Natural Law

Arete

excellence

Telos

end goal/purpose

Eudaimonia

Flourishing in life

What is Aristotle’s Ergon argument?

The idea that a person’s goodness depends on them performing its unique function (Ergon) well.

For humans this unique function is the “activity of the rational part of the soul” therefore living according to reason is how to live virtuously

What are the 4 types of law?

Eternal Law - God’s ultimate understanding of good and bad which we can never fully know.

Divine Law - God’s law revealed to humanity (scriptures)

Natural Law - Facts about good and bad which can be worked out using reason

Human Law - Legal laws e.g. those created by the government

Synderesis

the idea that humans have inherent, habitual moral knowledge which isn’t learnt by experience.

The 5 primary precepts

Preserving life

Ordered society

Worship God

Educate

Reproduce

What are secondary precepts

The things that are done in order to follow the primary precepts e.g. not killing

Moral absolutism

The idea that there are universal, unchanging moral principles that apply to everyone, everywhere, regardless of context or consequence.

Casuistry

A case-based method of reasoning

Name the three revealed virtues?

Faith, hope and love

What are the three revealed virtues?

They are virtues gifted by God that focus on ones relationship with God.

What do each of the revealed virtues mean?

Charity (Love) = Loving God above anything else and loving everyone as your neighbour - considered the most important virtue.

Faith = believing in God and seeking to follow in his path.

Hope = Trusting in God’s promises, desiring eternal life and relying on God’s grace.

Name the four cardinal truths

Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance

What do each of the four cardinal truths mean?

Prudence = practical wisdom - using knowledge and experience to make ethical decisions.

Justice = fairness and giving everyone what they deserve.

Fortitude = courage, strength and perseverance in facing difficulties.

Temperance = moderation, self-control and balance of desires.

What is the difference between internal and external actions?

Internal actions refer to your intentions

External actions are your actual physical actions

what is the difference between real and apparent goods.

Real goods refer to actions that are truthfully moral and align with God’s law.

Apparent goods are actions that one mistakenly thinks are moral but ultimately aren’t.

What is Natural Law’s general stance on abortion?

Natural Law rejects abortion as immoral as it goes against the primary precept to preserve life.

What is a foetus viewed as after ensoulment?

A developing human with inherent value.

What is Aristotle’s concept of ‘delayed animation’

the idea that ensoulment occurs at 40-80 days.

What does the idea of ‘delayed animation’ mean about Aquinas’ view on abortion?

Aquinas views early abortion as less severe than homicide, although it is still a violation of Natural Law.

What are the conditions of the doctrine of double effect?

1. The act is good or neutral

2. The bad effect is not intended

3. The bad effect must not be the means by which the good effect is achieved - it must be a side effect

4. The good must outweigh the bad.

What is the double effect in relation to abortion?

In cases where the mother’s life is at risk, it can be morally permissible to perform an act that causes the death of the foetus as long as the act fits the conditions.

What is Natural Law’s stance on euthanasia? - considering the doctrine of double effect

euthanasia is generally forbidden due to it violating the primary precept to preserve life

BUT under the doctrine of double effect, forms of passive and voluntary euthanasia can be permissible. (e.g. withdrawing life-sustaining treatment)

Why Is Natural Law not relevant in contemporary society?

• Increasing cultural pluralism - it’s difficult to universally apply moral principles.

• Modern science contradicts the teleological view of nature in the way that it explains phenomena.

• Its theological dependence in a secular/pluralistic society makes it difficult and problematic.

• cultural and moral relativism - morals are an outcome of how one is socialised by their environment/culture.

How was Aquinas hypocritical

He was a celibate monk therefore violated his own law to reproduce