NML: The Precepts Flashcards
what is the key precept of NML
Aquinas in Summa Theologica ‘Good is to be done and evil is to be avoided’
what are the 5 primary precepts
PRESERVATION OF LIFE, ORDERING OF SOCIETY, WORSHIP OF GOD, EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, REPRODUCTION) P.O.W.E.R.
5 precepts with the cHN they are derived from + supporting revelation
The 5 fundamental precepts are
1. Preservation of the self and the species ( Derived from CHN-we all have beating hearts, Revelation from the bible - ‘Do not kill’
2. To live in an Ordered society ( Human’s naturally gravitate towards living in groups: The bible reveals ethical standards such as do not steal, lie…)
3. Worship God ( Derived from CHN- having the ability to conceive of God; Revelations in the Bible- Love thy neighbour and love God)
4. Educate ( we have functioning brains, Jesus educated his disciples)
Reproduction (reproductive organs: Bible God commands Adan and Eve ~Go forth and multiply)
Fulfilling the primary precepts and secondary precepts ensures that ‘…..
This is known as the …..
‘Good is to be done and evil avoided’.
This is known as the Syneidesis Rule.
what is the Syneidesis Rule.
This is the Absolute Good which is decreed in the mind of God-
It is part of common human nature to innately seek the Good according to Aquinas.
Aquinas believed that humans have an obligation to
- Create human laws that reflect these moral goods
- Abide by these laws
secondary precepts for … educate…reproduction…. protection of innocent life
Primary precept: Education of children
Secondary precept: Education should be free to all/ Refusing to educate girls is wrong
Primary precept: Reproduction
Secondary precept: IVF should be permitted/masturbation is wrong because it does not pursue the primary precept of reproduction.
Primary precept: Protection of innocent life
Secondary precept: Transplant surgery should be permitted/ Suicide is morally wrong.
Primary precepts are … and secondary precepts are …
Primary precepts are descriptive and secondary precepts are prescriptive (they demand a response).
we are rational creatures therefore we have an inbuilt ability to understand
the principle of function, purpose and end and to work out how life is to be lived morally.
quote from aquinas to suggest that a moral life is lived according to reason
an immoral life is one against reason ‘to disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to condemning the command of god’
this means that - Humans are destined towards eudaimonia and should live in accordance with their design - instead of leading a life of non-natural non-rational desires.
quote from aquinas to show that NML is universal
‘Natural Law is the same for all men… there is a single standard of truth and right for everyone…which is known by everyone’
quote from aquinas to suggest that the human nature is essentially good as natural law is within everyones CHN
‘no evil can be desirable, either by natural appetite or conscious will’ -
What is an apparent good
Something that does not conform to the 5 precepts
’ a fornicator seeks pleasure which involves him in moral guilt’ - therefore he has made an error in judgement as he is not abiding by what God has intended (reproduction)
what is a real good
when one uses correct reason in making ethical decisions
Therefore reason is needed to distinguish between real and apparent goods.
For Aquinas - Right reason making moral judgements is the conscience, one must educate the conscience with reason and allow virtues to become habitual
For Aquinas, both the intention and act are important.
what is a good exterior act
an act which looks good outwardly
For Aquinas, both the intention and act are important.
what is a good interior act
an act with good intention in keeping with syneidesis rule.
give an example of a good exterior act but a bad interior act - why is this bad?
A business man who gives to charity to look good in the media has a good exterior act but a poor interior act and both should be good for Aquinas.
The ends never justify the means-
The only end that Aquinas values is eudaimonia - pleasures cannot be the final end as animals can experience them.
Aquinas believes that acts are intrinsically good and bad in themselves- they are good if they are in accordance with their ultimate purpose - eudaimonia
when is the doctrine of double effect used
Every act must have a good intention.
Used in cases where we perceive the possibility of both a good and bad outcome of an action - helps determine whether an action is morally justifiable
Only justified if there is no alternative to the action at issue - genuine dilemma
Always must choose the good/ never intend to do evil - even if good will result.
E.g. you cannot rob a bank to give money to the poor( the end does not justify the means)
main example of Doctrine of double effect
E.g. an ectopic pregnancy where the egg has been fertilised but it has implanted outside the uterus in the fallopian tube .
The baby will grow incorrectly and then die and if it grows it will burst the fallopian tube and cause a serious haemorrhage which is often life threatening.
One option is injecting a saline injection into the fallopian tube and cause the embryo to dissolve. This would spare the mothers and protect the fallopian tube from bursting. However, NML would suggest that the intention is evil as it is to kill the embryo
Alternative is to remove part of the fallopian tube- the mother’s lief is spared and the child dies - however this is considered ‘a natural death’ as it was not brought about on purpose.
Because no direct means were taken to kill the embryo - this is in keeping with the synedesis rule.
Although the woman is no longer fertile, her life is more important than her fertility - Aquinas suggested that some primary precepts rae more important than others
However, all means must be taken to try and allow the child to survive outside of the womb - sometimes this is not possible
We cannot do what we directly know to be evil - but we also have an obligation to help save the life of the mother.
to what extent should we practice virtues
According to the mean - not in lack or in excess
what are the virtues
Temperance, courage, wisdom, justice
what is the Veritatis splendour- and who said it
Pope John Paul II
“In order to perfect himself in his specific order, the person must do good and avoid evil,’
