Study Set Content:
Aquinas also introduces what he calls the Human Law which gives rise to what he calls
“Secondary Precepts”
are not generated by our reason but rather they are imposed by governments, groups, clubs, societies etc
Secondary precepts
It is not always morally acceptable to follow
Secondary precepts
It is only morally acceptable if they are consistent with the
Natural Law
It is not always morally acceptable to follow secondary precepts. It is only morally acceptable if they are consistent with the Natural Law. If they are, then we ought to follow them, if they are not, then we ought
not
Consider the secondary precept that “if you are a woman and you live in Saudi Arabia then you are not allowed to drive”. Aquinas would argue that this secondary precept is practically irrational because it treats people differently based on an arbitrary difference (gender
Consider the secondary precept that “if you are a woman and you live in Saudi Arabia then you are not allowed to drive”. Aquinas would argue that this secondary precept is practically irrational because it treats people differently based on an arbitrary difference (gender
are those that man receives by special revelation from God.are those that God has, in His grace, seen fit to give us and are those “mysteries”, those rules given by God which we find in scripture; for example, the ten commandments
DIVINE LAW
2 IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL LAW
THE PRINCIPLE OF FORFEITURE
THE PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
a person who threatens the life of an innocent person forfeits his or her own right to life
principle of forfeiture
A wrong or evil result brought about because of some morally right action (undertaken with intention to do good) is not itself blameworthy. Sometimes it is permissible to perform an action that has, besides its desired (good) effects, a second effect that it would be impermissible to bring about, either as an end or as a means.
THE PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
PRINCIPLES OF DDE
1. The act must be a good one. 2. The act must come about before the consequences 3. The intention must be good 4. It must be for serious reasons
Secondary evil must be a consequence… not a
catalyst
is an intellectual giant. He wrote an incredible amount covering a vast array of topics. His influence has been immense.
Aquinas
His central idea is that
t humans are created by God to reason — that is our function
Humans do the morally right thing if we act in accordance with reason, and the morally wrong thing if we don’t
Humans do the morally right thing if we act in accordance with reason, and the morally wrong thing if we don’t
s an incredibly subtle and complex thinker.
Aquinas
makes us to reflect on what we actually mean by “actions”, “intentions” and “consequences”
Doctrine of Double Effect
His work remains much discussed and researched and typically still plays a central role in a Christian Ethics that rejects
Divine Command Theory
