhere is equally _____…natural is ___________, and has the same _____ everywhere…” - Aristotle
“The natural is that which everywhere is equally valid…natural is unchangeable, and has the same power everywhere…”
“The natural is that which everywhere is equally valid…natural is unchangeable, and has the same power everywhere…” what is this quote saying?
NL is a ‘given’. Aristotle thought that the purpose “The natural is that which everywhere is equally valid…natural is unchangeable, and has the same power everywhere…”. Our purpose is to live a life of reason
what did Aristotle think was the purpose of humans?
live a life of reason
“…we need not look outside ourselves for an…interpreter of it [NL]” who said this?
Roman lawyer Cicerio in his book ‘On the Republic’
what three ideas comes together in Aquinas’ theory of NL?
- universal law
- life of reason
- law can be found in human hearts
what AP is Aquinas’ thinking influenced by?
Artistotle
what does Ari. argue that every agent acts for?
for an end of some kind
what does Ari. argue that human beings acts for?
to acquire happiness/eudamonia
for Ari., how is something good?
if it has fulfilled its end
what did Ari. believe there was in the universe resposible for setting it in motion?
Prime Mover
What did Aqu. do to Ari.’s idea of the PM?
developed this idea, seeing God as PM
according Aqu., what are properly moral acts?
free acts, which come from a freely acting rational person
how are we fully satisfied?
when we achieve ultimate end/telos, the universal good
what did A conclude could not be found in this world?
ultimate end
where can the ultimate end be found?
in the supreme and infinite God
“Ultimate and perfect beatitude (happiness) can consist only in the vision of the divine essence, which is the very essence of goodness…” who said this?
Aquinas
what does Aqu. think our final telos is?
union with God in Heaven
Why is divine help needed?
to direct our motivations as well as our actions
what else in Aqu. concerned with besides that acts?
intention
how many tiers of laws are there?
4
list the 4 tiers of law in order
1 - Eternal law
2 - Divine Law
3 - Natural Law
4 - Human Law
what law does all other kinds of law depend on?
Eternal law
what law refers to revelation?
Divine law
eternal law is the _______ and ______ part of NL
eternal law is the absolute and eternal part of NL
why is God’s law unchanging and universal?
despite individual differences, eternal law remains the same. it is not relative.
what does God plant in every rational person’s soul?
eternal law
T/F Aquinas believes that eternal law is in God and not a feature of nature apart from God
TRUE
How does God send out info about eternal law?
divine law
define divine law
commands and teachings of divine revelation that are usually found in the Bible
what is revelation through the divine law teaching humans?
how to live
T/F Aqu. thinks that w/o the Bible, you can’t access God’s eternal law
FALSE. You can through natural law
what does natural law allow humans to do?
perceive eternal law through application of human reason
what marks humans apart from animals?
human reason
what makes God’s eternal law accessible to all of humanity?
natural law
what is human law?
- our response to these msgs from God
- customs and practices of society
what does A say about a human law being a proper law?
it is only a proper law if it is good and in accordance with divine and natural law
what directs us to do good and avoid evil?
reason
why is NL ‘law-like’?
due to its rationality
Who said this quote? “the NL is nothing other than the light of understanding placed in us by God; through it we know what we must do and what we must avoid. God has given this light or law at the creation.”
Thomas Aquinas
Fill in the gaps: “the NL is nothing other than the _____ __ ____________ placed in us by ___; through it we know what we must do and what we must _____. God has given this light or ___ at the _______.” - Thomas Aquinas
“the NL is nothing other than the light of understanding placed in us by God; through it we know what we must do and what we must avoid. God has given this light or law at the creation.”
Fill in the gaps: “[___ ___] is nothing else than an ________ of reason for ______ good, made by him who has care of the __________, and promulgated.” - Aqu.
“[the law] is nothing else than an ordinance of reason for common good, made by him who has care of the community, and promulgated.” - Aqu.
Fill in the gaps: “To _____ the dictate of _____ is to scorn the ___________ of God” - Aqu.
“To scorn the dictate of reason is to scorn the commandment of God” - Aqu.
Who said “…human evil is being outside the order of reasonableness…”?
Thomas Aquinas
what is the quote from Aqui. about human evil?
“…human evil is being outside the order of reasonableness…”
what does Aqu think about divine reason?
it exists though it’s impossible for us to fully perceive it
what is there a single standard of?
truth and right for everyone
“Every agent acts on account of an end…” who says this?
Aquinas
why could this be a weakness? “Every agent acts on account of an end…”
- inconsistent
- meant to be a deontological theory but is looking at “telos”
T/F Aquinas doesn’t believe that in all humans, there is an inclination to good
FALSE
why is there an inclination to good in all humans?
because “every substance seeks the preservation of its own being”
Fill in the gaps: “Whatever is a _____ of preserving _____ life, and of warding off its _________, belongs to the ______ ___”
“Whatever is a means of preserving human life, and of warding off its obstacles, belongs to the natural law”
why should people follow the precept of worshiping God? (2)
- God is source of eternal law
- God has sent this law to humanity through divine law and NL
what does it mean to live in an ordered society?
living in a lawful society where it’s possible to follow all of the primary precepts
why should people follow the primary precept of reproduction?
ensure life continues as this is God’s intention and is necessary for the continuation of society
what should people teach others about? (5)
- God
- eternal law
- divine law
- NL
- primary precepts
why should we defend the innocent?
because life is most precious
what should humans do about ignorance?
“shun ignorance”
what does a moral act lead towards?
divine/cosmic intention for humanity
what do moral acts fit with?
purpose humans were made for
what are moral acts in accordance with and what does it make them?
- primary precepts
- good acts
what are the purposes of secondary precepts?
they are applications of primary precepts into certain situations
why is euthanasia prohibited by NL ?
precept of preserving life
what does the Catholic Church teach about suicide?
denial of a natural instinct to live
what is the quote from Aqu. regarding evil?
“No evil can be desirable, either be natural appetite or by conscious will. It is sought indirectly, namely because it is the consequence of some good.”
what is an immoral act/sin falling short of?
God’s wish for us
T/F Aqu believes that tempting goods are real
FALSE - they are apparent goods
what did Aqui thought required discipline and practice to become a habit?
developing the virtues to help keep the NL
what other habits can be developed by humans?
sinful activity
what does A introduce when discussing whether self defence is permissible?
principle of double effect
what does the DODE say is ethically permissible to do, providing the bad side-effect wasn’t intended?
if doing something morally good has a morally bad side-effect, it’s ethically OK to do it providing the bad side-effect wasn’t intended
what is an important aspect of DODE?
intention
(DODE) what did Aqu distinguish?
interior and exterior acts
(DODE) what are interior acts about?
our motivation, intention behind act, what we intended to happen, why we are acting
(DODE) what are exterior acts?
- visible
- act that is actually performed
(DODE) what is the best way to act?
when both interior and exterior acts aregood
4 criterions that need to be met for DODE to be successfully applied
1) the action contemplated be in itself either morally good or morally indifferent
2) the bad result not be directly intended
3) the good result not be a direct causal result of the bad result
4) the good result be “proportionate to” the bad result
