Fichas
Natural Law
Fichas del conjunto (22)
- 1What are the key features of Aristotle's thinking which inspired Aquinas?1. Every agent acts for an end of some kind and the human being acts to acquire happiness or eudaimonia
2. Something is good if it fulfils its end
3. There is a Prime Mover in the universe responsible for setting it in motion - 2How did Aristotle define eudaimonia?Not a pleasure but an activity that perfects the highest faculty of a person. Human happiness is the contemplation of these highest objects
- 3For Aquinas, what are properly moral acts?Free acts which come from a freely acting rational person
- 4Though we act towards certain specific ends...?These ends are not fully satisfying. We are only fully satisfied when we achieve the ultimate end, the universal good.
- 5Where did Aquinas conclude that the ultimate end can be found?In the supreme and infinite God - the ultimate end of all things which rational creatures alone can perceive
- 6What did Aquinas think meant that all human beings sought this end?The natural light of reason
- 7What mattered to Aquinas?Intentions - we need divine help to direct our motivations as well as our actions. We should do good acts for good reasons but we must not do bad good for good reasons
- 8What is eternal law?The absolute and eternal part of natural law. It is part of the mind of God - his unchanging reason. This is the reason God's aw is unchanging and universal for everyone at all times and in all places. it is absolute and not relative to different people or situations. God plants the eternal law in every person's rational soul.
- 9What is divine law?God sends out information about this eternal law through divine law which means the commands and teachings of divine revelation which are usually found in the Bible
- 10What is natural law?It is possible for all human beings to perceive God's eternal law, even those who have not read the Bible. This is because of natural law. Natural Law allows humans to perceive the eternal law through the application of human reason - through reflection on the world. This marks human beings apart from animals and makes God's eternal law accessible to the whole of humanity
- 11What is human law?Our response to these messages from God in reason and in revelation. Human laws are the customs and practices of society. Around the world, many human societies come up with the same kind of laws - look after the young and vulnerable, protect life etc. Aquinas is clear that human law is only a proper law if it is good and in accordance with divine and natural law. A practice that is wrong is no law at all and breaking such laws is not immoral.
- 12What is the key precept?Synderesis: dogged and avoid evil. Reason directs us to do good and avoid evil and all other principles flow from this reason
- 13Aquinas thought that in all human beings......'there is first of all an inclination to good' because 'every substance seeks the preservation of its own being.' Therefore, 'whatever is a means of preserving human life, and of warding off its obstacles, belonging to the natural law.'
- 14What are the five primary precepts?PROWL
1. Protection of the innocent
2. Reproduction
3. Order in society
4. Worship God
5. Learn - 15What is deduced from primary precepts?Secondary precepts: They are applications of the primary precepts into certain situations
- 16How did Aquinas explain evil if the nature of every being was basically good?We are tempted by apparent, not real goods. This is an error of reasoning or absence of it.
- 17What did Aquinas think reason identified?'Natural' or 'cardinal' virtues: prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice. Some virtues are revealed in sacred scripture: faith, hope and love.
- 18What did Aquinas think we should do to help keep the natural law?Develop virtues. This requires discipline and practice to become habitual.
- 19Which doctrine did Aquinas introduce when discussing whether self-defence is permissible?The doctrine of double effect
- 20What did Aquinas distinguish between?Interior acts: Our motivation, our intention behind the act
Exterior acts: The act that is visible - the act that is actually performed - 21Self defence is not permissible if...?If the act be out of proportion to the end
- 22What's the difference between the doctrine of double effect and consequentalism?An action may have two effects or ends. Self defence is permissible if one is focussed on the good end and the bad end is only a side effect or bi-product of trying to achieve the good effect. The bad end should not act as a means to achieving the good end e.g. it wouldn't be permissible to kill someone and harvest their organs in order to save five others because in this case, the wrong (death) is not just an unforeseen side effect but a willingly chosen act which is essential to achieving the end. On the other hand, it would be permissible to spray an attacker in the eyes even if it cause the attacker to hit their head and die because the wrong (death) was not an essential, foreseen means to achieve the end.
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- A level (Ethics) Religious Studies Fichas sobre Natural Law, creado por Annabel Stock el 26/02/2018.
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- Annabel Stock
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