Natural Law
- Created by: Emily Uffindell
- Created on: 24-04-14 08:54
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- Natural Law
- Although some theories are hedonistic (e.g. Utilitarianism), following God's will as revealed through prayer, scripture and prophecy is the ultimate good.
- Everything was designed by God with a purpose in mind.
- Doesn't require a belief in God.
- Natural law can be upheld by atheists, but Aquinas sees life as, "The vision of God which is promised in the next life."
- First came about by Aristotle but developed by Aquinas.
- Aristotle's efficient and final cause distinguished between what gets things done (the efficient cause) and the end result of the act (final cause).
- Example: sexuality: efficient cause is enjoyment as humans enjoy sex and final cause is procreation because humans reproduce by sexual intercourse.
- Aristotle's efficient and final cause distinguished between what gets things done (the efficient cause) and the end result of the act (final cause).
- Deontological (like Kant's theory), looks at the nature behind the action itself rather than the consequences.
- The Primary Precepts
- Worship God
- Learning
- Protection of the innocent
- Reproduction
- Ordered society
- These are absolute laws.
- These were laid down for self-preservation and in order for our species to continue.
- Secondary precepts are those which uphold the primary ones.
- For example: "Protection of the innocent," may lead to rules such as "do not abort."
- Real and apparent goods
- Real goods: what natural law supports, (temperance, virtue, prudence, fortitude) Following a real good will result in the preservation or the improvement of self.
- Apparent goods: Something that may be pleasurable (e.g. drugs) but leads us to fall short of our potential.
- Reason is used to determine real goods from apparent goods.
- Causistry is the name of the process of applying the primary precepts to different situations.
- Purpose can be determined through reason.
- Double effect: situations where there is an intended outcome, and another significant but unintentional outcome.
- Aquinas: "Good is to be done and evil is to be avoided."
- Hierarchy of Laws:
- Eternal Law: The mind of God that humans cannot directly know.
- Divine Law: The word of God revealed to humanity through the bible
- Natural Law: The sense of good and bad that everyone should abide by
- Human Law: The everyday laws which govern our lives.
- Natural Law: The sense of good and bad that everyone should abide by
- Divine Law: The word of God revealed to humanity through the bible
- Eternal Law: The mind of God that humans cannot directly know.
- Hierarchy of Laws:
- Eternal Law: The mind of God that humans cannot directly know.
- Divine Law: The word of God revealed to humanity through the bible
- Natural Law: The sense of good and bad that everyone should abide by
- Human Law: The everyday laws which govern our lives.
- Natural Law: The sense of good and bad that everyone should abide by
- Divine Law: The word of God revealed to humanity through the bible
- Eternal Law: The mind of God that humans cannot directly know.
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