Natural Law theory
- Created by: Ellarosenwyn
- Created on: 06-04-15 13:38
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- Natural Law
- Basic theory
- Deontological - concerned with the intrinsic worth of an action and not with the consequences.
- Absolutist - actions are always right or wrong with no hesitations or exceptions.
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Ideas from Aristotle's view on eudaimonia.
- Aristotle vs Aquinas.
- Aristotle - the way to be happy is to live a virtuous life (eudaimonia).
- Aquinas - being virtuous - union with god.
- Aristotle - virtues include courage and patience.
- Aquinas added Christian virtues such as love and charity.
- Aristotle - everything has an end/purpose (telos) and an efficient cause (how to achieve the telos).
- Aquinas - the telos is God's intention so the right thing is to achieve the telos.
- Aristotle - the way to be happy is to live a virtuous life (eudaimonia).
- Reason.
- "To disparage the dictate of reason is to condemn the command of God"
- We can use our reason to know the right thing because we are naturally inclined towards good.
- Real and apparent goods.
- Sometimes we do the wrong thing because we confuse real goods with apparent goods.
- Real goods - unity with God
- We are misguided by sin or by emotions and choose the wrong thing
- Aquinas and Law.
- Eternal Law - the mind of God, God's plan.
- Divine Law - the scriptures. knowable to reason but to teach us with certainty on matters.
- Natural Law- how the rational creature participates in the eternal law of God (conscience - reasoning and observing nature we can know what is right.)
- Human Law - put in place to order society - if reasoned properly they will be in keeping with Natural Law.
- Primary + Secondary Precepts.
- Ordered society
- build more homes
- encourage community activities
- Educate the young
- free education
- school compulsory
- Worship God
- hold school assemblies
- Go to church regularly
- Reproduce
- Abortion is wrong
- Contraception is wrong
- Preserve life
- Do not murder
- Do not commit suicide
- Ordered society
- Interior and Exterior acts. - both must be good for the act to be good
- Interior act - the intention or motive behind the action
- Exterior act : the act itself.
- Basic theory
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