Absolutism
A moral judgement that relies on a fixed truth
Says that some things are basically right no matter the circumstances
Relativism
A moral judgement that takes circumstances into consideration
No action is good or bad in itself, a judgement can only be made after weighing up the arguments
Legalism
Making a moral decision based on previously established laws
Aristotle
Everything has purpose or goal that is aimed e.g. a knife’s purpose is to cut things
Everything we do has a purpose
Fulfilment of purpose (telos) is the ultimate good and what we are inclined to do
Morality is based on reason, not emotion
Cicero
Laws cannot begin with humans
Human laws can be good or bad depending on if they match up with eternal, natural law
Natural law needs no encoding/enforcement
Aquinas
All humans have a natural purpose that God wants them to fulfil
By nature, we are naturally inclined towards the good
The ultimate purpose of humankind is to live in fellowship with God
Humans were given reason + freedom by God to discover and fulfil our natural purpose
Aquinas quote
“The moral life is the life according to reason.”
Eudaimonia
To live in fellowship/happiness with God
Aquinas’ 4 types of laws
Eternal Law = God creates everything and His will and wisdom is revealed to us through…
Divine Law = the sacred text and teachings of the church, which are made known through…
Natural Law = the innate human ability to know what is naturally right. From which…
Human Law = is derived e.g. laws found in the legal system.
Aquinas’ primary precepts
Preservation of life
Order in society
Worship
Educate your offspring
Reproduction
Self-evident principles that are universal & absolute as they are part of our natural inclinations as human beings to guide us towards our final purpose (telos), eudaimonia with God
Strengths of Primary Precepts
Absolute universal rules - same principle applies to everyone
Easy to understand - should be accessible to everyone
Should be simple to find answers to ethical dilemmas as based on something more concrete than personal opinion
Timeless - still relevant today
Secondary Precepts
Rules needed to achieve the primary precepts e.g. the 10 commandments. Upholds the primary precepts
Not absolute + can change based on the situation
Secondary precepts do not apply if they go against the secondary precepts
Strengths of Secondary Precepts
Allows for flexibility
Applies to modern day examples
Realistic and practical rules for everyday life
Weakness of Natural Moral Law
Principles of NML when applied can lead to absurd conclusions
Nature changes (evolution) → does natural law change too? If so how can the laws be absolute?
Ignores human emotion
No room for NML in situationalism, relativism, consequentialism or individualism
Proportionalism
Certain acts are wrong or evil acts in themselves but the act may be the right thing to do if there is a proportionate reason
Doing a ‘bad’ action out of love makes the action morally good but not morally right
Bernard Hoose
“It is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it.”
Natural moral law should be followed unless there is a significant reason to temporarily set it aside.
Acts are not always evil.
For example, telling an adult the truth about a violent death may be right, but telling a child may not be appropriate.
Humanae Vitae
Pope Saint Paul VI - condemned the use of hormonal/unnatural contraception, sterilisation and abortion & promoted the use of natural birth regulation
Doctrine of double effect
A bad consequence does not make an act morally wrong so long as that bad consequence is not intentional e.g. killing an attacker in self defence
Law of double effect
Doing an action with a good intention but it has another consequence The intention of the action determines the morality of the action