evaluation

• strengths of NML:

  • deontological - guidelines + boundaries are helpful + clear for decision makers
  • DDE - allows room for issues of conflicting secondary precepts to be resolved in order to reach a moral outcome
  • emphasis on virtues - encourages a focus on character development
  • instinctive - mutual human nature; rules are in line with out instincts + intuitions
  • objective - independent, true rules
  • stood the test of time - still used in the Catholic Church today
  • rational - use of practical reason; common sense approach
• weaknesses of NML:

  • God - relies on God-given purpose + belief in God for the primary precepts to work
  • outdated - there are many new moral issues not covered by NML; these are left to Manualist interpretation
  • Manualism - excludes Aquinas' account of virtues
  • outcomes can be immoral - preventing contraception due to PP of reproduction leads to spread of AIDS + overpopulation
  • too simplistic - assumes humans all have the same fixed nature e.g. heterosexual
  • emergence of Proportionalism + appeals to the Pope over blood sports - suggests users of NML are unsatisfied with guidance offered