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15 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is Natural Law?
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Natural Law is the Ethical Theory that states morality can be discerned from our view of the universe/nature. True Law is right reason in agreement with nature.
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Who are the 'Key Interpreters' of Natural Law theory?
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Aristotle, Cicero, Aquinas, Augustine, Grotius, Grisez and Finnis.
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What did Plato say that could suggest a Natural Law theory?
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the ideal community "is a city that is established in accordance with nature"
"The form of good is the cause of all things and when it is seen it leads a person to act wisely" |
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What was Aristotle's interpretation of Morality?
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Aristotle thought that the essence of goodness is its telos. Everything was created in order for it fulfil its telos/ its end. Its purpose.
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What different types of telos did nature have (plants, animals and humans)?
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a plant shared in all living things the purpose (telos) to grow.
an animal shared with humans the purpose to procreate and self-preservation. human beings have the unique purpose of seeking truth. |
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What did Cicero say that suggested an understanding of Natural Law Theory?
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True law is right reason in accordance with nature
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What did St Paul say that has been interpreted by many Christians as a reference to Natural Law?
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Romans 2:14 "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."
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Why would Aquinas have an 'Essentialist' (rather than an Existentialist) understanding of Natural Law?
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Because he believed that the purpose of a human being was in the mind of God before creation. God's ideal plan for humans pre-existed the universe.
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What did Augustine suggest was the purpose (telos) of all human beings?
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Augustine believed that Natural Law was a prelapsarian state and since the fall humans through their own reason should seek salvation through divine law and grace of Jesus Christ.
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What were Thomas Aquinas' primary precepts of Natural Law Theory?
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1. Worship God; 2. Ordered society; 3. procreation; 4. seek knowledge; 5. self preservation and the defence of the innocent.
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What was Aquinas's fundamental principle of Natural Law?
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Good is to be done and Evil is to be avoided.
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How did Aquinas Christianize Aristotle's understanding of Natural Law?
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1. Presupposition that God created the universe ex nihilo. (Therefore humans are obligated to fulfil the purpose of creation). 2. Hierarchy of Laws (Eternal Law, Divine Law, Natural Law and Human Law. 3. Essential view of Natural Law. 4. Evil is the privation of Good, a falling short (because of the fall)
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What did Aquinas think about Human Law?
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Human Law must agree with Natural Law otherwise it is not a law at all.
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Name 5 ways in which Natural Law can be considered a good theory in comparison to other theories.
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1. Has been used to work towards ordered societies (Constitution of the US).
2. Has been used to challenge unjust societies and political systems. 3. As an ethical model it balances means with their ends. deon and telos. 4. It identifies codes with universal appeal (protection of life) 5. Basis for dialogue between secular and Christian ethics. |
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Name 5 ways in which Natural Law can be criticised.
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1. Global problems blamed on a Natural Law ethic: AIDS, STD's, overpopulation - malnutrition and poverty.
2. Dependent on a divine creator (Aquinas), and therefore restricts freedom (obligation). 3. Secular incompatibility: right to die is seen as important as right to live. 4. Gender and Sexual ethics seem incompatible. 5. It does not answer questions of moral relativism and particularity. |
