The Natural Law

Question 1

What does Aquinas agree with Aristotle on?

Answer 1

1. Eudaimonia
2. Telos

Question 2

What is synderesis?

Answer 2

Man is driven to seek the good and avoid the evil

Question 3

What are the 5 primary precepts (most important part of theory)?

Answer 3

1. Preservation of life
2. Reproduction
3. Education of children
4. Ordered society and justice
5. Worship of God

Seen throughout nature

Question 4

What are the strengths of Aquinas’ natural law?

Answer 4

1. values human flourishing
2. worship to God is common to all
3. Places great value on the importance of the human conscience
4. plausible across all cultures
5. transcendental principles that apply to all

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of the natural law?

Answer 5

1. the divine law isn’t self evident in nature
2. the freest state of man is also the most primal and dangerous
3. the ‘is’ ought gap
4. Freud says God is wish fulfilment
5. Not really Christian

Question 6

What is the doctrine of double effect?

Answer 6

1. good intention and perceived consequences
2. the harm is an unfortunate and unforeseeable, unintended consequence.
3. The good done must outweigh the suffering

Question 7

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the doctrine of double effect?

Answer 7

+++++++++++++
1. consequences are unpredictable
2. relies on intention
3. well thought out criteria

1. consequences do matter
2. you can’t measure intentions
3. where to draw the line?

Question 8

What is the doctrine of proportionality?

Answer 8

you need a proportional reason to go against the natural law (on the basis of synderesis).

tho the catholic church dismisses this!

Question 9

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the doctrine of proportionality?

Answer 9

++++++++++++++++
1. fits our intuition
2. respects flexibility
3. applies to all moral theories
4. consequentialist focus

1. why need God if reason is enough
2. can’t predict outcomes
3. where to draw the line
4. some things are intrinsically evil