RSSO2: Natural Law

RSSO2: Natural Law

1. Deontological and absolute - it is concerned with the morality of the act itself, not with the consequences of the act. There are no exceptions to this rule.

2. Aristotle proposed four causes which lay behind the existence of everything.

   • Material cause - what is it made from?
   • Formal cause - what is it's form?
   • Efficient cause - what produced it?
   • Final cause - for what purpose?

3. The final cause for living things is their purpose. All actions are driven towards this goal. This is known as the 'telos'.

   • The telos of humanity is eudemonia, or happiness. Happiness is living well and being fulfilled whilst living consistently with human nature and the natural world.

4. Natural Law is within all of us, deriving from our reason. Sometimes our reasoning can be wrong and leads us to pursue apparent goods. To develop correct reasoning we should practice certain virtues.

   • Natural virtues: 1)Prudence: being cautious in decision making 2)Temperance: self restraint 3)Fortitude: mental and emotional strength 4)Justice: being fair and reasonable
   • Theological virtues: 1)Faith: complete trust in God 2)Hope: desire for eternal happiness 3)Charity: love of God and neighbour

5. Aquinas proposed five primary precepts, predetermined moral behaviours. The rules must be applied to all similar situations regardless of consequence. The precepts are: worship God, orderly society, reproduce, universal education and defend innocent life.

   • Secondary precepts are rules we deduce from the primary precepts in order to carry them out e.g. do not murder, do not abort a child.

6. Doctrine of the double effect - even if a good act results in bad consequences, it is still right to do the act if the intention behind it is good. There are four conditions to the double effect.

   • We do not wish the evil effects and make all reasonable effort to avoid them.
   • The immediate effect be good in itself.
   • The evil is not a means to obtain the good effect.
   • The good effect will be at least proportionate to the evil effect.

7. Finnis uses the term 'well being' in describing telos. In using reason, humans can identify the seven basic goods needed to live a fulfilling and moral life.

   • 7 basic goods: life, knowledge, play, natural beauty, friendship, religion and practical reasonableness.
     • There are also 9 principles of practical reasonableness which are guidelines to live a happier and more fulfilled life. Examples include do good and avoid evil, treat everyone equally and remain objective.

8. This is a common sense approach which is therefore available to all people.

   • The rules provided are independent of our own thoughts and desires. Decisions will not be swayed by emotion.
     • The secondary precepts provide flexibility to adjust the decision on the best outcome for the situation.
       • The primary precepts clearly indicate rights and wrongs, making it clear and easy to apply.
         • The rules of natural law follow our instincts and intuition.

9. Natural lawis far too simplistic. Humans do not have a single, fixed human nature so cannot so easily agree on right or wrong.

   • If natural law is universal and instinctive, why have so many immoral acts occurred over the centuries?
     • It is outdated in modern society where less traditional lifestyles are widely accepted e.g. homosexuality.
       • Human nature changes. There is not one definitive human nature, so how can it be an effective way to make decisions?
   • This ethical argument is inflexible, so in some situations would cause more harm than good. Indiviudal circumstances should always be considered.