Natural moral law

Natural moral law

1. Thomas Aquinas: (Thomistic Ethics)

   • http://thomism.wordpress.com/2006/04/21/thomistic-ethics-and-natural-law/
   • summa theologica
   • deontological
     • moral decisions are made out of a sense of duty
   • primary precepts
     • 1) self preservation and the preservation of other
     • 2) reproduction
     • 3) educate children
     • 4) live in society
     • 5) worship God
   • the perfection of creation
     • 1. nothing with God is accidental or by chance. 2. God made creation  3. creation therefore was not by chance. 4. creation happened a reason. 5. creation is good (genesis) 6.creation exist to reveal gods goodness. 7. what is true for creation is equally equally true for what exists in creation. 8. everything has a reason for being. 9. natural law regulates everything.
     • the material world exist to reveal

2. absolutist

   • strengths
     • morality is not based on individual or group preferences but on absolute and universal values
     • different societies share common values and norms
     • due to common values different societies interact and communicate
     • it allows one society to evaluate the morality of another
       • human rights conventions
     • clear moral judgements
     • quick ethical decisions
   • weaknesses
     • no account to historical developments
     • no account of cultural differences
     • no account to individual lifestyle
     • no account of the situation
     • condemnatory and harsh
     • its applications

3. Aristotle

   • rational forms
   • material substances
   • teleological chart
     • 1. its funtion
     • 2. purpose
     • 3. telos
     • 4. final end ( to reach eudomonia )
     • this creates harmony between rational forms and material substance ( harmonies relations between everything)
       • the process of how this harmony is obtained
         • 1. there is a reason for everything. 2. the reason is contained in the         rational forms. 3. the reasons exist conceptually 4. material things are mixed with         rational forms. 5. they exist in tandem. 6. they have equal worth. 7.they exist to compliment each        other. 8. they have different functions. 9. humans: body(suma),                 soul(psyche). 10. other things have material substance and rational form
     • in tandem