Natural Law
- Created by: jasmineakhtar
- Created on: 15-05-20 19:11
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- Natural Law - Normative Ethics
- Aristotle
- He valued reason and used empiricism
- Aristotle argued that everything we do is
directed towards an aim of some kind and everything we do is led towards the ultimate goal of happiness.
- Aristotle suggests that the telos of life should be happiness. “eudaimonia”. and therefore his ethics are called “eudaimonist”, because it evaluates the ethical worth of actions in terms of how they contribute to a person’s overall happiness.
- He believed that Eudaimonia was real happiness, not just the personal feeling of life going well, but the feeling of being a well behaved, virtuous person
- All subordinate aims lead to a superior aim
- · Humans have the ability to recta ratio (right reason), which is something the rest of creation does not have
- Stoics
- Do what is right and leave the outcome to God (deontological)
- There is no point in seeking happiness, instead we should seek what naturally fits the universe (natural law)
- A good life is living in accord with nature, such as living virtuously.
- Stoics followed a deontological ethical system whereby the act itself was important, rather tat the outcome
- Aquinas
- Aquinas described natural law as a moral code existing within the purpose of nature, created by God. Therefore to keep the Natural Law is morally good. To go against the Natural Law is morally bad.
- He introduced the 4 laws
- Aquinas introduced natural law in his book Summa Theologica
- Aristotle
- Eternal Law
- The Four Laws
- Natural Law - Normative Ethics
- Aristotle
- He valued reason and used empiricism
- Aristotle argued that everything we do is
directed towards an aim of some kind and everything we do is led towards the ultimate goal of happiness.
- Aristotle suggests that the telos of life should be happiness. “eudaimonia”. and therefore his ethics are called “eudaimonist”, because it evaluates the ethical worth of actions in terms of how they contribute to a person’s overall happiness.
- He believed that Eudaimonia was real happiness, not just the personal feeling of life going well, but the feeling of being a well behaved, virtuous person
- All subordinate aims lead to a superior aim
- · Humans have the ability to recta ratio (right reason), which is something the rest of creation does not have
- Stoics
- Do what is right and leave the outcome to God (deontological)
- There is no point in seeking happiness, instead we should seek what naturally fits the universe (natural law)
- A good life is living in accord with nature, such as living virtuously.
- Stoics followed a deontological ethical system whereby the act itself was important, rather tat the outcome
- Aquinas
- Aquinas described natural law as a moral code existing within the purpose of nature, created by God. Therefore to keep the Natural Law is morally good. To go against the Natural Law is morally bad.
- He introduced the 4 laws
- Aquinas introduced natural law in his book Summa Theologica
- Aristotle
- Divine Law
- God has revealed some laws to us through the holy scriptures, such as the Bible
- This means that the laws of these scriptures should be followed, such as the 10 commandments
- Divine law is authoritative, absolute and are laws that we could have never found ourselves, as humans are limited
- Divine laws do not contradict or violate eternal law
- Natural Law - Normative Ethics
- Eternal law is unchanging and universal, regardless of the different cultures and societies
- Eternal Law is God himself, not a feature of God or something separate to God
- Eternal law is not the law that God has given to mankind, it is the eternal law that is within everyone's rational soul
- some may say that this implies that a part of God lives within everyone though their soul.
- Eternal law is the most authoritative
- No one is able to grasp the entirety and totality of eternal law, so we can only understand eternal law through natural law.
- Eternal law exist everywhere and at all times, including before time
- The Four Laws
- Natural Law
- Natural law draws inspiration from the divine law and recta ration (right reason), which has been given to us by God.
- Eternal Law is God himself, not a feature of God or something separate to God
- Natural law does not contradict or violate the eternal or divine laws
- Natural law refers to 'ius', which means the 'principle of law'.
- Natural law draws inspiration from the divine law and recta ration (right reason), which has been given to us by God.
- Human Law
- Human Law is relative and based on reason
- Human law is subject to the laws above it and is made within the society and government
- Human law is only seen as a 'proper' law if it does not violate or frustrate the laws above it
- Natural laws are secondary Precepts
- These are deduced from the
primary precepts using recta ratio (right ratio).
- These include the laws which us humans create. Secondary precepts are not generated by our own reasonings but they are imposed by governments, groups, clubs, societies etc
- These are deduced from the
primary precepts using recta ratio (right ratio).
- Untitle“[Natural Law] provides the necessary basis for the civil
law with which it is connected, whether by a reflection that draws conclusions
from its principles, or by additions of a positive and juridical nature.”
Catechism of RCCd
- . Aquinas points out that secondary precepts are not always morally correct. Secondary precepts are only morally correct if they are consistent with the Natural law, as secondary precepts (human law) is not acceptable if it frustrates or limits the above laws, such as the primary precepts (natural law).
- Secondary Precepts
- Preservation of life
- Ordered Society
- Worshiping God
- Education of Children
- Reproduction
- Acting
accordingly to reason means that we are partaking in the natural law, as God
wants us to use reason.
- The first primary precept is that good is to be done and evil is to be avoided – this should guide the principle of thinking.
- If we all act accordingly to reason then we will all agree to some overarching general rules – these rules are called the primary precepts.
- Interior and Exterior acts
- Aquinas argued that both the act and the intention behind the act were equally as important
- Good Exterior act: An exterior act is the action itself. This is to act in a good way for presentation purposes. This act may look ‘good’ when being viewed but may have a bad interior reasoning. For example, helping a woman cross the road is good exterior but may be bad interior, as the purpose may be to look good for oneself.
- Bad exterior act: An exterior act is the action itself. A bad exterior action is an action which looks bad, however equally it could have a good interior purpose or bad interior purpose.
- Bad interior act: Interior means the intention. A bad interior act has a bad intention
- Bad interior act: Interior means the intention. A bad interior act has a bad intention
- Cardinal Virtues
- Prudence – This is being wise in practical affairs and being careful for providing one’s own future. It regards your own interests. An example is checking your own bank account before spending – as it includes resources. Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline yourself by the use of reason.
- Fortitude – This is the mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger or temptation, in a courageous way. It is a moral virtue and when someone has fortitude, they have emotional power and the ability to withstand adversity.
- Justice – This is the quality of righteousness and moral righteousness, as of a claim or title. It is the moral principle determining right conduct. It is the constant and firm will to give due to God. Justice towards God is called the ‘virtue of religion’.
- Temperance – This is moderation or self-restraint in actions. Such as having the ability of self-control when it comes to taking alcohol. It ‘provides a balance in the use of created goods’ and Aquinas says that it is the ‘disposition of the mind which binds the passions’.
- Cardinal virtues are fundamental qualities required to live a good moral life
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