Natural Law

-Means there are laws that occur naturally as part of the universe. They are fixed, unchanging and separate from human opinion

-Potentially discoverable through reason

-These laws may have been put there by God, or simply exist without reason

-' Natural Law is nothing else than the rational creature's participation in the eternal law'

-God creates humans and gives purpse

-therefore, our nature tends towards God's purpose for us

-we make decisions based on reason AND faith in God's purpose for us (reasoning also came from God)

SEX EXAMPLE

- Genesis: 'be fruitful and multiply...'

-Reasoning: God wants us to multiply and create new life

KEY PURPOSE: sex is to create new life

ETERNAL: refers to the principles by which God governs the universe; mainly hidden to humans

DIVINE: refers to the bible and the way in which humans can repair their relationship with God

NATURAL: part of the eternal law that applies to human choices in identifying the primary precepts and can be known by our natural reason

HUMAN: the purely human recognition of a need to seek the common good through custom and tradition

P: reserve innocent life

O: rderly living in society

W: orship God

E: ducating children

R: eproduce

- If we live according to the precepts, we become closer to God and heal our relationship with him

THE SECONDARY PRECEPTS:

-Primaries are absolute, true and universal

-Secondaries are not, as they may not hold in certain circumstances

-You 'work them out' through our natural reasoning

-One way in which reasoning can be developed is through the cultivation of virtues

-Aquinas especially said the 'Articles of Faith'

-Faith

-Hope

-Love

-These are aspirational, meaning their cultivation begins in this life but you cannot perfect them unless you're in heaven and have the grace of God

-Cultivate virtue

-Allows us to develop reason

-Allows us to follow natural Law

-Allows us into heaven

-A good intention is ALWAYS morally right

-If a good act brings about bad outcomes, it is still right to do the act; one would still be morally right

-Doing a bad action intentionally to bring about a good outcome is still bad: Doctrine of Double Effect

DOCTRINE OF DOUBLE EFFECT:

-An act is only morally good if all the conditions are met:

-That we do not wish the evil effects and make all reasonable effects to avoid them

-That the immediate effect be good in itself

-That the evil is not made a means to obtain the good effect

-That the good effect be as important as the evil effect

ALLOW IT:

-Reason is used throughout the process

-Uses virtues to help think about reasoning: love, hope...

-Double Effect: Good intention but bad action; good effect is just as equal as the evil effect as the person who wishes to die has had their wish granted and is out of pain/misery

DISALLOW IT:

-God is used, therefore it goes against the precepts

-Government interprets natural law and voted against euthanasia

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