2B - Natural Law: The Role of Virtues and Goods in Supporting Moral Behaviour

According to Aquinas, how can correct reasoning be developed?

⇨ Through the cultivation of virtues

What are the three theological/virtues?
What did Aquinas refer to them as?

⇨ Faith, Hope, Love
⇨ "articles of faith"

Why are the three theological virtues also known as the 'three revealed virtues'?

⇨ They are 'revealed' in the Bible

What is the most important of the three theological/revealed virtues?
What Bible passage tells us this?
Give the quote.

⇨ Love
⇨ 1 Corinthians 13:13
⇨ "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

What is important about the theological virtues?

⇨ They are the superlative virtues that define and direct all other virtues

⇨ They are aspirational, in that they cannot be fully achieved in this world, being far above the capacity of a human being ∴ should be the standard to aim for

What is the beatific vision?

⇨ The final and absolute end: the state of perfect happiness through supernatural union with God

⇨ Human beings "attain their last end by knowing and loving God."

Elaborate on the theological virtue of Faith.

⇨ "an act of intellect which assents to the divine truth at the command of the will, moved by God's grace"

⇨ Reflects total outpouring and deference to the divine

Elaborate on the theological virtue of Hope.

⇨ The constant and consistent trust in achieving the beatific vision

⇨ A spiritual energy that drives a person

⇨ Underlying virtue that supports active participation in other non-theological, moral virtues

Elaborate on the theological virtue of Love (agape, charity).

⇨ Actively directs all other virtues towards God

⇨ Has healing properties as it restores our 'fallen' nature

⇨ Incorporates the 'gift' of wisdom, a significant virtue for Aristotle

⇨ Does not refer to sexual, empathetic or affectionate (which were other Greek words translated as 'love')

Define cardinal virtues.

⇨ The natural framework for moral behaviour to become more God-like

List the four cardinal virtues.

1) Prudence
2) Temperance
3) Fortitude
4) Justice

Elaborate on the cardinal virtue of prudence.

⇨ Ability to make sound judgements in reasoning

⇨ It is the application of "wisdom concerning human affairs"

⇨ 3 steps: counsel, judgement, command - the art of casuistry

⇨ Related to other virtues that might depend on it, e.g. memory, intelligence, docility

Elaborate on the cardinal virtue of temperance.

⇨ Similar to Aristole's mean

⇨ Moderation, sobriety, restraint, balance

⇨ Encompasses the virtues of humility, meekness, generosity, studiousness

Elaborate on the cardinal virtue of fortitude.

⇨ Courage in the face of adversity

⇨ Incorporates discipline, patience, endurance

⇨ A fortitudinous person will not be broken by stress or sorrow

⇨ Encourages nobility of character

Elaborate on the cardinal virtue of justice.

⇨ Specfically focuses on others and how our actions are governed

⇨ Covers the law in a general and individual sense

⇨ Recognises individual needs, relative to circumstances e.g. someone in poverty requires more assistance from justice than a wealthy person

⇨ One is expected to make a stand when one sees acts of injustice

What is an exterior act?
Give an example.

⇨ The deontological actions a moral agent carries out
⇨ Helping an old person cross the road

What is an interior act? Give an example.

⇨ The intentions behind our actions
⇨ Having compassion as the intention of helping an old person cross the road

Why is it not acceptable to intentionally do a bad act even if the aim is to bring about a good outcome?
Use an example.

⇨ If the moral agent only helps the old person ∵ of hope of being paid, it is a good Exterior Act (upholds 'preservation of innocent life'), but it is a bad Interior Act (has the bad intention of greed)

⇨ It fails to achieve the highest good of reflecting God's image

What four conditions are required for the classical formulations of the principle of double effect to be morally permissible?

1) We do not wish the evil effects and make all reasonable efforts to avoid them
2) The immediate effect must be good in itself
3) Evil is not made a means to obtain the good effect
4) The good effect must be at least proportionate to the evil effect ∴ the problems of acting in a casuistic way are resolved

What is a real good?

⇨ Good reasoning ∴ following Natural Law correctly
⇨ The true, God-given way to be good

What is an apparent good?

⇨ Incorrect use of God-given reasoning

⇨ We are all inclined to be good, but we may misunderstand our reasoning e.g. committing adultery ∵ upholds 'procreate to continue the species', but it prevents 'orderly living in society' ∴ not a deliberate sin, just wrong reasoning

⇨ Anyone who is not following Natural Law is not deliberately being bad

⇨ Socrates made the first distinction, Aquinas added to it