Ethics test 2 Study Guide (Natural Law)

Natural Law

A creature's participation in Eternal Law. It is discovered by reason

Law

A dictate of practical reason

Thomas Aquinas take on Natural Law

Aquinas believes that acting in accordance with one's natural inclinations is virtuous and acting contrary to those inclinations is vicious. What sense of 'natural' is required in order to make these claims as plausible as they can be?

Human Law

Derivative law in accordance with natural law

Eternal Law

Divine reason's conception of things and governs all of creation

Precepts of Natural Law

First Precept: Good is to be done, evil is to be avoided All other precepts flow from the first All acts of virtue are prescribed by the natural law The general principles are the same in all people (though it may differ in matters of detail Unchangeable in first principles, though variable in secondary principles

The possibility of sin

If all people are inclined towards good, how is sin possible? Althiugh all people are in general inclined to do good, reason may fail in the case of a particular action, and evil persuasions might cause confusion about what is good

The primary precepts of the natural law...

Inclinations of substancesL Being is good, seek to be, to live Inclinations of animals: nourish oneself, reproduce, raise offspring Inclinations unique to humans: seek to understand truth, live in society, do not harm others, act according to reason and virtue

naturallistic fallacy

Is Aquinas arguing that whatever is natural is good?

Objections to Divine Command Theory

Is there a God Does God create moral laws? (Deism) Is the Eternal Law good because it comes from God, or does God legislate the Eternal Law because it is Good? (Euthyphro's dilemma)

Secondary precepts

Killing innocent people is wrong Killing in self defense is permissible Promoting health is good

Divine Law

Specific salvific law revealed to humans via divine revelation