Aquinas' Natural Law Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards on Thomas Aquinas' Natural Law theory, covering key concepts, the four tiers of law, precepts, virtues, and types of goods and acts.

Normative Ethics

The branch of ethics concerned with the criteria of what is right and wrong.

Natural Law

An ethical theory suggesting that an order exists in the universe and that actions are good when aligned with this natural order or purpose (telos); formulated by Thomas Aquinas as an absolute, deontological Christian ethic.

Telos

The final cause, end, or ultimate purpose of an object or human being.

Eudaimonia

Human flourishing and living well, identified by Aristotle as the telos of human beings, achieved through rational thought and reflection.

Synderesis

The main moral rule that humans must 'do good and avoid evil', derived by reflecting on human nature through reason.

Stoicism

An ancient philosophical movement viewing the world as an ordered place arranged by nature or gods, asserting humans have a divine spark to reason and achieve happiness by accepting the natural order.

Primary Precepts

Five absolute, self-evident, and universal rules deduced from synderesis: preservation of innocent life, reproduction, education of the young, living in an ordered society, and worshipping God.

Secondary Precepts

Specific moral rules deduced from the primary precepts that guide actions in everyday situations (e.g., concluding that killing is wrong from the primary precept of preserving life).

The Four Tiers of Law

A hierarchical system of law formulated by Aquinas consisting of Eternal Law, Divine Law, Natural Law, and Human Law, all ultimately depending on Eternal Law.

Eternal Law

The moral code and divine reason known in the mind of God that governs the universe and directs all things toward their purpose.

Divine Law

The moral law revealed directly by God through divine revelation and scripture, including the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Natural Law (Tier)

The moral code discovered through rational reflection on human nature, enabling humans to work out how to 'do good and avoid evil' regardless of direct biblical revelation.

Human Law

The legal customs, practices, and rules established by human governments and societies, which ideally derive from natural law.

Real Goods

Actions aligned with human ideal and purpose that rightly use reason and draw a person closer to God.

Apparent Goods

Actions mistakenly pursued as good due to an error in reason, which fail to align with human purpose and prevent drawing closer to God.

Sin

Falling short of God's intention for humanity by choosing an apparent good instead of a real good due to an error in reasoning.

Cardinal Virtues

Four natural virtues identified through reason: Prudence (common sense/caution), Temperance (restraint/moderation), Fortitude (courage), and Justice (fairness).

Theological Virtues

Three virtues revealed through biblical scripture: Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Interior Act

The motive, intention, or internal reason behind an action.

Exterior Act

The actual physical act performed, independent of the agent's internal intention.

Deontological Ethic

A rule-based ethical system where actions are intrinsically right or wrong regardless of their consequences or outcomes.