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7 Cards in this Set
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Natural law theory |
• Absolute (actions have intrinsic value) • universal • deontological (duty to avoid certain actions - duty based - rule based) • non-consequential (not based on situation/ circumstance) • "action right iff doesn't violate natural human inclinations"
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Aristotle Natural Law theory |
1. Everything has teleology (purpose) (rain-crops)(knife-cut)(nature-function) 2. Purpose of human use reason; achieve Eudaemonia (flourishing life) Cic |
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Cicero (Roman jurist) seek to find laws can be considered "natural" & thus universally beneficial to all nature |
Seeks to make all laws applicable to everyone, using human nature - God implanted laws in his nature (must use reason to determine natural inclinations - laws we must follow) |
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Aquinas Natural Law theory |
- God implanted 'eternal law' within his creation (humans) - humans participate in 'External law' via natural law (their purpose) - God's principles (laws must follow) found in; 1. Bible 2. Reason to discover true (accurate) natural inclinations (Just because we do something doesn't mean it's right, must use power of reason to determine right thing to do & our true human inclinations) - share some natural inclinations (functions) with animals; life, reproduction, nurturing young - some natural inclinations (functions) unique to us; reason, living in society (thus marriage becomes part human natural inclinations - marriage part of human inclination to procreate & socialise within society subsequently marriage extension of this) - humans & animals; avoid evil, pursue good
Types of good Primary precepts; intrinsically valuable, real goods (not apparent; wealth, happiness), they are our true human inclinations & primary natural purpose, purposes of human life - primary precepts; knowledge, procreation, life, society = acts which support life - acts which support primary precepts (extension/ how to apply primary precepts); secondary precepts; do not murder,do not lie, do not have non-procreative sex, avoid harm (principle of non-maleficence)
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Criticism of NLT |
Animals have inclinations, humans have inclinations, use reason to discover true inclination & thus our true nature/ purpose (teleology) - very simplistic ignores situation/ emotions |
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Qualifying principles: |
justifications for not following secondary precepts (acts support primary precepts) 1. Forfeiture; a person who attacks innocent person forfeits their right to life Example; Kill enemy soldier, capital punishment, therapeutic abortion (foetus killing mother) 2. Double effect; nature of act; does it violate primary precept?; bad effect must be unintended side-effect; last resort; proportionate (cause proportionate to effect) Example; therapeutic abortion intentionally kills foetus (murder - against primary precept - life) could give mother drugs that would kill the baby but not intentionally if no other options & mother likely to die Terminally ill patient may administer drug to stop pain may be consequential side effects such as death of patient; death was foreseeable but not intended; all other medicine not helped; the person is very likely never to recover & in considerable pain with quality of life rapidly deteriorating (morphine considered appropriate drug to relieve symptoms but may cause premature death) |
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Response to moral issues; abortion, euthanasia, just war, IVF, GE |
Abortion: - violates primary precept life supported by secondary precept do not murder - double-effect (qualifying principle) if mother will die & last resort & proportionate & death of baby foreseeable side effect but unintentional - forfeiture (qualifying principle) foetus killing mother losing own right to life Euthanasia - "" Just war - forfeiture; enemy soldiers attacking you thus forfeiting own right to life - secondary precept do not murder IVF - separates primary & secondary precepts: divorces procreation & sex (wrong) - against natural human inclination (reproduction via sex) GE - against our natural human inclinations - not our job 'external law' put into nature by God our job to use reason to find it; not to play God & act against human inclinations/ interfere with them
Gay - wrong divorces sex from procreation; against natural human inclinations |
