virtue ethics and natural law key terms

Arete

Excellence or virtue; the quality that enables something (or someone) to fulfil its purpose well.

Telos

The end, purpose, or goal of something — what it is ultimately aiming to achieve.

Eudaimonia

Human flourishing; the highest human good. Achieved by living a life of virtue in accordance with reason.

The Ergon Argument

Aristotle’s idea that everything has an ergon (function).
For humans, this function is rational activity.
A good human life = fulfilling our rational function excellently (through virtue).

The Four Types of Law (Aquinas)

1. Eternal Law:
God’s unchanging wisdom that governs everything.

2. Divine Law:
Revealed law (e.g., Scripture).

3. Natural Law:
Moral law discoverable by reason; innate understanding of right/wrong.

4. Human Law:
Rules made by societies that should be based on Natural Law.

Synderesis

The innate human tendency to know and pursue the good while avoiding evil (“do good, avoid evil”).

The Five Primary Precepts (Aquinas)

These are universal, unchanging principles for achieving good:

1. Preserve life

2. (live in an) Ordered society

3. Worship God

4. Educate the young

5. Reproduce

POWER

Secondary Precepts

Definition:
More specific rules derived from the Primary Precepts (e.g. “do not murder” from preserving life).
Flexible and can adapt to circumstances.

Moral Absolutism

Definition:
The belief that moral rules are fixed, universal, and unchanging — always right or wrong regardless of context.

Casuistry

Definition:
Applying general moral principles to specific cases.
Used in Natural Law to allow flexibility in complex situations.