Study Set Content:
e they tell us how we ought to behave
Natural laws
tell us how things do in fact behave and are, therefo
physical laws aka laws of nature
physical laws aka laws of nature are
descriptive
Natural laws are
absolute
Natural laws are absolute, because the goods in which they are grounded are incommensurable - that is, there is
no common metric that would allow us to compare them.
Hence, there can be no(blank) between, say, protecting life and seeking knowledge; or, more importantly, between protecting this life rather than that life
‘trade-offs’
is good according to Natural Law
REAL GOOD
is a rational decision to pursue something that doesn’t perfect our nature, and “is opposed to the universal judgment of reason”
APPARENT GOOD
An apparent good is a rational decision to pursue something that doesn’t perfect our nature, and “is opposed to the universal judgment of reason”
Aquinas
FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF LAWS
ETERNAL LAW
NATURAL LAW
HUMAN LAW
DIVINE LAW
” Aquinas means God’s rational purpose and plan for all things. Aquinas thinks that everything has a purpose and follows ap lan. If something fulfills its purpose/plan, then it is following the
Eternal Law
These are internal rules that any rational person can come to recognize by simply thinking and are not external like the other rules. These are absolute and binding on all rational agents. The first primary precept is that “good is to be pursued and done and evil avoided.”
NATURAL LAW
NATURAL LAW
The Primary Precepts: (rooted from man’s natural inclinatio
1. Protect and preserve human life.
2. Reproduce and educate one’s offspring.
3. Know and worship God.
4. Live in a society.
These precepts are primary because they are true for all people in all instances and are consistent with
Natural Law
MAN’S NATURAL INCLINATION
1. Self-preservation
2. Procreation
3. Knowledge
4. Sociability
(Natural inclination to live
Self-preservation
(Natural inclination to reproduce)
Procreation
Natural inclination to love and seek affection)
Sociability
(Natural inclination to learn)
Knowledge
are devised by man for specific purposes
HUMAN LAW
