Natural Law - Thomas Aquinas

Summary

This video from Philosophy Vibe explores the theory of Natural Law, particularly through the lens of St. Thomas Aquinas. It explains Aquinas' belief that humans have an innate ability to distinguish good from evil, with God's moral law written into nature. Aquinas builds upon Aristotle’s concept of purpose and eudaimonia, linking human reasoning to morality. The video delves into key ideas like primary and secondary precepts, moral dilemmas, and the doctrine of double effect. It also addresses criticisms of Natural Law, including its reliance on belief in God and absolutism in ethics.

Takeaways

• 📜 Natural law is a theory advocated by Thomas Aquinas, which posits that humans have an innate ability to understand good and evil through God's moral law embedded in nature.
• 🌍 Aquinas builds on Aristotle's idea that everything in nature has a purpose (telos), and humans move toward eudaimonia, a state of pure happiness, by pursuing good and avoiding evil.
• 🧠 According to Aquinas, human reason allows people to unlock moral knowledge and discern good from evil.
• ✅ Aquinas identifies five primary precepts (basic goods): preservation of life, reproduction, education of offspring, worshipping God, and maintaining law and order.
• 📚 Secondary precepts are derived from the primary precepts by using reason to create specific moral rules and behavioral codes.
• ❌ Violations of natural law, like murder, are seen as morally wrong because they contradict the primary precepts, such as the promotion of life.
• 💡 Human free will and emotions can lead individuals to violate natural law, even though they possess the ability to recognize morality through reason.
• 🔄 The doctrine of double effect allows for moral dilemmas where unintended negative consequences (e.g., killing one person to save three) are permissible if the primary intention is good.
• ⚖️ Critics argue that natural law theory can seem flexible or consequentialist due to its handling of moral dilemmas, which challenges its claim to being absolutist.
• 🙏 Aquinas’ natural law theory relies on belief in God, which limits its appeal to non-religious individuals who may not accept the existence of God or moral laws written into nature.

Q & A

What is the central idea behind Aquinas' theory of natural law?

The central idea behind Aquinas' theory of natural law is that human beings have an innate power to understand good and evil. According to Aquinas, God has written moral law into nature, and humans can recognize morality through reason.

How did Aristotle influence Aquinas' natural law theory?

Aquinas was influenced by Aristotle's belief that everything in nature moves towards its specific purpose or 'telos.' Aquinas agreed that God created the world with a goal-driven structure where everything follows natural laws to fulfill its purpose.

What is 'eudaimonia' according to Aquinas, and how is it achieved?

Aquinas believed that 'eudaimonia,' or true happiness, is achieved in the afterlife. However, humans can move towards it in life by pursuing what is good and avoiding what is evil. By doing so, they get closer to their purpose and ultimately to eudaimonia.

How do humans know what is good and what is evil according to Aquinas?

Aquinas argued that humans have the ability to use reason to recognize moral laws. This reason helps them unlock moral knowledge, allowing them to know how they should live and act to pursue good and avoid evil.

What are the five primary precepts Aquinas identified in his natural law theory?

Aquinas identified five primary precepts: (1) the preservation and promotion of life, (2) reproduction, (3) education of one's offspring, (4) worship of God, and (5) living in an ordered society. These are the basic goods that all humans are naturally drawn towards.

What are secondary precepts in Aquinas' theory, and how are they derived?

Secondary precepts are specific laws or behaviors that are derived from the primary precepts. For example, the primary precept to promote life leads to the secondary precept that murder is wrong, as it violates the natural law to preserve life.

How does Aquinas explain human immorality if all humans have the innate ability to understand morality?

Aquinas explains that while humans have the ability to understand morality, they also have free will, which allows them to violate moral laws. Emotions can cloud human reason, leading people to make immoral choices, even when they know the difference between right and wrong.

What is the doctrine of double effect, and how does it address moral dilemmas?

The doctrine of double effect allows for morally permissible actions that have unintended negative consequences. In moral dilemmas, such as choosing to unplug a life-support machine to save others, the intention must be good (saving lives), and any harm caused must not be the direct intention, but an unfortunate side effect.

How does Aquinas defend natural law as an absolutist theory when it can be violated in moral dilemmas?

Aquinas argues that natural law is absolute because the intended action in moral dilemmas is always good. Although unintended negative consequences may arise, the primary intention follows natural law. Therefore, natural law is not violated, as agents are not seeking to break moral laws but to promote them.

What is a potential criticism of natural law for non-religious individuals?

A common criticism is that natural law theory relies on belief in God. For those who do not believe in God, the foundation of natural law is undermined, as the theory is built on the idea that moral laws are written into nature by a divine creator.