Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

REP - Ethics > Theme 2C - Application of Natural law > Flashcards

Theme 2C - Application of Natural law Flashcards

1
Q

What is abortion?

A

The termination of a pregnancy before 24 weeks through human intervention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What act permitted abortions if the life or health of the woman is at risk?

A

Abortion act of 1967

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What was the abortion act of 1967?

A

It permitted abortions if the life or health of the woman is at risk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was the Embryology act of 1990?

A

Abortion up to 24 weeks and the abortion of foetus due to abnormality is permitted until birth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What act allows abortion up to 24 weeks and the abortion of foetus due to abnormality is permitted until birth?

A

Embryology act of 1990

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the two classifications of abortion?

A

Medical and surgical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are some examples of methods to abort a pregnancy?

A
  • Abortion pill
  • Dilation and evacuation
  • Vacuum aspiration abortion
  • Partial birth
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What did Peter Singer say about abortion?

A

‘To kill a human adult is murder, and is unhesitantly and universally condemned. Yet there is no obvious sharp line which marks the zygote from the adult. Hence the problem’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the course of pregnancy?

A

Conception
Zygote - cell formed by male and female sex cell
Embryo - 14 days to 8 weeks
Foetus - 8 weeks onwards
New born - birth to 38 - 42 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How is the stage of pregnancy calculated?

A

From the first day of a woman’s last period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is sanctity of life?

A

It tends to be a religious view that all life is sacred and holy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What do christians believe about life?

A
  • God created all life
  • We are created imago dei
  • Life is a gift from God
  • Many christians base this on the teachings from Genesis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does ensoulment mean?

A

When a developing embryo/foetus gets a soul

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What did Augustine believe about ensoulment?

A
  • He believed the soul was implanted at 46 days
  • He condemned the killing of foetuses, so disagrees with abortion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What was Aquinas believe about ensoulment?

A
  • Believed the souls of girls were implanted at 90 days
  • The souls of boys were implanted at 40 days
  • For Aquinas, life becomes valuable at ensoulment, so abortion could occur before the soul is implanted
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What was Aquinas believe about ensoulment?

A
  • Believed the souls of girls were implanted at 90 days
  • The souls of boys were implanted at 40 days
  • For Aquinas, life becomes valuable at ensoulment, so abortion could occur before the soul is implanted
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What were Aquinas stages of soul development?

A
  • Vegetative form
  • Animal form
  • Human soul
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What do the Catholic Church believe about abortion?

A
  • In the 17th century, they stated that life begins at conception
  • So they prohibit abortion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What do some christians argue about the soul?

A

That it is not implanted at conception, but rather our soul develops

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does Genesis 1:28 say that can be used against abortion?

A

‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does Exodus 20 state that can be used against abortion?

A

‘You shall not kill’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does Luke 1:40 state that can be used against abortion

A

‘The child leapt in her womb’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does Psalm 139 say that can be used against abortion?

A

‘You knit me together in my mothers womb’ and ‘your eyes can see my embryo’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What might some Catholic Christians use to allow them to have an abortion?

A

The principle of double effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the key primary precept for the issue of abortion?

A

‘Preserve life’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Who was Kainz?

A

A Catholic theologian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What were Kainz’ key ideas about abortion?

A
  • He said in the cape of rape or incest a women’s right to choose may become more important than the precept to ‘preserve life’. He stated that if a woman has a right to conceive, ‘if this right implies that she has to make this choice voluntarily, no more infractions of that right than rape and incest can be contemplated
  • He also said that ‘sacrificing your life for your child or raising a child regardless of circumstance’ are ‘caussic examples of virtuous behaviour’
27
Q

What does euthanasia literally mean?

A

Happy or easy death

28
Q

What does euthanasia refer too?

A

The ending of human life by painless means in order to end severe physical suffering or to prematurely end the life of someone suffering from an incurable, terminal disease

29
Q

What is euthanasia sometimes referred to as?

A

Mercy killing

30
Q

What is euthanasia’s legal status in the UK?

A

It is illegal

31
Q

What is voluntary euthanasia?

A

The person concerned requests someone to help them die, perhaps by asking for help to take an overdose of painkillers.

32
Q

What is voluntary euthanasia sometimes called?

A

Physician assisted suicide

33
Q

What is active euthanasia?

A

It occurs when the medical professionals or another person, deliberately do something that causes the patient to die

34
Q

What happened in 1961 in regards to euthanasia?

A

suicide was decriminalised , but still stated that to aid or assist suicide is a crime

35
Q

When was suicide decriminalised?

A

1961

36
Q

What are the two central principles at stake in regards to euthanasia?

A
  • Whether or not killing should be allowed in any circumstance
  • Whether all life has value - the sanctity or quality of life- for religious, ethical or philosophical reasons
37
Q

What did John Stuart mill say in regards to autonomy? (euthanasia)

A
  • In matters that do not concern others, individuals should have free autonomy.
  • We should be free to do what we like as long as we don’t harm others.
38
Q

What does personal autonomy may suggest regards to euthanasia?

A

It may suggest that any competent adult has the right to decide wether to end their life.

39
Q

What country is personal autonomy reflected in?

A
  • Switzerland
  • They all for voluntary euthanasia if the death is imminent, the person is of sound mine and the quality of life is poor
40
Q

What does the right to life suggest?

A

That people have a duty not to kill others

41
Q

Why do some doctors suggest euthanasia already goes on?

A

They give painkillers in doses that mean death may occur sooner

42
Q

What did James Rachel say about active and passive euthanasia?

A
  • There is no distinction between active euthanasia (killing) and passive euthanasia (Letting die)
  • He suggested that passive euthanasia was worse as it was cruel, long, brought about more suffering and yet the end result is the same - death
43
Q

What is the slippery slope argument against euthanasia?

