Tick the right answers that accurately describe the nature of NML.
NML is teleological
NML is absolutist and objective
NML is a branch of meta-ethics
NML is a branch of descriptive ethics
NML is a branch of normative ethics
NML is deontological
Who influenced Aquinas' NML?
Hume
Anselm
Aristotle
Plato
the Stoics
How many types of law are there in NML?
5
3
4
6
What are the types of law called? (extra: try to tick them in the right order if you can)
external law
human law
martial law
sharia law
divine law
ordained law
natural law
moral law
According to Aquinas, what is our purpose?
eudaimonia
summum bonum
perfection, like God
This is a trick question, Aquinas didn't believe we had a purpose.
According to Aquinas, the ability to reason is common to everyone.
The Parable of the Talents explains that when God gives us something, whether mira (money), talent or the ability to reason, we must use it. Otherwise we are disobeying God and being selfish. (This applies to paragraphs about reason and how God has given us all the ability to reason).
Tick the correct Five Primary Precepts (extra: try to tick them in order)
Self-preservation
Education
Ordered Society
Reproduction
Worship God
What are the secondary precepts for?
They help us achieve the Primary Precepts
They help us achieve the summum bonum
They are five core ideas that we have to observe
There are two subordinate aims that help us achieve and understand the secondary precepts. Tick the two correct subordinate aims.
Reason
Purpose
Reason and the Bible
the Bible alone
Prayer
The Fall (Genesis 2-3) demonstrates what happens when we disobey God, just like Adam and Eve. The Fall also explains why humans have original sin and thus why our reason is tainted by evil.
Apparent goods are when we reason correctly and veer towards God.
Real goods are when we reason correctly and veer towards God.
What does Paul say about evil in Romans?
Humans are evil
Humans are not evil
Bird are evil
Tick four criticisms of NML.
Vardy says that NML "fails to consider the person as a psycho-physical unity" and is too simplistic to use for complex, individual moral dilemmas.
NML's objective set of rules has more clarity than Bentham's Act Utilitarianism.
Hume argues that there could be more than one God or perhaps an evil God.
Barth argues that "There is not enough consideration on the grace of God and Revelation in the Bible" and human nature is too corrupt to be trusted. Thus NML is not reliable or applicable since our reason is corrupt and tainted due to original sin.
Moore states that NML commits the naturalistic fallacy.
Scientists would state that there is no purpose in our world. For example, quantum physics highlights the randomness of our world and the lack of order and purpose. Even if there was purpose, it would not be as simple as the Primary Precepts.
Tick four strengths of NML.
Hoose's Proportionalism as a development of NML with more flexibility
Longford comments that since the secondary precepts are open to interpretation, "it is here that the flexibility of natural law occurs"
Society has now moved towards social contract theory
Barclay argues that society requires laws and rules in order to avoid chaotic anarchy. NML provides objective rules to follow.
NML's objectivity and absolutism provides cohesive clarity in moral decision-making, unlike Bentham's confusing hedonic calculus or Fletcher's subjective agape love.
