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
preserve innocent life
ordered living in society
reproduce
educate
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