Ethics T2 Deontological ethics

abortion

A medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy, normally before the foetus can survive independently.

applied ethics

The application of ethical theories to practical situations and moral dilemmas.

Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas, 13th century Dominican priest (1224-1274), commonly regarded as the most influential philosopher and theologian of the Roman Catholic Church. Famous works include Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles. Developed the ethical theory known as Natural Law or Natural Moral Law.

basic human goods

Finnis' Natural Law does not pre-suppose a divine being, therefore, goods cannot be derived from God's law (theoretical reasoning). Instead he concentrated on reasoning out a set of 7 goods from which a good life can be generated. These basic human goods are derived from the realm of practical reason.

capital punishment

The legally authorised killing of someone as punishment for a crime.

cardinal virtues

There are four cardinal virtues identified by reason: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. Known as 'cardinal' virtues because the Latin term 'cardo' means 'hinge'. They are believed to form the fundamental basis of a moral life and were terms used both by Aristotle and Aquinas.

charity

Selfless, unconditional, and voluntary loving-kindness for others in response to God's love. One of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with faith and hope. Charity is a virtue included by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory. He believed that developing such virtues brought people closer to God's ideal of human nature.

euthanasia

Literally 'a good death'. It describes a medical procedure by which either a person terminates his or her own life because of extreme pain or suffering, or the life of another person is either allowed to come to an end or is brought to an end with the assistance of others, because of a critical medical condition.

evil moral act

An act that is defined as immoral because it breaks a religious rule.

faith

Steadfastness in belief in God; one of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with hope and charity; included by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory.

Finnis, John

Finnis (1940- ) is an Australian legal scholar and philosopher. In his book 'Natural Law and Natural Rights' he developed a contemporary version of Aquinas' Natural Law.

first moral principle (Finnis)

This is the idea that we act for the common good of the community as a whole not just as an individual. Such whole community action requires coordination; however, this requires authority (but not necessarily coercive authority).

fortitude

Sometimes referred to as courage; to show endurance, and to possess the ability to confront fear and uncertainty or intimidation in order to achieve one's goal; one of the four cardinal virtues (see above).

four levels of law

Aquinas believed that there are four types of related law. These are: eternal law - God creates all that exists with a purpose and everything acts according to God's plan; divine law - divine law is God's eternal law given through scripture; natural law - some aspects of God's eternal law are also accessible via natural law which we can discover through our ability to reason, enabling us to distinguish between right and wrong. Aquinas believed that we cannot grasp all the details of eternal law until God reveals them to us upon our death; human law - society's legal systems that should be derived from natural and divine law.

good act

A term used by Hoose to define an act that is not a right act, but creates the lesser of two evils.

hope

An expectation of and desire of receiving; refraining from despair; believing in the possibility of eternal life in heaven with God. One of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with faith and charity.

Hoose, Bernard

American philosopher and theologian born in 1945. Strongly associated with Proportionalism.

immigration

The action of migrating to another country, usually for permanent residence.

interior/exterior acts

Terms used by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory to distinguish between the motive for an act and the act itself. The interior act is the motive/intention for performing an act.The exterior act is the actual act itself. In order for an act to be truly good, both the interior and exterior acts must be good.

justice

The treatment of people with equality and fairness, both generally and before the law.

Natural Law

Ethical theory based on the concept of a final cause or purpose, which determines everything's natural use or goal; a body of universal moral truths deduced from reason and experience; a view associated with Aristotle and developed by Aquinas.

pre-moral evil act (a.k.a. ontic evil act)

An act that can be seen as bad, but that in itself is not immoral.

primary precepts

The five main purposes of humankind's existence (given by God) according to Aquinas' Natural Law theory: to worship God, to live in an ordered society, to reproduce, to learn and to defend the innocent. These are the absolute and deontological principles found within Aquinas' Natural Law theory. These principles should not be broken, regardless of the consequences.

Proportionalism

A 20th century development of Natural Law. The argument is a hybrid of Natural Law and Situation Ethics and argument basically states, that it is never right to go against a principle / moral rule unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it.

Prudence

The ability to judge rationally between actions and to recognise the most appropriate actions at a given time. One of the four cardinal virtues.

real/apparent goods

Aquinas believed that we should use our ability to reason to distinguish between what he called real and apparent goods. A real good is a something that helps us to become nearer to the ideal human nature that God had planned for us e.g. being a sociable person. An apparent good is a vice that takes us further away from the ideal human nature that God had planned e.g. taking drugs or alcohol in an attempt to become more sociable. Aquinas believed that no one knowingly pursues evil by choosing an apparent good, but sometimes we don't use our ability to reason properly and this error occurs.

requirements of practical reason

To achieve the seven basic human goods Finnis developed the nine principles of practical reasonableness. They create the optimum conditions to attain the basic goods. They are: view your life as a whole, prioritise certain goods over others, basic goods apply equally to all people, do not become obsessed, do not just sit around or repeat old habits, be efficient to do the most good, never commit an act that directly harms a basic good, foster the good of the community and act according to practical reason not the authority of someone else.

revealed virtues

The three virtues of faith, hope and charity revealed or disclosed through Scripture (St Paul in 1 Corinthians 13). Christian theology teaches that these virtues differ from the cardinal virtues in that they cannot be obtained by human effort. A person can only receive them by being infused through divine grace into the person. Also often called theological virtues because they are directed by God.

right act

A term used by Hoose to define an act that follows the moral rule.

secondary precepts

These are derived from the primary precepts. For example, the principle 'to live in an ordered society' leads to rules such as 'return property to those from whom it was stolen.' However, the secondary precepts have to be interpreted in the context of the situation and there is some flexibility in extreme cases. For example, if someone owned a gun that had be stolen from them, but intends to kill others with it upon its return then you would not return it as this is the rational thing to do.

temperance

Self-control or restraint, abstention, and moderation. The ability to control instincts and desires in order to be considered honourable. One of the four cardinal virtues.

theoretical/ practical reason

Finnis' Natural Law does not pre-suppose a divine being; therefore, goods cannot be derived from God's law (theoretical reasoning). Instead, he concentrated on reasoning out a set of goods from which a good life can be generated. These goods are derived the realm of practical reason.