Natural Moral Law

• Key elements of NML


  There is a moral code to which humans naturally incline.

  All things have a purpose which they work

  How do we observe this moral code?

  • Through reason and the natural order
  • The Bible, which reveals the purpose for which God created man

  Available to all, not just the religious.

  
  

  Basis of the catholic church

  Shows NML as current, it's not 'outdated'. Secondary precepts are adapted with time.
• Types of Theory


  Deontology: Deon (Duty)

  • Focus of right and wrong is based on whether or not the action is inherently right or wrong

  Absolutist

  • The nature of the moral principle is universally binding. No context or outcome can change the fact an action is right or wrong

  If actions (consentia) and intention (synderesis) are good, then real good is met.
• For Aquinas, human nature is universal


  All humans share a common nature and are fulfilled or fall short in similar ways.

  • Therefore certain actions are always right or wrong.
  • eg. Killing a person is always wrong as it prevents the dead person from fulfilling their potential, tends to disrupt society and this prevents others from being properly fulfilled.
• Synderesis rule and moral decisions

  Synderesis rule

  • Do good and avoid evil

  We know this through our RECTA RATIO (right reason) of basic moral principles.

  Synderesis = thought process

  Causity = working out if its telos is ethically good

  Conscientia = applying reason to situations of right or wrong
• Exterior vs. Interior Goods

  Exterior:

  Actions other people see

  Interior:

  Internal, the personal thoughts and motive behind the act.

  Aquinas says we should try and make our interior as good as the exterior.
• Types of virtue


  Cardinal virtues:

  Prudence, Justice, Courage etc.

  Theological virtues:

  Faith, Hope and Charity
• Types of good


  Apparent good:

  appears to be good, but doesn't lead to flourishing eg. Adultery, or having sex within the framework of a marriage but being infertile.

  Real good:

  The use of reason guiding us to actions that lead to flourishing. Things that align with our final telos being achieved. eg. hetero marriage, sex w/in marriage for procreation.
• Primary and secondary precepts

  Primary precepts are:

  • Laws built into nature
  • Understood through reason
  • Always true with no exception
  • A direct reflection of god's eternal law
  • Do not ever change

  Secondary precepts are rules that follow the primary precept. eg. 'To live in an ordered society' - Do not kill, commit adultery, steal etc.
• Four Laws


  -Most Important-

  Eternal Law - Mind of God, beyond understanding

  Divine Law - Word of God via. bible/church

  Natural Law - Synderesis rule, what we observe through nature

  Human Law - Government laws, family rules.
• How we fulfil our purpose


  The Primary Precepts:

  1. To Live: life is the supreme good
  2. To Learn: education helps people become adults
  3. To Reproduce: ensure the human race continues
  4. To Live in an Ordered Society: ensure justice w/o oppression
  5. To Worship: makes the others easier, offers fulfilment and love
• Divine command


  Aquinas had a problem with DCT

  In NML, nature decides right from wrong, so anyone can follow it.

  Ethics comes from the natural order, not God.
• Universal Human Nature


  All Humans share a common nature

  So, they are fulfilled, or fall short, in similar ways. Therefore, certain actions are always right or always wrong for ALL.

  eg. Killing someone is always wrong as it prevents the dead person from fulfilling their telos.
• Aristotle Influence 


  Aquinas does not believe in eudaimonia but believes that our telos is to be more like God. God gave us reason to decide right from wrong.

  
  

  Aristotle: 'Good is something which fulfils its end purpose', End purpose/telos is Eudaimonia and reason is used to interpret that.

  
  

  Aristotles ethic was teleological, Aquinas turned it deontological.

  
  

  Aristotle = Athetist
• Proportionalism/Doctrine of Double Effect


  Associated w/ Bernard Hoose (1987)

  Where a secondary precept conflicts with the primary end of promoting human flourishing, it may be okay to break it. eg. If a murderer asks you where your best friend lives, it may be better to lie.

  This doesn't make lying right, or the precept wrong, it is just the lesser of two evils.
• Philosophical Perspective


  John Finnas

  • It is better to live in a society which has laws for a common good.
  • No belief in God
  • 7 self-evident goods: Life, knowledge, sociability.
  • 9 requirements of practical reason: eg. View life as a whole.

  Germain Grisez

  • 'Against the human good of procreation and as such can never be justified.'- Defending Aquinas' and RCC's view on contraception.
  • Very conservative.