CREATED BY BRINGING BIBLICAL TEACHINGS AND GREEK PHIOLSOPY TOGETHER
Aquinas believed that god had created the world with a purpose in mind.
If human beings watch the natural world, read divine scripture and
watch human behaviour they will be able to determine God's purpose
God gave humans the gift of being able to reason in order to determine God's purpose.
Our reason natually seeks knowledge and truth. When it is applied to actions out reason seeks
harmony with others. Our desires and our reasons were created by God to seek what is good, and
this is the way we come to learn what God has commanded being right or wrong.
CREATED BY THOMAS AQUINAS
Natural law is: deontological
Based on universal rules
Natural law is: objective
Judgement that is detached and impartial.
Natural law is:absolute
A rule that is true in all circumstances
Natural law Hiearchy
ETERNAL LAW: Refers to the principles in which God governs the
universe, so we know or understand only partially
DIVINE LAW: refers to the bible, which guides us in our goal of
perfection. However this perfection is only achievable in life after
death.
NATURAL LAW: Human beings naturally desire what is good and
avoid evil
HUMAN LAW: laws human-beings make for themselves. e.g: do
not murder
Aquinas created the primary precepts as
laws - then created the secondary precepts
to make the primary precepts more flexible.
PRIMARY PRECEPTS
- Preserve innocent life
- Maintain orderly living in society
- Reproduce to continue next species
- Educate children
- Worship God
SECONDARY PRECEPTS
Created from the primary precepts in order
to make natural law more flexible so it can
apply to different times and cultures.
Abortion would be wrong as it goes against
some of the primary precepts including:
protection of innocent life and reproduction.
Cardinal virtues
Wisdom - Prudence
Courage/trying - Fortitude
Moderation - Temperance
Justice
Supernatural virtues
From the bible
Faith
Charity
Hope
Apparent Good
Occurs when you follow your
reasoning but it is faulty and you
come at an incorrect moral
decision
E.g: profilers in USA bomb
abortion clinics to save
embryo's. however in the
process it is killing people.