A
  • Legislation that supports voluntary euthanasia may lead to legislation for non voluntary euthanasia
  • Sick individuals who may not suffer excessively may be candidates as they may be a burden to their families or society because others would consider that their quality of life is not worth preserving
  • If we can set criteria for who is allowed to die, then why should it be wrong to set criteria for who is allowed to be killed
  • E.g. Nazi Germany
44
Q

What is the motive argument against euthanasia?

A
  • When a person asked to die how can we be sure that they are not crying out in despair rather than making a decision
    -Can a doctor be certain the person knows all the fact
  • It is possible a persons fear of the future may pass
  • It is almost impossible to know beyond doubt the true intentions of anyone asking for euthanasia
45
Q

What does natural law teach about a human being?

A
  • That there is something special about human beings
  • So it should be protected
  • The taking of another life, even if it is requested, is morally unacceptable
  • By the same argument suicide is an equally immoral act
46
Q

What does christianity state in regards to personal autonomy?

A
  • God has a absolute dominion over life
  • Therefore, personal autonomy is excised within certain boundaries set by God
  • Personal autonomy does not extend to bringing about ones death because ‘you shall not kill’ and suffering connects us to the suffering Jesus felt on the cross
47
Q

What does the catechism of the Catholic Church define euthanasia as?

A

‘An act of omission which of itself or by intention, causes the death of handicapped, sick, or dying persons’

48
Q

Why does the Catholic church’s catechisms definition of euthanasia object natural law theory?

A
  • It suggests an approach that suggests casuistry
  • It suggests that there is dangers in what may be considered virtuous and entitled ‘mercy’ killing, is an apparent good only
49
Q

What is casuistry?

A

A case by case method of reasoning

50
Q

What is the principle of double effect and how can it be used at the end of life?

A
  • If the intention of good, it is acceptable regardless of unwanted consequences
  • If your sedating someone to reduce pain and ends up causing them to die, it is acceptable.
51
Q

Why is natural law being absolutist a strength?

A
  • Absolutist: binding rules of right and wrong
    -R Bowie: ‘it enables people to establish common rules in order to structure communities’ and it ‘gives. clear unambiguous answers to moral questions’
  • By providing absolutist rules it provides strengths such as: conditions to govern and protect people, provides boundaries on behaviour and creates an environment of order
52
Q

Why would a non-believer want to follow natural law? (weakness of the theory)

A

-They would have no desire to follow a system of ethics based upon the belief in a creator God and fulfilling God’s will
- P Clarke ‘If mankind has no religious destiny, it could be argued that following a natural law ethic ultimately makes no sense’

53
Q

Why does natural law theory promote injustice? (Weakness of the theory)

A
  • It fails to recognise that some acts, such as sex, have more than one purpose and so discriminates against those who perform an act without fulfilling its purpose
  • E.g. a couple with infertility having sex
  • Jack Dominion, catholic scholar, says that sex is a personal expression and separates children from this
54
Q

Why is natural law not being dependant on cultural relativism a strength of natural law?

A
  • NLT offers a possible external truth, many cultures accept the same basic principles (E.g. first primary precept to preserve life)
  • This is attractive in a world of multicultural disorder
55
Q

Bowie said that ‘natural law directs people to their final destiny, it is the divine law, God’s law as opposed to human law’
What strength of natural law does this refer too?

A

The natural law approach to ethics creates a link between our creator, our creation and our purpose

56
Q

Why is natural law seeming to override free will a weakness of the theory?

A

Some scholars believe that people should have the freedom to make their own moral choices

57
Q

Why does natural law fail to consider the situation people find themselves in or the consequences of the action? (Weakness of natural law)

A
  • It does not allow abortion even in the case of raoe
  • The theory states that divorce is wrong because it goes against one of the precepts (live in an ordered society)
  • This limited view of morality does not consider the harm or wellbeing of others in the relationship and the consequences of an action
58
Q

Why is natural law eliminating emotions from the morality of the actions a strength?

A
  • It makes it objective
  • Thompson: ‘feelings can change, but the issue of right and wrong remains fixed’
59
Q

Why is natural law theory simple and easy to follow? (strength of natural law theory)

A
  • It assumes there is an ideal and universal human nature which humans need to strive towards.
  • E.g. Stealing is wrong as it goes against the primary precept to live in an ordered society
  • Bowie: ‘gives clear unambiguous answers to moral questions’
60
Q

Why can Jesus be used as an argument against natural law theory?

A
  • Jesus appeared to be against law based morality in the New Testament
  • He appeared to adopt situation ethics
  • He says some people are more important than rules
  • E.g. healing on the sabbath
61
Q

Why do some people say that natural law promotes justice? (Strength of the theory)

A
  • As It advocates through the primary precepts basic human right such as preserve life
  • Nazi war criminals were tried at nuremberg according to what were claimed to be universal moral laws, which were closely modelled on natural law theory
62
Q

Why does natural law appear to be supported by religious texts? (strength of the theory)

A
  • St Paul ‘ law in the hearts of all men
  • Genesis ‘be fruitful and multiply’
  • ## Exodus 20 ‘do not murder’
63
Q

Why did Kai Neilson argue against Aquina’s belief in a basic human nature that is present across societies?

A

Because some cultures, E.g, Inuits killed family members that would not survive winter

64
Q

Why does Some of Jesus teachings appear to contradict some of natural laws primary precepts? (Weakness of natural law)

A
  • You have a right to protect yourself from the primary precept to defend the innocent
  • Jesus stated that ‘if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also’
  • Jesus teachings are based on love and not reason

REP - Ethics (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions