Natural Law Ethics Flashcards (TOPIC 1)

Flashcards on Natural Law Ethics based on lecture notes.

The virtue ethics of Aristotle paved the way for Natural Law developed by __.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Aquinas adopted the ethics of Aristotle but transformed it by introducing the notion of God as the __ and the Source of the beingness of man and the world.

Creator

Aquinas also transformed Aristotle's ethics by introducing the notion of __.

synderesis

St. Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 at Roccasecca, near __.

Aquino

Thomas entered the University of Paris where he was able to meet a prodigious scholar whose enormous intellectual achievements had earned him the title __.

Albertus Magnus

Among the early philosophers, it was Albert who was able to recognize the fundamental difference between __ and theology.

philosophy

The main objective of St. Albert was to make the philosophy of __ clearly understandable to the whole of Europe by translating the whole works of Aristotle into Latin.

Aristotle

Aquinas was ordained a priest about __.

1250

On March 7, 1274, Pope Gregory X called him to Lyons in France to participate in a __.

council

Thomas left a huge literacy legacy. Its vastness was considered to be very remarkable because no one would even think that it was all composed within a __ span only.

20-year

Aquinas held that there are still differences between __ and philosophy.

theology

According to St. Thomas, some truths, such as the mystery of the __ , can be known only through revelation while others, such as the existence of God, are known through both equally.

incarnation

According to St. Thomas, human beings are incapable of knowing the nature of God in this life because our knowledge is limited by its origin in __.

sense-experience

St. Thomas offered the five proofs of God's existence, which is known in the Summa Theologiae as the __ or the Five Ways

Quinquae Viae

The First Way is about man's experience of __ in the universe.

motion or change

The Second Way is from the nature of the __.

efficient cause

The Third Way is taken from __ and necessity.

possibility

The Fourth Way is taken from the __ of perfection that is to be found in things.

gradation

The Fifth Way is taken from the __ of the world.

governance

From the idea of the First Cause, God is seen as uncaused and, therefore, __.

eternal

From the idea of the Necessary Being, God is seen as pure __.

actuality

According to St. Thomas, the imperfect goodness and wisdom of God's creatures may be taken to represent or mirror the perfection of these qualities in God as their __.

Creator

St. Thomas, on the other hand, held that God is the first cause of everything which He Himself is __.

uncaused

According to St. Thomas, God's purpose in creation is to communicate His perfection, which is His goodness, by bringing into existence outside of Himself a world which is __.

best as a whole

Just like St. Augustine, St. Thomas also believed that God created the world __.

ex nihilo

Thomas held that God does not have a __ with His creatures.

relationship

For St. Thomas, conscience is the concrete particular judgment by which, in a given situation, a person knows what he __.

ought to do

On the other hand, __ is more general as it is the intellectual habit or disposition by which, the human person, in any given situation, is in a possession of the fundamental principles of morality-do good and avoid evil

synderesis

Moral law is the dictate of the __.

voice of reason

The basis of moral obligation, according to him, is found, first of all, in the very __.

nature of humanity

St. Thomas held that the human person has three natural inclinations: (1) __; (2) just dealings with others; and (3) propagation of species.

self-preservation

All things are directed to one good as their __.

last end

Thomas held that the human person's ultimate happiness consists in __ and not in the goods of the body.

contemplating God

The first determinant of moral action is the __ or the end of an action.

object

The second determinant of moral action is the __.

circumstances

The third determinant of moral action is the __.

intention of the agent

This principle is applied to a situation in which a good effect and an evil effect will result into a good cause is called __.

The principle of Double Effect

The principle states that an individual may be given the right to cut off, mutilate, or remove any defective or worn-out non-functioning part of his body if it is for the general well-being of the whole body is called __.

The principle of Totality

This principle declares that the human life comes from God and no individual is the master of his own body is called __.

The principle of Stewardship

This principle states that life is God's and has been loaned to us is called __.

The principle of Inviolability of Life

This principle underscores the two-fold purpose of sexual union: __.

unitas et procreatio (unity and procreation)

Inasmuch as the life of a human being comes from God, each individual, therefore, has been endowed with the six __ rights.

natural and inalienable

Among any other rights of a human person the __ is considered to be the highest right.

Right to Life

Every individual person has the moral power to move around freely or to go to places where he wants to go, which is called __.

Right to Physical Freedom or Personal Liberty

The right to work implies a right to __.

a living wage

To the right to life, there is the corresponding duty to __.

improve ones self not only physically, but also intellectually, socially, morally, and spiritually

This duty forbids everyone to enter the premises of other persons without the consent of the owner of the said premises is called __.

Duty to Respect Private Boundaries

From our discussions on the ethical principle of St. Thomas Aquinas, it can be noted that his ethical belief was influenced by the Aristotelian principle that everything in the world has a __.

goal or purpose

At the same time, the ethics of St. Thomas is based on the principle of __.

synderesis and conscience

If one's conscience is to be based on his personal development, the voice of conscience that St. Thomas was saying will definitely __ from one individual to another.

differ

According to Aquinas, there are four kinds of law, what are they?

Eternal Law, Natural Law, Human Law, and Divine Law

What is Eternal Law?

is God's plan for the universe; it is unchangeable and governs all things.

What is Natural Law?

is humanity's participation in the Eternal Law; it is our ability to understand what is good through reason.

What is Human Law?

laws made by human societies; they should be based on Natural Law and promote the common good.

What is Divine Law?

is revealed through scripture and the teachings of the Church; it guides us towards our supernatural end.

Synderesis is possession of the fundamental principles of morality, what are these?

Doing good and avoiding evil

What are the three determinants of moral action?

The object, the intention, and the circumstances

What is the object in moral action?

The end or the act itself

What is the intention in moral action?

The motive behind the action

What are the circumstances in moral action?

The factors surrounding the action that can affect its morality.

What are the three natural inclinations of the human person according to St. Thomas Aquinas?

Self-preservation, just dealings with others, and propagation of species.

Humanity participates in **** Law through reason.

Natural

**** Law should be based on Natural Law and promote the common good.

Human

**** Law guides people toward their supernatural end through scripture.

Divine

The **** is the act itself or the end toward which it is directed.

object

**** is the motive or purpose behind an action.

Intention

**** are the surrounding factors affecting the morality of an action.

Circumstances

**** is the innate drive to maintain one’s life and well-being.

Self-preservation

Treating