RS a level ETHICS - natural moral law

who proposed NML

Aquinas

what and who’s concept does Aquinas build on, in a religious way

telos, Aristotle

what is telos

somethings purpose; the sake for which a thing is changing

What did Aristotle say is human’s final cause?

eudaimonia

What is eudaimonia

the fulfilment of our human potential for reason: the human ergon

how does Aristotle think humans can achieve their telos

by living virtuously

Aquinas’ three assumptions about human nature

we are made in Gods image

everything that exists is good

everything has the potential to reach its purpose

What does Aquinas suggest humans must do to fulfil their telos

live a morally virtuous life and exercise their capacity for reason

what is beatific vision

a supernatural union with God

Aquinas argues that every human seeks this as their true final fulfilment

what are apparent goods

things that appear to bring happiness but do not, and only appear so because of an incorrect application of reason

what are real goods

things that bring us closer to beatific vision

what is bonum commune

common good; human flourishing

Aquinas quote on how humans achieve their telos

human beings “attain their last end by knowing and loving God”

what are the four tiers of law (in order)

eternal, divine, natural, human

who knows the eternal law

God

where can divine law be found

the bible

what is human law

the ordering of society

how can we work out natural law

through synderesis

what are the primary precepts? list them

moral absolutes that cannot be violated:

the preservation of life, ordering society, worship of God, education of children, reproduction

what are secondary precepts

more specific moral rules which must not violate the primary precepts

why did Aquinas argue that humans never knowingly pursue evil

our God given synderesis gives us a natural inclination to do good

what is the doctrine of double effect

both the interior and exterior act must be good for an action to be moral

how does Moore criticize Aquinas?

the naturalistic fallacy: just because a property is natural does not mean it is good

is NML teleological or deontological? why?

deontological. focuses on the morality of the actions themselves

three strengths of NML

positive view of human nature

universalizable

humans responsible for their actions

three limitations of NML

naturalistic fallacy

relies on God’s existence

no distinct telos

what is synderesis

the natural, god-given ability of humans to reason and have an inclination towards good

quote from Aquinas on the doctrine of double effect

“nothing hinders one act from having two effects”

How does naturalism use teleology

humans act according to their nature to achieve their telos

What is the human telos within natural law

beatific vision

Aquinas quote on the key precept from ‘Summa Theologica’

“good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided. all other precepts of the natural law are based upon this"

Aquinas quote on authority of human law from ‘Summa Theologica’

“if they command unjust things, their subjects are not obliged to obey them”

3 criticisms of telos using examples for each one

may not be universal e.g. someone may want to prioritise career at expense of reproduction

if telos is natural, why is what’s natural not always accepted as good by NML? e.g. homosexuality

proponents of existentialism argue there is no telos e.g. Jean Paul Sartre

quote from Catechism of the Catholic Church (1957) on flexibility of NML

“application of the Natural Law varies greatly”

Aquinas quote on natural theology

“a certain order is to be found in those things that are apprehended universally”

Aristotle quote on reason (link to telos)

“reason is the true self of every man, since it is the supreme and better part” (Nichomachean Ethics)

Aquinas quote on beatific vision

“ultimate and perfect beatitude can consist only in the vision of the divine”

Aquinas quote on reason

“to scorn the dictate of reason is to scorn the commandment of God”

Kung’s criticism

Aquinas’ teleological view of what is natural is “naïve, is static, narrow, and completely unhistorical”

Grotius’s argument

natural law does not require belief in God

the laws are ascertainable by reason