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Description
Flashcards by niamhmccullough1, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by niamhmccullough1
over 11 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Introduction | Natural Law is an ethical theory which requires us to live how God intended us to. Natural Law was fully developed by Thomas Aquinas. As an ethical theory natural law has a number of strengths and weaknesses. |
| Strengths | Natural Law allows Christians today to live as God intended them to, using human reason. According to Pope Leo XIII "the natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man, because it is human reason ordaining him to do good and forbidding him to sin." Natural law is an absolutist theory, it provides Christians with the knowledge and certainty of rules which can never be broken. It is a very simplistic theory as it tells people how to behave regardless of the consequences of our actions. It can provide a set of guidelines to follow when we are in need. Human reason forms the base of this approach to morality, so it can be argued that natural law is a universal ethical theory which can be used by everyone, regardless of whether they are Christian or not. |
| Weaknesses | There are a number of criticisms of natural law. Protestant denominations don't follow this approach. According to Thompson natural law " gives to humankind a moral status independent of God's grace." They argue that salvation comes from God himself and not through deeds or work." Luther comments "a Christian man living in this faith has no need of a teacher of good works." For Luther there is no need for an ethical theory such as nl. Aquinas' theory is too legalistic and does not give enough flexibility addressing moral problems and some even argue that Jesus disagreed with this moral teaching. The claim that natural law is a universal theory has encountered criticism. It does not take cultural relativism into consideration. It puts too much emphasis on Human reason. Reason has not prevented evil acts taking place. |
| OAHE | Ex. Hitler and the holocaust. Proportionalism |
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