The Thory Of Natural Law

Question 1

What idea is natural law based on?

Answer 1

There is a natural order to the universe which God designed. If we follow this we will always be fulfilling our purpose, to reflect God.

Question 2

What did Aristotle reason?

Answer 2

That everything has a natural purpose

Question 3

For Aristotle, what makes something good?

Answer 3

When something fulfils its purpose, e.g, if a knife cuts well, then it is a good knife.

Question 4

How do we find out somethings purpose, according to Aristotle?

Answer 4

By observing it. We can observer the purpose of objects and observe the purpose of humans .

Question 5

What is our natural purpose, which can be observed- Aristotle

Answer 5

Humans feel fulfilled when they contribute to society

Question 6

Eudaimonia

Answer 6

A sense of fulfilment and flourishing, this occurs when we fulfill what we were created to do

Question 7

Why, for Aquinas, would reason and the Bible create the same result?

Answer 7

Because they were both created by God.

Question 8

Saint Paul

Answer 8

Everyone has God’s laws written in their hearts, even gentiles

Question 9

For Aquinas, what is our purpose and what will we achieve by fulfilling it?

Answer 9

To reflect the image of God. If we do so, we will achieve perfection in heaven

Question 10

What is eudiamonia for Aquinas?

Answer 10

When we are finally united with God in heaven

Question 11

Why is Aquinas’ Eudiamonia different to Aristotle’s?

Answer 11

Because for Aquinas, our purpose isn’t fulfilled on earth, but in the after life

Question 12

Why is following what is natural ‘good’

Answer 12

Because God designed our human nature so it must be good. We will be content I’d we behave as good intended us to.

Question 13

What did Aquinas uncover after observing human beings?

Answer 13

The primary Precepts

Question 14

Name the primary precepts (WORLD)

Answer 14

Worship
Ordered society (live harmoniously)
Reproduce
Learn
Don’t Die (preserve life)

Question 15

How do we decide how to carry out the primary precepts?

Answer 15

By using our God given ratio

Question 16

What are secondary precepts?

Answer 16

Rules that can be inferred by using the primary precepts

Question 17

Examples of what would be secondary precepts, due to the primary precepts

Answer 17

The use of contraception is wrong, murder is wrong, homosexuality is wrong

Question 18

Why would marriage be right

Answer 18

Because it leads to reproduction and an ordered society

Question 19

What is the pursuit of doing good and avoiding evil known as?

Answer 19

Synderesis, our natural inclination to do good

Question 20

What mistakes do we make when we reason incorrectly?

Answer 20

We carry out ‘apparent goods’

Question 21

An example of fulfilling an apparent good?

Answer 21

A man who believed he was in love with another woman had an affaire and wrongly reasoned that this was good. If he had reasoned correctly then he would’ve realised that this was not a good natural way to act

Question 22

What is fulfilling a good action which has a bad consequence known as?

Answer 22

The doctrine of the double effect

Question 23

An example of the double effect in practice

Answer 23

Performing a hysterectomy on a pregnant tooth woman will save her life, but will result in the death of the foetus

Question 24

Eternal law

Answer 24

Beyond human comprehension, they govern the universe but we can only understand them in part

Question 25

Divine law

Answer 25

Written in the Bible and confirms the right use of reason e.g, preserve life = do not kill

Question 26

Human law

Answer 26

Can be ignored if it comes into conflict with God’s law

Question 27

How is natural law deontological and teleological?

Answer 27

Our moral behaviour, once reasoned, becomes a means to which we use to fulfil our purpose

Question 28

In which denomination have secondary precepts become law

Answer 28

In the Catholic Church homosexuality and contraception are deemed in lawful

Question 29

Would Aquinas have made the secondary precepts law?

Answer 29

No, his writing indicates that he would be more proportionate. Each circumstance should be approached with appropriate reasoning.