Natural Moral Law - created from Mind Map

Seite 1

Aristotle

Aquinas

Cicero

Finnis

Four causes

"We are what we repeatedly do"

"Good is something which fulfils its end purpose

Potentiality and actualisation

Teleological

"Good actions are those which help us become fully human. whereas bad actions are those which hinder us from being fully human"

Although animals can also complete the four causes, the difference is that humans can use their rationality as a means to achieve our own natural, intended purpose

Identity

Material

Formal

Efficient

Final

The substance something is made from

E.g. wood

The kind of thing something is

E.g. a chair

The agent that brings something about

E.g. a carpenter

The purpose

Eudaimonia!

E.g. to sit on

Flourishing and happiness

We all have potentiality to reach our final goal, although this doesn't mean that we all do so. It is only after our potentiality has been achieved that we will be actualised

To reach Eudaemonia we have to use our rationality as a means to act morally. Animals can't do this, which separates us from humans and animals

Anthropocentric view - humans are the centre of the world and the most important

For humans the efficient cause is the same as the final cause, since its end or purpose is to realise its form as perfectly as possible - to be the best human being as a means to reach Eudaemonia

For natural objects, the efficient cause is only the same as the formal and final causes, because animals and plants are normally caused by another individual of the same species

Catholic Theologian

Interior and exterior goods

Primary & Secondary Precepts

Purpose: By following NML one is acting in a moral way in order to become closer with God. By doing this, we can help shorter our time in purgatory

Real and Apparent Goods

Virtues

Types of Law

Deontological

An act with a good exterior and a bad interior would be giving to charity for publicity

An act with a bad exterior but good interior would be stealing in order to feed your starving family

Primary precepts

Worship God

Reproduce

Learn

Contribute to society

Live

"Do not make false idols"

"Fill the Earth and subdue it" / "Be fruitful and multiply"

No masturbating

No homosexual relations

"Honour your mother and father"

"Do nto lie"

"Do not kill"

"No evil can be desierable"

We are naturally inclined to do good, because this is the way God created us. However, in order to do this, we must use our rationality

However, because we have free will, we sometimes fall into temptation. An apparent good would be watching TV instead of doing homework. Although one is more enjoyable only one is aiming to become more God-like

Because we are imago dei, we must have God's characteristics which we should aim to perform

We should aim to improve our value of life - become more omniscient - primary precept to learn

Cardinal

Theological

Believed these should be cultivated until they become habitudinal

Prudence

Fortitude

Patience

Temperance

Hope

Chairty

Love

Devine

Eternal

Natural

Human

The law of God revealed through the Bible

Only God can understand this

"Natural law is the same for all men"

Natural sense to do good and avoid evil - directs our conscience

Law developed by humans. E.g. not stealing

"True law is right reason in accordance with nature"

Modern version

Secular - God is no longer required

Seven basic goods

Nine Principles of Practical Reasonableness

"It is so wonderful being a rational animal, there is a reason for everything one does"

"One should favour the Common Good by fostering conditions which enable collective Eudaimonia"

Problems with socially constructed laws

Self evidently good and are motivated by the goal of an action as a means to contribute to fulfilling life

Universal and apply to all humans and at all times

Human life-

Knowledge

Skilled performance

Aesthetics

Sociability

Practical reasonableness

Religion

Believed one person could choose whether to make one or more important in their own lives. Believed reason was universal and timeless

Guides us into fulfilling basic goods

Using intelligence to solve problems

Treat everyone equally, do good and avoid evil, to follow ones conscience

E.g. Afghanistan teenage girls who have been gang raped are guilty of adultery and are forced to marry their attacker, or be stoned

If a law is socially constructed then there is no basis for judging it outside that society, therefore, because we live in England, we can't judge

Finnis argues that law needs to be morally grounded to suit what it is to be human and relates to moral code. Otherwise humans we bit see that following a law is morally right and will instead follow it out of HABIT or FEAR.

Finnis will not see law has a moral authority. E.g. only not killing someone to avoid being arrested.

Believes that sometimes we must follow unjust laws as otherwise disobeying it might weaken the whole system, depending on the circumstance. E,g, Finnis rejects abortion, euthanasia and nuclear weapons