Natural Law

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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.
    • 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.
  • 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.

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