Understanding Natural Law Theory: Morality and Divine Commands
Natural Law Theory, influenced by thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle, posits that morality is derived from rational thought and divine commands. The theory emphasizes the importance of following moral absolutes to establish a right relationship with God and achieve eternal life. By studying human nature and purpose, individuals can discern the right way to live through reason and adherence to ethical precepts. This theory integrates both deontological and teleological aspects to guide ethical decision-making, focusing on the preservation of life, ordered society, worship of God, education, and reproduction of the human species.
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The ring of Gyges You are given a magic ring that makes you invisible and therefore will not have to face the consequences of your actions. Should you still be moral? What is our motivation for morality? God? Consequences? Intuition? Punishment? Natural Law Theory claims we should be moral as God commands it
Specification Content St Thomas Aquinas Natural Law - laws and precepts as the basis of morality: Aquinas four levels of law (eternal, divine, natural and human); Natural Law derived from rational thought; based on a belief in a divine creator (the highest good as being the rational understanding of God's final purpose). Natural Law as a form of moral absolutism and a theory which has both deontological and teleological aspects. The five primary precepts (preservation of life, ordered society, worship of God, education and reproduction of the human species) as derived from rational thought and based on the premise of 'doing good and avoiding evil'; the secondary precepts which derive from the primary precepts; the importance of keeping the precepts in order to establish a right relationship with God and gain eternal life with God in heaven.
Introduction to Natural Law (Page 1) St Thomas Aquinas Natural Law - laws and precepts as the basis of morality: Aquinas four levels of law (eternal, divine, natural and human); Natural Law derived from rational thought; based on a belief in a divine creator (the highest good as being the rational understanding of God's final purpose). Natural Law as a form of moral absolutism and a theory which has both deontological and teleological aspects. The five primary precepts (preservation of life, ordered society, worship of God, education and reproduction of the human species) as derived from rational thought and based on the premise of 'doing good and avoiding evil'; the secondary precepts which derive from the primary precepts; the importance of keeping the precepts in order to establish a right relationship with God and gain eternal life with God in heaven. Aquinas Natural Law was influenced by Aristotle
What is Natural Law? Read page 2 Natural Law claims that by studying our nature and purpose, using reason we can work out the right way to live. Natural law is an absolutist, normative, deontological and teleological ethical theory. What does that mean? Write an introduction to Natural Law in your notes Use the introductory booklet if you are unsure
Read Background to Natural Law Aristotle - BC 384 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM Aristotle believed humans use reason to recognise how to behave morally Everything has a purpose or goal to which it is aimed, this tells us it s final good - telos The Telos (or teleological goal) for humans = eudaimonia (happiness/ living well) This must be happiness for the whole community, not the individual 1. Complete page 3 and 4
Mini-Quiz cover up your booklet! 1) How many years before Jesus was Aristotle alive? 2) How, according to Aristotle do you find out what something's final good is? 3) Which Greek word means happy/ living well? 4) Does Aristotle think people should act in a way which makes them happy or the whole community happy?
Aquinas Natural Law Laws, reason and purpose Specification Content To know the four types of law Explain Aquinas ideas about reason (rational thought) and human purpose Know meaning of efficient and final cause with examples
Aquinas Five Assumptions Universe, purpose, nature, worship, obey All people seek to ________ God God created the ________ and the moral law within it Every individual has a particular _______ Since moral law comes from God, all humans should ______ it Human _______ has remained the same since all creation
Aquinas Four types of law An absolutist feature of Natural Law theory Make a spider diagram on an A4 sheet which represents the four laws through words, symbols and images read pages 5 and 6 of booklet 1 Eternal law morality is always the same - absolute Divine law morals given to humans by God Natural law Innate ability through reasoning Human law - Include examples that you can think of eternal law, divine law and human law Where possible, connect with Aristotle s ideas about natural law Every Dog needs Hugs
Mini-Quiz cover up your notes! 1) 2) 3) 4) What does absolute mean? What does teleological mean? What does subjective mean? How, according to Aristotle do you find out what something's final good is? Which Greek word means a happy/good life? Does Aristotle think people should act in a way which makes them happy or the whole community happy? What did Aquinas say was a key element of human existence? What is eternal law? Where would you find divine law? 10) What is natural law? 11) Give an example of human law? 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
Exam skills Explain how Natural Law is different from the other laws identified within Aquinas four levels of law. [20] Introduction - Aquinas development of Natural Law saw him state there were four types of deontological rules, called the four levels of law : eternal, __________, natural and _________. Deontological means . . . Natural law is . . . Reason All reasonable human beings can access natural law, St Paul claimed it is written in their hearts Natural law and eternal law Eternal law is . . Natural law and eternal law share some similarities Natural law and eternal law are different Natural l aw and divine law Divine law is Natural law and divine law are both reflections of God s eternal law Natural law and divine law are different Natural law and human law Human law is Natural law and human law are different
Candidates could include some or all of the following, but other relevant points should be credited. Aquinas development of Natural Law saw him state there were four types of deontological rules, called the four levels of law : eternal, divine, natural and human. According to Aquinas, Natural Law is a reflection of God s deontological eternal law. This reflection of God s eternal law is revealed through our God given innate human reason. By using our God given innate reason we can rightly reason/recta ratio a reflection of God s eternal law. Natural Law is different to Eternal Law because eternal laws are the laws God created, set and governs that control the whole universe, e.g. including all the deontological moral laws. However, only God can fully know these deontological eternal laws, unlike the natural laws, because humans do not have the capacity to hold all this knowledge. Humans can only partially know God s deontological eternal laws. Aquinas called this a reflection of God s deontological eternal laws. Natural Law is different to Divine Law despite the fact they are both reflections of God s deontological Eternal Laws. This is because Divine Laws are revealed through scriptures and not innate human reason. We can study scripture and see some of God s deontological Eternal Laws. Aquinas argued not everyone will have the opportunity to understand God s deontological laws, as stated in scripture. A second reflection of God s eternal law can be seen in the rationally based Natural Law. Natural Law is different to Human Law. Human Law is the deontological rules we live by in our daily lives i.e. the rules created by governments. Aquinas believed that Human Law should be completely influenced by the deontological reflections of God s Eternal law we gain from studying Divine Law and/or reasoning Natural Law. Human Law is just the laws of Natural Law that are reflected within the established rules of society. Aquinas argued that a Human Law which is not influenced by Natural and/or Divine Law is no law at all and does not need to be followed. This is not a checklist, please remember to credit any valid alternatives.
