Natural Law - created from Mind Map

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Deontological Theory

Origins

Principles and Features

Role of Natural Law

Charachteristics

Focuses solely on action, not consequences of action

Absolutist approach (i.e. rules cannot be broken)

1. Aristotle first developed theory

2. Cicero further developed theory

3. Stoics added to it

4. Thomas Aquinas gave it a more Christian meaning

Claimed everything has a purpose (e.g. knife)

He said there is "...one eternal and unchangeable law..."

They believed there was a fundamental purpose to everything

He argued that we were all created by God, and as such we must live out our lives in accordance with his will

1. Primary and Secondary Precepts

2. Human Reason

3. Apparent Goods

4. Interior and Exterior Acts

5. Doctrine of Double Effect

The Primary Precepts are: to reproduce, to learn and educate children, to live in an ordered society, self-preservation and preservation of the innocents, and to worship God

We can deduce Secondary Precepts from these (e.g. from "to reproduce", we deduce all sexual acts must be open to having children. Also, we can deduce that contraception, which prevents creation of new life, is wrong)

Scripture does not instruct us on how to behave in every situation, so Aquinas said we must use reason to instruct us

If we use reason, we will arrive at the 4 Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice

Some people's reason may be geared towards their own particular version of "good", however this is compleletly opposed to real good

For example, Hitler's reason told him to exterminate 6 million Jews

Aquinas felt both of these were as important as one another. He said we should not behave in the right way for the wrong reasons

For example, giving to charity simply to attract praise is wrong

Jesus reinforces this: "let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing"

Encourages people to only focus on the primary intention of their action rather than any secondary consequences

Thompson: "if my primary intention was good, I should not be blamed for any secondary effects"

Natural Law is used rigorously by the Catholic Church

The RCC applied Natural Law to any moral decision; this is called casuistry

Examples

"Rosa's Abortion"

The Aids Epidemic

Disadvantages

Advantages

Protestant Denominations do not follow this theory as they claim it gives us "a moral status independent of God"

Some say it is too legalistic

Some say it isn't universal

They claim human reason is tainted since "The Fall"

Jesus opposes legalism

E.g. Eskimos kill those who won't last the winter

It allows us to use our reason to guide us

It is absolutist; it provides us with the certainty of rules that cannot be broken

Because reason forms the basis of it, it can be argued it is universal

Leo XIII reaffirms this: it "is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man"

In this time of uncertainty, Christians find these unchangeable rules good