natural moral law

    Cards (14)

    • what is a normative ethical theory
      branch of moral philosophy concerned with the criteria of what is morally right and wrong
    • what is deon
      duty
    • what is deontological ethics
      ethical theory- relationship between duty and the morality of human actions
    • what is deontology
      ethical theory- actions are good or bad according to a clear set of rules
    • who came up with natural moral law?
      Thomas aquinas
    • when was nml created
      16th century
    • what text is linked to nml
      aquinas- summa theologica
    • what are the primary precepts
      1. preserve innocent life
      2. ordered living in society
      3. reproduce
      4. educate
      5. worship god
    • what are the secondary precepts
      e.g. murder is wrong is a secondary precept- because murder is taking a life, it goes against the primary precept of preserving life- and so it goes against the natural law
    • give an example of another secondary precept
      school- school educates our offspring is a primary precept, school is something that follows the primary precepts and therefore follows the natural law.
      therefore school is a secondary precept
    • what can we violate natural law
      god is balacing moral law with free will. we are emotional beings. when we break a basic good our reason is being overpowered by emotion
    • what is proportionalism
      proportionalists agree with following the primary precepts, but argue that its acceptable to go agaisnt them if you have a proportionate reason to do so (if your action will bring about more good than bad)
    • problems with NML
      could argue its not absolutist, as you can bend the rules. more contequentilist
    • another problem of nml?
      what good is the nml theory if you dont belive in god (atheist).
      if we jecect the whole concept of god, and deny he exists where dies that leave natural law- as the whole theory relies on his existence.
      this theory only appleals/applies to religious people- no others have a reason to adopt this
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