St Thomas Aquinas Flashcards
what two things are we given to be moral?
divine spark
humans ability to reason
what is the divine spark?
god is in all of our souls and lives within us
what is humans ability to reason?
Aquinas called this “synderesis” humans are given the ability to think rationally unlike other living creatures
what is the simple definition for natural law ?
“a law written in human hearts”
who said “a law written in human hearts” ?
Libby Ahluwalia
what is the key precept?
“good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided. All other aspects … are based upon this”
what book did aquinas write about the precepts ?
summa theologica
who developed natural law?
st thomas aquinas
what is a primary precept?
absolute rule enforced by Aquinas
what is a secondary precept?
rules derived from primary precpt using practical reason to help uphold them
what are the primary precepts?
preservation of life
Reproduction
Educating the young
Living in a society
Worshipping god
what does telos refer too ?
the purpose of something
what is aristotles view on the purpose of life?
acquire happiness or eudaimonia
what is Aquinas’s telos of life?
the ultimate end is universal good. Things we find satisfying in life only do so temporarily. The main aim is union with god.
what is the order of the hierarchy of laws?
eternal law
divine law
natural law
human law