What is reason? Page 5 Aquinas believed reason as an innate ability that allows humans to make moral choices Aquinas believed that humans incline towards good and avoid evil synderesis rule All humans have this reason (with some exceptions) It is a gift from an omnibenevolent God AO2 Do you think all humans tend to do good?
Natural Law derived from rational thought God has divine reason, which humans can learn through the revelation of the Bible. It is infallible. There is human reason fallible/can be mistake Aquinas believed that a moral life was a life that was lived using your ability to reason. Therefore, an immoral life was / is a life lived ignoring your reason. Following reason should mean humans do good and avoid evil. Natural Law is humans' participation in the Eternal Law, through reason. Humans are actively involved in the eternal law of God (the governance of the world) by using reason in conformity with the Natural Law to work out what is good and evil. Use this information to write Aquinas guide on how to make a moral decision What should you include?
Natural Law is based on a belief in a divine creator - purpose For a Christian, a God who created all things and gave everything its pattern and purpose, is the highest good . God, therefore, is the goal and destiny of every human being, even if everyone does not acknowledge this Aquinas argued that the world was created by God (damaged by Adam and Eve) and that everything should therefore have God s ultimate purpose as its final cause (end). Each individual thing had a design and a purpose (final cause) and to understand what is right for it, (God s will) you only have to look at the purpose for which it has been made. What is the purpose of knife? How would you determine a bad knife? What is the purpose of humanity? How would you determine a wasted human life? What is humanities purpose everyone and individuals? How does idea reflect Aristotle s influence? To re-establish a right relationship with God and by doing so gain an eternal life with God in heaven
Aquinas influences Aristotle s Efficient/Final Cause and purpose Aristotle distinguished between efficient and final causes. The efficient cause is what gets things done. The efficient cause is that which, by its action, produces an effect substantially distinct from itself A final cause is the end product. The final cause, or end, is that for the sake of which the effect, or result of an action, is produced A piece of wood carved into a statue, the efficient cause is the knife, the final cause is the image (result) In Aristotle s theory, everything and action has some final meaning and purpose (final cause).
Efficient/Final Cause An example of this is your Booklet. What is an efficient cause? What is a final cause? The efficient cause is the information/revision notes in the booklet. The final cause/purpose would be you getting better grades in the exam.
An example: Consider heterosexual intercourse: According to Aquinas its final cause is to fertilise an egg, nurtured in the womb to form a new human being. This maintains the human species. Attraction and arousal is supplied by nature for achieving this end. Therefore, attraction is the efficient cause. Attraction efficient New Life final cause
AO2 - Questions raised The final cause indicates if something is right or wrong. In terms of sex: Does this mean intercourse between members of the same sex is wrong? Intercourse with those outside the age range is wrong? Intercourse of the anus or masturbation is wrong? Contraception is wrong. Why? What is the Roman Catholic Church teaching on contraception? Jack Dominion other functions of sexual relationships - unitive
Aquinass idea about sin Sin is falling short of the highest good communion with God Going against our reason Not willing the good for others Task: What, in modern day ethical dilemmas, would therefore be classed as a sin?
Exam practice task next slide A student was given the task: In no more than two paragraphs, Write a definition of purpose and how we identify it as given by Aquinas Success criteria include these terms Aristotle - efficient and final causes Theologised can you remember? Adam and Eve Heaven Causes example of the broken leg Have they satisfactorily completed the task? What are the missing words?
