Aristotle and Aquinas Study Set

What are the natural inclinations?

to preserve life, reproduce, seek truth

Natural Law

The ability to reason based off of natural inclinations

Divine Law

The 10 commandments

Eternal Law

Law outside of time (science or math), the general laws of the universe

Human law

Laws of society or laws imposed by the government

When should someone not have to follow human law?

If human law violates natural law, you do not need to follow it

When is an act morally wrong?

If it violates natural law

What principles of natural law are always known?

The basic principles: to preserve life, reproduce, and seek truth

What principles of natural law are not always known?

Particular cases that use application of natural law: complex moral questions, cultural norms, etc

What two parts does aquinas’s structure to science contain?

Theoretical and Practical knowledge 

What is theoretical knowledge?

Something cannot be true and not true at the same time, definition of a line (simple principles), pythagorean theorem (specific principles)

What is practical knowledge?

Do good and avoid evil, don’t murder or steal, help your neighbor and repay debts (has exceptions)

what is the principle of double effect?

One action can have two outcomes and the action is only morally permissible if your intention is not with the negative outcome and the action itself is not bad.

Does aquinas believe lying is wrong?

yes

What are the contexts where it is impossible to lie?

Actors in a play, wartime, certain sporting events

What is a lie?

An assertion that is contrary to what is on your mind

When is killing the innocent justified?

If it is not your intent to kill and it happens anyways

When is killing justified?

Just war, self defense, capital punishment

Is intentionally killing morally justified?

No

What are the characteristics of happiness?

Completes an end, self sufficient, activity, choice worthy

What is happiness?

Activity of the soul expressing complete virtue for a complete lifetime

what life is the most supremely happy?

The life of contemplation

what is contemplation?

Exercising your virtue to the highest extent

What is Aristotle’s function argument?

If something has a function its excellence consists in performing it well. Human function is rational activity, therefore human virtue/goodness consists in reasoning well.

What is virtue?

The ability to find the mean between two extremes. This is determined by reason and guided by the practically wise person. It is the perfection of appetites.

What is the mean?

The middle between two extremes and avoiding excess. The mean is different depending on each person and each situation.

How would Aristotle respond to this objection: How can a person achieve happiness if the mean is so flexible and relative? Shouldn’t everyone be able to be happy then?

Finding the mean is different for every person, but every person has the same function (reason), so it is objective that each person must search for virtue, but how virtue is practiced is relative.

Moral virtues

Appetite part of the soul: Justice, Temperance, courage 

What are intellectual virtues?

Excellences of the mind (the rational part of the soul), Deliberative and Non Deliberative

Which virtues are deliberative?

Practical wisdom and craft knowledge

What is practical wisdom?

A virtue that allows a person to make judgements. it is concerned with regulating appetites, choosing right, and avoiding excess. Reasoning must be true and desire right for an action to be good.

What is craft knowledge?

Having the correct knowledge to execute something well.

Which virtues are non deliberative?

virtues concerned with science and discovery, Scientific knowledge, understanding, and Wisdom

Why is wisdom the most supreme virtue?

Wisdom is concerned with contemplation and understanding universal truths. It is concerned with how everything is connected and the highest form of thinking.

What is truth in action?

Applying morality and knowledge to certain situations; weighing the good and the bad; concerned with practical wisdom

What are descriptive truths?

Truths that are objectively true: a tree is 100ft tall

What is a prescriptive truth?

A truth that conveys how things ought to be, providing moral guidance and standards for behavior; Uses practical wisdom to guide

what are correct desires?

Desires that fulfill human needs and you know are right through reason

What is wrong desire?

when our appetites, emotions, or impulses go against what we know is good or rational using reasoning 

What determines if a desire is good or bad?

Reason

What is weakness in the will?

The inability to act rationally because of conflicting appetites; incontinence

What is temperance?

When your desires are moderate and your needs=reason. Reasons drive your appetites 

What is intemperance (self-indulgence)?

Desires are not guided by reason; believing pleasure is good, thus choosing wrong; no internal conflict

continence

Has bad appetites but ignores them, chooses reason