Natural Moral Law

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  • Created by: jac76
  • Created on: 19-05-16 08:57
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  • Natural Moral Law; Key points
    • 1. Context
      • Stoics (and Aristotle) thought up of the original key ideas
        • Aquians, Christian Theologian accepted the main points that resulted in an ultimate goal to flourish
          • 13th Century
        • Aquinas thought that there needed to be an author for this purpose
          • That must be God; our designer and creator
        • That we should live in accordance to NML
    • 2. NML is God given
      • Everything that exists must come from God
      • God is not only the author but also the designer.
        • Giving everything purpose to which they are perfectly suited
      • Central idea - to be moral is to act in accordance with our God given rational nature
        • "To do good and avoid evil"
          • This will result in us achieving union with God
          • ULTIMATE PRECEPT
    • 3. In accordance with our nature
      • Act consistently with our nature
      • If God has given all things a purpose, its is obliged for things to fulfil that natural purpose
        • We shouldn't break the rules that we are given to follow
      • Something is a sin if it goes against the natural purpose of a thing.
        • An act is moral if it helps fulfil our purpose
      • Ultimate precept is to do good and avoid evil
        • PRIMARY PRECEPTS = 1.Preserve living
          • All humans have these rules
          • From these we can determine more specific SECONDARY PRINCIPLES of behaviour
            • Eg; do not murder, do not commit suicide
            • Subordinate principles
        • 2.Procreation
        • 3.Knowledge
        • 4.Live in a harmonious society
        • 5.Worship God
    • 4. Knowable through reason
      • Moral Law is given by God and is found in all human nature
        • Accessible through reason
        • Also revealed through scripture
      • Evil acts are those that go against our reason and nature
        • Evil acts are often APPARENT GOODS rather than acts of deliberate cruelty
    • 5. Universally Biding
      • Absolutist
      • Deontological
        • Looks at the act itself
      • Applies to all people at all times (universal)
      • must include INTERIOR and EXTERIOR acts
        • INTERIOR = the motive and intension behind the act
        • EXTERIOR = The action itself
        • Both I+E acts have to be good for the act to be good

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