primary and secondary precepts

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

• St Thomas Aquinas’ theory of Natural Law – he was an important Christian philosopher and theologian
• Ethical theory is absolutist and deontological- focuses on the ethicacy of actions
• In his work Summa Theologica he describes natural law as a moral code existing within the purpose of nature, created by God.
• The Synderesis rule: ‘do good, avoid all evil.’ Aquinas believed that all humans innately followed this rule
• PP are set in stone that secondary are flexible to the specific situation.

Question 2

P1; The 4 laws

Answer 2

Aquinas believed there were 4 laws within creation

where does inner morality come from??? = Answer the 4 laws:
Eternal (Gods law/ designers pan - unchanging and everlasting),
Divine (Scriptures manual where we understand Eternal Law),
Natural (what we observe - in essence the natural order around us - PPs),
Human (what we write down based on natural law - SPs)

This is how we know what is right and wrong

Question 3

P2 - PP

Answer 3

• The primary precepts are the central concept of the theory from which all the other aspects draw from
• In order to be moral humans all innately follow the five primary precepts due to the syneresis rule
• Precept = laws built into nature
• Aqi; a certain order is to be found in the things that are apprehended by men… that good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided.
• The Primary Precepts describe the purpose of human life. A good person is one who fulfils their purpose.
• POWER
• they are natural – all societies and civilisation have followed the 5PP in one form or another, be it in the aztecs, roman empire, or modern Britain believe life should be preserved..
• All civilisations have educated their young but their approaches may be different (where SP come in), all pass on skills to offspring…
• state and explain POWER

Question 4

P3 - SP

Answer 4

Natural Law is a deontological theory, based on ‘duty’. Duty based theories contain rules that we must follow, rather than judging something of value (pleasure/ happiness/fulfilment of preferences etc.) that we need to bring about.

The Secondary Precepts are absolute, they are derived from the Primary Precepts and have no exceptions.

SP = applying the PP to specific situations

P - murder and abortion is wrong 
O - theft is wrong
W - sins such as adultery = wrong
E - cruelty and contraceptive wrong 
R - using contraceptive/ masturbation  is always wrong

Question 5

P4 - abortion

Answer 5

Primary precepts:
PL: ivf involves the destruction of unused embryos- not preserving life.
OS: could lead to discord changed make-up of families and alters the status quo
W; Divine law: Imago Dei, life is sacred (genesis), only God can give or take life (Romans 14:8) life begins at conception so ‘playing with embryos is wrong’ Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139)
EY: not applicable
R: yes this aim is the aim but involves masturbation which is against SP

Secondary precepts: as against PP will be against SP