natural moral law

What is NML developed from ?

Developed by aquinas and based on Aristotelian theology

• everything has a nature which directs it towards good and its final goal ( telos)

What is eudimonia (ultimate telos)

Human flourishing transformed it form Aristotle but made it theological → being in the presence of god

What did aquinas think about telos

Telos is innate and god given

What did Aquinas say about reason

Human reason is god given

Reason allows us to intuitively know the primary precepts and synderisis rule

Reason also allows us to discern the will of God

What are the 4 tiers of moral law called

Eternal law

Divine law

Natural law

Human law

What is eternal law

The reason of God → we can never know this

What is divine law

How gods plan is revealed to humans in the bible → tells them how to achieve eudimonia and telos

What is natural law

Moral law is discoverable by human reason but in human nature → helps figure out eternal law

What is human law

Human made law which is based on natural and divine law

Synderises

The ability of human reaon to discover gods natural moral law

‘Do good and avoid evil’ → human inclination towards good which is innate

How do we discover the five primary precepts

Through synderies

What are the 5 primary precepts

Preservation of life

Ordered socity

Worship God

Reproduction

Educate children

What are primary precepts used for

Understood through reason and needed to achieve / find telos

What are the secondary precepts

• come from the primary precepts

Use of reason to apply primary precepts to situations + actions

—> are not as fixed as primary precepts , allows for flexability

—> practical human rules which govern our daily behaviour

What are some examples of 2ndry precepts

Go to church

Don’t use contraception

What are real goods

In line with synderies rule

Actions that appear good and are good as in line with telos

What are apparent goods

An action that appears good buy in not actually and is an error in our reason

• sin

What are exterior acts

Actions which are observable to others , someone can see what your doing

What are interior acts

Are not directly obersavble → is our intention/ motivation with action

What an example of a good exterior act but bad interior act

Giving moeny to charity = good exterior

Giving for praise = bad interior act

Where should motivation for interior acts come from

5 primary precepts

What is the Doctirne of Double Effect

Princible where some actions produce 2 results - one good , one bad

How dose the doctrine of double effect justify actions

Good effect was intended , bad effect is beside the intention

What is aquinas example of DDE

Self defence

• killing is wrong under NML goes agaisnt primary precepts of ‘preservation of life’

• If the intention of the action was solely for self defence but consequences was unintended death , the action is permissible

• Summa theological II

What are the 4 conditions of DDE

1 - action itself must not be wrong → has to be inline with divine + primary precepts

2 - good effect must be produced by action not consequnce

3 - intention = good effect side effect = bad effect

4 - must be proportional → goof effect must compensate for bad effect

What is vincible ignorance

A lack of knowledge for which a person is responsible → not an excuse as people still morally sulpable

What is an example of vincible ignorance

If you see somone being mugged and don’t intervene to help → this is WRONG should use reason to discover that it violates primary precepts e.g ‘ordered society’

What is invincible ignorance

A lack of knowledge for which the person is not responsible → a person that acts to the best of their knowledge

Wouldn’t be condemned by GOD

What is prudence

The practitioner of careful consideration of moral actions and experince

—> must cultivate viryure and keep practicing being a good person so you can have reason + have a moral consiecence

How did Cicero argue for NML’s telos and synderesis

Cicero agreed that reason can be used ‘right reason in agreement with nature ‘

Thought that reason was important in life , telos uses reason

How is telos a positive of NML

Telos gives human life one objective moral and aspirational aim for life → keeps people motivated

How is the religious element of synderesis a pro for NML

Innate syneresis is backed by Pauls letter to Romans that innate law ‘ is written in the heart of the gentiles’

Roots NML as a religious ethic

Might be helpful to religious people

Why dose Nielsen think that telos is a con of NML

Nielsen says that its a mistake to think that all humans are similar as we alll have diffrent genetics + psychology

→ we have no common human nature , idea of innate synderiesis is wrong

→ thinks NML has an outdated understanding of human nature

How is what Freud says a con of NML

Freud argues that culture and social conditioning are what determines our moral compass

→ undermines that idea that morality is innate and god given

→ goes against synderies rule

How dose what extertentialists think become a con of NML

Satre → sispute whether humans actually have any purpose in life , or if whether we freely choose our paths ourselves

→ undermines the idea of god given telos

How dose religion and what is say on reason a pro of NML

NML as a religious ethics affirms the importance of reason → humans made in gods image so posses the rational capacity of morality

How is what Hobbes says about reaon a pro for NML

Hobbes belives that humanity is selfish and brutish and the only thing that separates us from animals is reason

→ shows the importance of reason in life

→ reason is needed for morality as humans have morals and animlas dont

How dose what Barth argues about reason become a con of NML

Bath argues that because of orginal sin + the fall of Adam and Eve human reason is damaged and corrupted and cant be used in moral descition making

→ reason is not a reliable source of descition making

What dose Moore + naturalistic fallacy say about reason and how is this a con of NML

Moore + naturlistic fallacy argue that just because you see something in nature dosnet mean its good → shows how its logically flawed to reduces moral properties from natural properties

E.g IVF , homosexuality

How are the primary precepts a pro of NML

Primary precepts lead NML to be a prodominetly absolutist theory → leading to clarity in judgment and descition making

What is a pro of primary prects

They protect core rights like the value of life ‘obersavation of life’ + the right to an education ‘education of youth’

→ this applies no matter the context or time period

What dose Pope Benedict XVI say about the primary precepts

Pope Benedict XVI says that the primary precepts ‘ provide a counterbalance to the materlistic hedonistic trend in today’s society ‘

What dose Nielsen argue about Primary precepts and how is this a con

Nielsen Aguirre’s that there is uniform human nature so you cant make anything universal and is too simplistic for human experince

→ precepts are to simple and inflexible for humans

How dose NML being a religious ethic make it a pro

NML is too theological depedent → ‘worship God’s being a primary precept + telos and synderis being god given shows how the whole system depends on the assumption of God , not universally accepted

How dose what Mill argues about the primary precepts become a con of NML

Mill says that divine law found in the bible are only relavent to the time —> this can be applied to NML as is was created in a medivil socio-economic time which is no longer relavent today

• primary precepts are outdated

How do the primary precepts creating conflicting outcome become a con of NML

PP cant cope with complex dilemmas → e.g atomic bomb

Strict following of the PP can lead to unethical outcomes → dont wear contraception which is a secondary precepts can lead to unwanted children + the spread of STDS like HIV