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Natural Moral Law: Deontological, Absolutist Theory

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Explain Natural Moral Law (25 Marks)
Natural Moral Law is a deontological, absolutist theory. It revolves around the idea that there is a definite right or wrong action itself, irrespective of the consequences, and that it is universally applicable; it can be applied to all rational human beings. Aquinas believed that ‘conformity to the Law would lead to human happiness’. Catholic moral law is derived from this theory, as it is based on the teachings of the Church and the Bible.

Natural Moral Law sets out five primary precepts; Preserve Life, Ordered Society, Worship, Education, Reproduction and is based around the fact that if an action upholds all five of these primary precepts then it is morally good or right. From these primary precepts stems a set of secondary precepts, which are rules which appear to make you morally good if you follow them. For example, using the primary precept of Preserve Life, then the secondary precepts would be do not murder, no to abortion and no to euthanasia. …show more content…

In this case, Aquinas thought that all humans had the ability to make the correct moral decisions inbuilt into them, because they were rational beings, and though this reason we would be able to discover our final purpose. As Aquinas was religious, it follows that he believed that God knew humans would exist, and thus we pre-existed in the mind of God, and that God had a pre-determined purpose in mind for all human beings. Aquinas though that fulfilling your purpose (following the five primary precepts) would make you

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The second is natural law, which is how we participate in eternal law using reason. There are many precepts in Natural Law, but they all are based on doing good and shunning evil. Good human laws allow us to make it easier to do good and shun evil. Finally, divine law is the fourth law that

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Thirdly, the idea of “natural law” supported the thought of law of nature or being determined by nature. Among these, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Also, all men are created

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In Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant does not presume to establish moral laws; he posits the basis for moral law itself. Through this process, Kant introduces the opposing concepts of heteronomy, laws provided externally for the individual, and autonomy, laws established via the application of reason. The implication arises that autonomy under Kant's definition is freedom, and that autonomy is a requisite for moral actions. To fully develop an understanding of this relationship it is crucial to deconstruct and integrate his notions of: will, duty, maxim, and imperative. Humans have the unique ability to perceive natural law, and imagine or will those forces to be different.

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I’ll Never Smoke Weed with Willy Again On Thursday, March 10, Mr. Steve Rossi led an ethics week presentation. His presentation focused around the idea of having self-awareness, accountability, and responsibility. Mr. Rossi discussed how these topics reflect the choices we make and how they display our moral judgement. In order to have moral judgment, you have to own up to your own actions and must not blame someone else for your wrong doings.

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Introduction Every day we as citizens of this country make decisions either consciously or unconsciously on how we go about our daily lives. We make all of our decisions based on our own personal moral behavior and what we believe in. Moral rules are defined in the book as things along the lines of people should not drink in excess or children should come before self (pg. 26). One’s moral behavior is primarily based on how they were brought up and what they were raised to believe. To test ones moral behavior ask yourself whether you perceive stealing, whether it be a candy bar from a gas station or stealing someone’s purse as wrong or right.

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and Aquinas both identify a 'higher law.' In "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," King refers to this higher law as "moral law" or the "law of God." Similarly, Aquinas uses the terms "natural law" and "eternal law." This 'higher law' takes precedence over human law. 'Higher law,' according to both King and Aquinas, comes from God and gives the universe its rational and moral order.

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flesh,” the man and the woman experience in a particular way the meaning of their body. St Paul writes, and “I have put on the new self, which is being renewed after the image of its Creator“(Col 3:10). This is of all the sanctity and sacredness of Adam and Eve who were created “in the image and likeness of God” (Gen 2:27) and given the responsibility of procreation and re-reaction which demanded them of being together. It is this affirmation that constitutes what is visibly female and male through which personal intimacy of mutual communication and purity is realized. With regard we recall when God says, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen 2:18).

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However, this didn’t keep them from having huge insights, because as Aquinas proposed, the world can usefully be explored through reason and not just faith. To explain how this could work, Aquinas brilliantly proposed that the universe and all its dynamics operate according to two kinds of law, (Secular) Natural Law and (Religious) Eternal law. For Aquinas, a lot of the world follows natural laws. For the most part, a majority of civilians rely on natural law because we are capable of performing tasks without the reliance of believing in God. Aquinas discussed Jesus is in junction to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

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The final ethical theory is Kant’s deontology. Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who admire the stoics for their dedication to performing their duties and playing their part. He based his theory on duties, obligations, and rights. Its main focus is that everyone has an inherited right. It highlights the importance of respecting a person autonomy.

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The divine command theory, utilitarianism, Kant’s duty defined morality, natural law theory, and Aristotle’s virtue ethics are the five types of ethical theories. The divine command theory states that what is morally right and wrong will be decided by God. Utilitarianism states that “Action “A” is morally right if and only if it produces the greatest amount of overall happiness. Kant’s duty defined morality states that what is important is acting for the sake of producing good consequences, no matter what the act is. Natural law theory states that people should focus on the good and avoid any evil.

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Abstract: (1) This essay tries to describe moral absolutism versus relativism, (2) to ultimately defend moral relativism, arguing (3) that circumstance (whether social, historical, of human ingenuity, material) influences morality. (4) It raises potential critiques of the weakness of the relativist in making any firm, moral committments. (5) Misunderstandings of the relativist in this popular critique, and clarifications of the relativist position are addressed. (6) Followed by more consideration of the potentially self-contradictory nature of relativism, (7) which is again resolved. (8)In the end, moral relativism seems easier to defend as a more comprehensive perspective of morals becuase it considers, not just morals, but the people

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The distinction between right and wrong has been a matter of discussion for centuries, whether expressed through philosophical essays, social organisation or artistic creation. Deontological ethics is a philosophical theory which dissects acts into right and wrong on the basis of the adherence of an act to a specific rule. One of the many formulations of deontology is Kantianism, a view introduced by Immanuel Kant, which argues that the basis for morality are motives for one’s action rather than the consequences of it and searches a justification for one’s duty to behave in a certain manner. One of the critiques or counter positions of Kant’s ethics is Sartrean existentialism as it denies the possibility of an absolute moral system and focuses on the individual morality rather than social one and bases on one’s commitment to his chosen values. Yet drawing parallels between the two positions is far from impossible, despite Sartre’s strong opposition to Kantian moral theory.

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“Do good and avoid evil” is a result of the differing educational, religious and cultural influences on man in the various times and places of his historical development. Thomas Aquinas contended that general principles of the natural law cannot be applied to all men in the same way on the great variety of human affairs, thus arises the diversity of positive laws among various people. Human laws deal with changing and contingent matters and often with singulars, do not have the certitude that belongs to the speculative sciences. Each has its own realm of operation and is sufficient that each have the certitude proper to its own realm. [ Ibid. ]

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Natural law theory states that there are laws that are immanent in nature and the man made laws should correspond as closely as possible. Man can’t produce natural laws but he can find and discover through his reasoning. If a law is contrary to a natural law then it is not a law. Laws should be related to morality. It is a concept of a body of moral principal that is same for all the man

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