Write a definition of Aquinas concept of purpose and how we identify it Aquinas was heavily influenced by the work of __________ ; it was ______ work and thoughts that led to Aquinas Natural Law discussed in his book ___________. One of the main ideas that influenced Aquinas was ________ ideas about causes which he applied to everything. These included the _______ cause (what brought it into the world), and the _____ _____(the final purpose). ________ argued the final cause of humans was to promote ________ or the Good Life whereas Aquinas mainly supported the idea that the efficient and final causes were God given and will lead us back to . . . Aquinas therefore __________ Aristotle s beliefs about purpose. Aquinas believed that humans relationship with God needed to be ___________ since it was broken by _____ ____ _____. He argued that we can be pleasing to God through our ____ actions. He suggested that every action you do has a ________ and ultimately the final purpose of humans is to get into ______ . Aquinas split these actions into efficient and final causes. An example . . . In this sense, every action has a higher aim which guides humans to their final _________.
Aquinas was heavily influenced by the work of Aristotle; it was Aristotles work and thoughts that led to Aquinas Natural Law discussed in his book Summa Theologica. One of the main ideas that influenced Aquinas was Aristotle s ideas about causes which he applied to everything. These included the efficient cause (what brought it into the world), and the final cause (the final purpose). Aristotle argued the final cause of humans was to promote Eudamonia or the Good Life whereas Aquinas mainly supported the idea that the efficient and final causes were God given and will lead us back to union with God in heaven. Aquinas therefore theologisedAristotle s beliefs. Aquinas believed that humans relationship with God needed to be re-established since it was broken by Adam and Eve. He argued that we can be pleasing to God through our good actions. He suggested that every action you do has a purpose and ultimately the final purpose of humans is to get into Heaven. Aquinas split these actions into efficient and final causes. An example of this is if you break your leg the efficient cause (or lower aim) would be what brought it about, so in this example it would be not looking where you were going. The final cause/purpose (or higher aim) would be to be more cautious and feel empathetic for others who break their legs later on as you know what it is like. In this sense, every action has a higher aim which guides humans to their final purpose.
Specific Human purpose Aquinas maintained that all individuals also have a purpose specific to themselves that fulfil the skills and talents given to them by God. While the goal of a relationship with God is open to all, other goals are only open to some. This is potentially controversial, since if some individuals are more naturally endowed with talents than others, does this suggest that God has been fair and equitable in his distribution of them? Do some people have no special talents? The parable of the talents in Luke 19:11-27 is overlaid with a multitude of meanings, but one may conceivably be about God-given skills and abilities and how he expects them to be utilised.
Luke Parable of the Talents What can you infer? Page 9 11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12 Therefore he said, A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, Do business with these until I come back. 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not want this man to be king over us! 15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. 16 So the first one came before him and said, Sir, your mina has made ten minas more. 17 And the king said to him, Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities. 18 Then the second one came and said, Sir, your mina has made five minas. 19 So the king said to him, And you are to be over five cities. 20 Then another slave came and said, Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow. 22 The king said to him, I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn t deposit and reaping what I didn t sow? 23 Why then didn t you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest? 24 And he said to his attendants, Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten. 25 But they said to him, Sir, he has ten minas already! 26 I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me! Luke 29
Mini-Quiz cover up your notes! 1) 2) 3) 4) What does absolute mean? What does teleological mean? What does subjective mean? How, according to Aristotle do you find out what something's final good is? Which Greek word means a happy/good life? Does Aristotle think people should act in a way which makes them happy or the whole community happy? What did Aquinas say was a key element of human existence? What is eternal law? Where would you find divine law? 10) What is natural law? 11) Give an example of human law? 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
Key Words Test 1. List the four levels of law 2. What do the following words mean? a) Deontological b) Absolutist c) Efficient cause d) Final cause e) Synderesis rule f) Rationality/ reason g) Purpose
Natural Law The Primary and Secondary Precepts Specification Content The five primary and secondary precepts A good answer includes Explain the applications of the primary and the secondary precepts on modern day life Explain why Aquinas developed the primary and secondary precept
Primary Precepts What are they? In pairs, discuss the primary precepts and how it might relate to a God given purpose. Where do we see examples of the precept either in society, in religious beliefs or in laws? Complete the table in your booklet
Consolidation task Summary of primary and secondary precepts 1.Write up your own summary of primary and secondary precepts in any note taking style you find helpful What precepts are What the five are why they are important What secondary precepts are more flexible Examples of secondary precepts What is casuistry? 2. Make revision notes/cards on the four levels of law, purpose, reason etc.
Primary precepts Write an explanation of primary precepts Primary precepts are given to humans by . They
Secondary Precepts Secondary precepts help humans to . . . The are more flexible
Recap -Essay Skills Read the essay on Aquinas and primary precepts Identify Key vocab Any links to natural law Evaluate the answer three stars and a wish
Key Words Test 1) Absolutism 2)Eternal Law 3) Natural Law 4) Divine Law 5)Human Law 7)Efficient cause 8)Final cause If you got: 8 Well done 7 -6 Good effort 0-5 Much more revision required resit test
Essay Skills Read the essay on Aquinas and primary precepts Identify Key vocab Any links to natural law Evaluate the answer three stars and a wish
