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Natural Law

108 resources created by 76 users

This Natural Law page on GoConqr gathers community-made mind maps, flashcards, quizzes and notes on Aristotle, Aquinas, primary and secondary precepts, the doctrine of double effect and John Finnis. It's built for school students going over the topic, and for teachers after ready-made material, with a few university students filling gaps too. There are over 100 resources here, including more than 70 mind maps and over 20 flashcard decks, many aimed at A-level Religious Studies and A-level Philosophy. Pick a mind map, then test yourself with a quiz.

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Top Natural Law resources

Quizzes

Mind maps

See all 71 mind maps

Flashcards

See all 25 flashcards

Flowcharts

Notes

Slides

Topics in Natural Law

Aquinas and Natural Law21Primary and Secondary Precepts9Reason, Goods and Moral Actions5Modern Developments in Natural Law5Applications of Natural Law9Evaluation of Natural Law18

More Philosophy topics

Introduction to Ethics and Moral PhilosophyPhilosophy of Religion: Foundations and SocietyNormative Ethical TheoriesAncient Greek PhilosophyEpistemologyTheory of Knowledge (Ways and Areas of Knowing)Political Philosophy and IdeologiesLogic and Formal ReasoningIntroduction to PhilosophyPhilosophy of MindReligion, Ethics and ConscienceModern Philosophy and the EnlightenmentMedical Ethics and BioethicsGod: Nature, Attributes and Arguments for Existence

About Natural Law

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What this page covers

This unit page brings together resources on natural law as an ethical theory. Most are mind maps, and they follow the same path: Aristotle's idea that everything has a final cause, Aquinas's development of it, and later ideas from Cicero and John Finnis. Flashcards, a slide set, notes and a flowchart sit alongside them.

Where to start

Begin with the mind map Natural Moral Law. It lays out origins, precepts, strengths and the doctrine of double effect on one screen. Then open the slide set Aquinas' Natural Law for a fuller account of Aquinas as a Christian philosopher and theologian.

After that, move through the ideas in order:

  1. Aristotle: purpose, eudaimonia and living virtuously, in Natural Law - Part 1.
  2. Aquinas: the four levels of law, human nature, real and apparent goods, in Morality and Natural Law and Explain Aquinas' development of Natural Law.
  3. Precepts: the five primary precepts and the secondary precepts, in the short decks Five primary precepts and Secondary precepts.
  4. Modern thinking: John Finnis: Modern Development of Natural Law.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then close it and try a quiz. Natural Law Intro - Key Words and Definitions is a good first check on terms such as teleological and deontological. The flashcard deck Natural Moral Law asks you to define those same words, so the two work well as a pair. Any question you miss tells you which map to reopen.

Strengths, weaknesses and applications

Several resources turn to evaluation. Look at Natural Law Strengths and Weaknesses as a map and as a flashcard deck, and at the flowchart Natural law pros and cons. For applied questions, there are maps on Natural Law: Euthanasia and Natural Law and Environmental Ethics. The essay resources, such as Natural Moral Law Essay, show how the ideas can be organized into an answer.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Ethics and Value Theory strand of Philosophy. Pick one resource that matches what you are studying today, and then make your own map or deck to fill any gap you spot.

Frequently asked questions

Which resource should I open first?

Start with the mind map Natural Moral Law. It covers origins, precepts, strengths and the doctrine of double effect, so you see the whole shape of the theory. Once that feels familiar, move on to the slide set on Aquinas or the Aristotle mind map for more detail.

Are these resources free to use?

Yes. Every resource listed here is free to open, study and take, with no account needed. They were made by GoConqr users, not by GoConqr itself, so you will see different styles and levels of detail. A free account also saves your quiz scores and lets you make your own materials.

Which exams do these resources suit?

Many of them mention A-level Religious Studies, A-level Philosophy or Eduqas A-Level Religious Studies, so they suit school students at that stage. A smaller share is aimed at university level. Check the title and excerpt to see whether a resource matches your course before you spend time on it.

What do the mind maps cover?

There are over 70 mind maps. They cover Aristotle's final cause and eudaimonia, Aquinas's four levels of law, primary and secondary precepts, real and apparent goods, and John Finnis. Others tackle strengths and weaknesses, religion, euthanasia and environmental ethics.

How can I test myself on natural law?

There are a small set of quizzes, including Natural Law Intro - Key Words and Definitions, plus over 20 flashcard decks. Decks such as Five primary precepts and Real and apparent goods break the theory into short questions you can repeat until the answers come easily.

What if I cannot find the topic I need?

Try the related titles on the page, such as the maps on Aquinas, Aristotle or Finnis, because the same idea often appears under a different name. If nothing fits, you can build your own mind map or flashcard deck on the missing point.

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