Natural Law

Question 0

why are humans different to animals?

Answer 0

because we are able to reason

Question 1

according to Aristotle what is the purpose of human life?

Answer 1

to reach EUDIAMONIA - happiness

can also mean, living well, doing good and achieving well

Question 2

why must we use reason excellently?

Answer 2

to achieve our purpose

Question 3

what does aristotle’s final cause relate to in human life?

Answer 3

to be good

Question 4

what did aquinas say human purpose was?

Answer 4

god’s purpose

Question 5

what is eternal law?

Answer 5

god’s law of the everything, known by him only

Question 6

what is divine law?

Answer 6

god’s laws handed down to people in the bible, know by the few

Question 7

what is natural law?

Answer 7

reflected in humans nature - discoverable by everyone using reason

Question 8

what are the 5 primary precepts?

Answer 8

1) worship God
2) educate the young
3) reproduction
4) self preservation and the preservation of life
5) living peacefully in society

Question 9

what are primary precepts?

Answer 9

always true and applying to everyone without exception

they are a direct reflection of god’s eternal law

Question 10

what are secondary precepts?

Answer 10

rules that derive from the primary precepts

eg. ‘the preservation of life’ is a primary precept, leading to the secondary precepts of ‘do not kill’ and ‘do not abort’

ABSOLUTE RULES, DEONTOLOGICAL ASPECT OF THE THEORY

Question 11

what does the law of double effect refer to?

Answer 11

double effect refers to situations where there is an intended outcome and another significant but unintentional outcome

Question 12

what do we use to distinguish between real and apparent goods?

Answer 12

reason

Question 13

apparent goods

Answer 13

maybe plesaurable but not leading to fulfilment of potential eg. taking drugs

Question 14

what does natural law protect? STRENGTH

Answer 14

protects the absolute nature of human rights

Question 15

what does natural law use in combination? STRENGTH

Answer 15

reason and instinct

Question 16

what does natural law give purpose to? STRENGTH

Answer 16

the world

Question 17

what can natural law be seen as? STRENGTH

Answer 17

a logical framework even without faith in god

Question 18

what does natural law give us? STRENGTH

Answer 18

rules to follow

Question 19

what does natural law reduce? STRENGTH

Answer 19

problems caused by relativism

Question 20

what is difficult to establish in natural law? WEAKNESS

Answer 20

a single ‘human nature’

Question 21

when doesn’t natural law fit as well? WEAKNESS

Answer 21

without faith in god

Question 22

what can natural law lead to? WEAKNESS

Answer 22

bad outcomes due to it’s deontological nature (ignores consequences)

Question 23

what is natural law meant to fit which limits it? WEAKNESS

Answer 23

meant to fit all cultures at all times therefore it is rigid

Question 24

what is the problem with secondary precepts? WEAKNESS

Answer 24

they can easily be made in error

Question 25

what are there fixed natural laws about?

Answer 25

the workings of nature

Question 26

how do we have the capacity to know these laws?

Answer 26

through science

Question 27

if things are meant to be then they .......

Answer 27

ought to be

Question 28

where can you find natural law?

Answer 28

built into our nature - "the law written on our hearts"

Question 29

what argument does aristotle present?

Answer 29

the function argument and the supreme good

Question 30

what does aristotle say everything we do is for?

Answer 30

a purpose

Question 31

what does aristotle call a purpose?

Answer 31

a good

Question 32

what is every 'good' done to achieve? aristotle

Answer 32

to achieve an even greater 'good'

Question 33

what must there be beyond a 'greater good'?

Answer 33

supreme good, beyond which there are no other purposes

Question 34

what must the supreme good be?

Answer 34

1) the end for which all human beings pursue all other 'goods' 2) it must be unconditionally complete 3) it must be self-sufficient

Question 35

what satisfies all 3 criteria of supreme good?

Answer 35

happiness

Question 36

what is something's function?

Answer 36

the activity that nothing else can do aswell

Question 37

example of good and supreme good

Answer 37

the 'good' of an eye lies in seeing and it's 'supreme good' is seeing excellently

Question 38

distinctive function of humans

Answer 38

rational activity

Question 39

what does our supreme or highest good lie in?

Answer 39

using and following reason excellently

Question 40

where does natural law come from?

Answer 40

our human nature and our search for happiness and fulfillment

Question 41

how does aquinas describe Natural Law?

Answer 41

as a moral code existing within the purpose of nature, created by God

Question 42

what to human beings have in order for us to live and flourish?

Answer 42

an essential rational nature

Question 43

what can reason do even without the knowledge of god?

Answer 43

discover the laws that lead to human flourishing (aristotle)

Question 44

what are the natural laws?

Answer 44

universal and unchanging and should be used to judge the laws of particular societies

Question 45

what did aquinas think that god had given all human beings?

Answer 45

inclinations to behave in certain ways which lead us to the highest good

Question 46

when are primary precepts true?

Answer 46

always in that they point us in the right direction

Question 47

what are secondary precepts dependent on?

Answer 47

our own judgements and are therefore open to faulty reasoning and can lead to wrong choices

Question 48

what do secondary precepts require?

Answer 48

experience, the use of reason and exercise of wisdom