2 L ETHICS MIDTERM

• St. Thomas Aquinas


  An Italian Dominican priest who is considered as one of the most influential thinkers of the Medieval Era
• St. Thomas Aquinas


  • Combined the theological principles of faith and the philosophical principles of reason
  • Believed that the Revelation could guide reason and reason could clarify faith
• Four Types of Law according to St. Thomas Aquinas

  • Eternal Law
  • Natural Law
  • Human Law
  • Divine Law
• Eternal Law


  Laws that govern the nature of the eternal universe, including laws that the almighty infused in human beings to direct his actions and also the laws that direct the events in the universe
• Natural Law


  Laws that flow from the eternal law and govern the behavior of human beings for them to achieve eternal salvation, containing the fundamentals of morality using reasons
• Human Law


  Laws based on customs which tend to vary from place to place relative to the society which developed them, with just laws made by man to exemplify the moral law or the law of God
• Human Law


  • Directed towards the common good
  • Aimed at the more grievous vices from which the majority can abstain
  • Does not prescribe all the acts of the virtues but prescribes some acts corresponding to each virtue
  • Subject to change based on experience in practical matters
• Divine Law


  Laws concerned with standards that must be satisfied by man to achieve eternal salvation and is only made known through the revelations in the Holy Scriptures, divided into the Old Law and the New Law
• Old Law vs New Law

  • Old Law - commands conduct externally, reaches humans through their capacity for fear, promises earthly rewards
  • New Law - commands internal conduct, reaches humans by the example of divine love, promises heavenly reward
• Natural Law


  Aims to govern human actions through reason and freewill, with the precept to do good and avoid evil, where the difference between good and evil is determined through the rational nature of human beings
• Divine law


  Law that appears to human beings as divine commands, divided into the Old Law and the New Law
• Old Law


  Corresponds to the Old Testament, mainly the Ten Commandments
• New Law


  Corresponds to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament
• Old Law


  • Commands conduct externally, reaches humans through their capacity for fear, promises earthly rewards
• New Law


  • Commands internal conduct, reaches humans by the example of divine love, promises heavenly reward
• Natural Law


  Aims to govern human actions through reason and free will, the precept is to do good and avoid evil
• Natural Law


  • No legally valid standard can conflict with it, all valid laws derive their force and authority from it
• Natural Law recognizes the connection between the law and human morality
• Morality comes from human nature, from man's free will and ability to reason for him to have a good, happy life
• Natural Law


  Serves as man's participation in the Eternal Law, through reason man can distinguish good from evil
• Cardinal Virtues

  The four principal virtues of morality, all other virtues stem from these
• Prudence


  • Careful, good judgments to guide actions, lessens risks and avoids danger
• Justice


  • Determines how we relate to others, a sustained and constant willingness to give each person what he/she deserves
• Fortitude


  • Strength and ability to face and conquer fear, allows us to overcome obstacles
• Temperance


  • Virtue of moderation, the "golden mean" that helps us determine how far we can act on our desires
• Incomplete happiness


  Can be achieved by means of human actions and the cultivation of the four cardinal virtues
• Complete happiness


  Only possible through the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity received from a higher power
• Happiness is what all human beings want to achieve
• The four cardinal virtues are the bases of natural morality
• The principle of beneficence is the duty to do good or benefit others.
• The principle of beneficence requires that one act to benefit others.
• The principle of non-maleficence is the duty not to harm others.
• Autonomy refers to an individual's right to self-determination, including making decisions about their own health care.
• Justice is the fair distribution of benefits, burdens, and risks among individuals and groups.
• Justice is the virtue concerned with giving every person his due.
• Courage is the virtue that enables us to face danger without fear and to stand up for our beliefs even when it is difficult.
• Fortitude is the virtue that allows us to persevere through difficulties and challenges.
• Temperance is the virtue that helps us control our desires and avoid excesses or indulgences.
• The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
• Prudence is the virtue that guides us in making wise choices based on reason and experience.