Ethics Theme 2 - Deontological Ethics

Cicero on Eternal Laws

“One law eternal, binding upon all people at all times”

Aquinas on Natural Law

“To the Natural Law belongs everything to which a man is inclined according to his nature”

Aquinas on Standards of Truth

“There is a single standard of truth and right for everyone… which is known by everyone”

John Waters on Natural Law

“A foundational, universal, and absolute approach to ethics”

Aquinas on Laws of Nature

“If in any point it deflects from the law of nature, it is no longer a law but a perversion of a law”

Aquinas on Natural Laws Universalism

“Natural Law is the same for all men”

Aquinas on goods

“Good is to be done and evil avoided”

Corinthians on virtues

“If I give all I possess to the poor… but do not have love, I gain nothing”

Aquinas on Evil

“The giving of alms for vainglory is said to be evil”

Aquinas on Intention

“But if the will be good from its intention of the end, this is not enough to make the external action good”

Jeremiah on Abortion

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”

Aquinas on Euthanasia

“To bring death upon oneself is to adopt a greater evil in order to avoid a lesser”

Aquinas on the Doctrine of Double Effect

“Since one’s intentions is to save one’s own life, it is not unlawful”

JJ Thompson on Abortion

“A newly fertilised ovum is no more a person than an acorn is an oak tree”

Finnis on Basic Human Goods

“They are objective, their validity is not relative to anybody’s individual purposes”

Finnis on the Basic Good of Life

“The term life signifies every aspect of vitality which puts a human being in good shape”

Finnis on viewing life as a whole

“It is unreasonable to live merely from moment to moment, following immediate cravings”

Finnis on The 9 Requirements, Never Harm a Basic Good

“Do not choose directly against a basic value”

Hoose on Proportionate Reason

“It is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it”

McCormick on Values VS Disvalues

“Every moral choice occurs in a context where competing values and disvalues must be weighed critically”

Aquinas on Proportion

“Though preceding from a good intention, an act may be rendered unlawful, if it be out of proportion to the end”