NML is helpful in moral decision making - NML

Question 1

INTRO - define

Answer 1

All humans have natural reason to flourish and understand Gods plan

Question 2

INTRO - define key terms

Answer 2

Absolutist deontological approach, which follows Gods law / Relativist would disagree and argue that morality needs to be relativised to each circumstance

Question 3

Section one: AO1

EUDAIMONIA

Answer 3

Based on the Aristotelian theory that goodness is linked to telos (final purpose all contingent things are working towards) Fulfilling the human telos achieves eudaimonia (flourishing); for humans, that is a life of reason with virtue, where humans use their practical wisdom (phronesis) to discern good.
Aquinas developed this and believed that eudaimonia can be achieved in community (polis) but can only be achieved after death with God (beatific vision)

Question 4

Section one: AO2 FOR

EUDAIMONIA

Answer 4

Emphasis on Eudaimonia creates a community -orientated approach towards ethics
- Helpful as moral decisions affect others and don’t just concern the individual

Question 5

Section one: AO2 AGAINST

EUDAIMONIA

Answer 5

Not every action ends in causing us to flourish as human beings. There’s good sex and bad sex (even if the end is babies; sex can be exploitative, or violent or selfish)
-NML not helpful as bases teachings off of a higher good all humans are working towards when there is no moral good and humans are just intrinsically selfish

Cyclical argument: what is the good? The good is what people pursue. What do people pursue? People pursue the good.
- Does not fully explain what good is and how to achieve it only that good is something that we are all pursuing. Not helpful as people don’t know what the good is so how can they apply it to moral dilemmas.

Question 6

Section one: AO2 CONCLUSION

EUDAIMONIA

Answer 6

Weaknesses overcome the strengths. Although the idea of polis is a good approach to moral decision making as actions do not just affect the individual the idea of Eudaimonia and good is not fully explained. This is not helpful in moral decision making as if people don’t know what the good is how can they apply it to moral dilemmas?

Question 7

Section two - AO1

SYNDERESIS/ PP

Answer 7

Main principle that humans tend to do good and avoid evil and this is where all the other rules flow
primary precepts from God: 1. preservation 2. reproduction 3. education 4. worship 5. Order
using the virtue of practical wisdom (phronesis) can apply the primary precepts to different situations.
Secondary Precepts = derived from the primary precepts through ‘proximate convulsions of reason’

Question 8

Section two - AO2 FOR

SYNDERESIS/ PP

Answer 8

Flexible – as although primary precepts are unchanging secondary precepts can change dependent on world view.
-Can adapt itself to some degree to different situations. Helpful as whilst still aligned with Gods law can be reinterpreted within different contexts and cultures

Nuremburg Trials
Prosecution had to rely on Natural Law theory as most of the actions of the defendants were recognized as being legal under the judicial system of the Third Reich
-Completely legalistic approach with no reason can have immoral outcomes and justify mass genocide. Proof that by using NML here = justice and helpful in decisions

Question 9

Section two - AO2 AGAINST

SYNDERESIS/ PP

Answer 9

Barth/ Nieblur humans “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and born into sin. Always tempted to do evil “For I do not know why I do bad when I do good” so won’t be able to discern the good and Gods eternal law
-Need strict adherence to the Bible to make moral decisions and can’t just rely on reason as too flawed to interpret God’s law for ourselves. Not helpful

Feminists: NML has reinforced gender roles and subjected women to male domination under the argument that nature predetermines gender roles (primary precept of Reproduction)
-Not helpful in moral decisions as advocates for a society in which not all are equal

Question 10

Section two - AO2 CONCLUSION

SYNDERESIS/ PP

Answer 10

Whilst in some situations such as the Nuremberg trials NML has been helpful = completely judicial approach without human reason could justify immoral acts i.e. mass genocide of the Jews. However NML not helpful as has also used to justify gender inequality and does not recognise how humans are inherently flawed and using reason to help with decision making will thus lead to immoral outcomes.

Question 11

Section three - AO1

APPLIED

Answer 11

NML: Upholds Sanctity of Life and primary precept of Preservation of Life

Question 12

Section three - AO2 FOR

APPLIED

Answer 12

Hippocratic Oath that Doctors take
-Helpful as does not place the decision making on the Doctors if there is one absolute that all should follow

The doctrine of Double effect: though administering a drug may shorten their life it is acceptable provided the intention is to relieve pain and the shortening of life is an unintended secondary effect
-Helpful as offers clear absolute rules still in ligh with Gods laws whilst also allowing some flexibility so people are not left to suffer

Question 13

Section three - AO2 AGAINST

APPLIED

Answer 13

Pointless to help someone who can’t overcome disease upholding preservation of life if someone is suffering seems immoral and pointless
-NML not helpful
Ambiguous
Can never no someone’s true intentions and whether there actions were moral, which makes moral decision making or judgement difficult

Question 14

Section three - AO2 CONCLUSION

APPLIED

Answer 14

When applied to Euthanasia NML although offers clear guidelines is unhelpful as a persons true intentions can never be known, thus it is unhelpful for moral decision making. However, perhaps this highlights a flaw in the system as a deontological morality is only really concerned with the actions as they can be observed.