Apparent Goods
Something which seems to be good or the right thing to do but which does not fit the perfect human ideal.
Absolutism
An objective moral rule or value that is always true in all situations and for everyone, without exception
Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, 13th century Dominican priest (1224-1274), commonly regarded as the most influential philosopher and theologian of the Roman Catholic Church. Famous works include Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles. Developed the ethical theory known as Natural Law or Natural Moral Law.
Applied ethics.
The application of ethical theories to practical situations and moral dilemmas.
Abortion.
A medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy, normally before the foetus can survive independently
Charity
Selfless, unconditional, and voluntary loving-kindness for others in response to God’s love. One of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with faith and hope. Charity is a virtue included by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory. He believed that developing such virtues brought people closer to God’s ideal of human nature.
Cardinal virtues
There are four cardinal virtues identified by reason: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. Known as ‘cardinal’ virtues because the Latin term ‘cardo’ means ‘hinge’. They are believed to form the fundamental basis of a moral life and were terms used both by Aristotle and Aquinas.
Deontology
a moral system based on duty; based on action not consequence
Deonological ethics
Ethical systems which consider that the moral act itself has moral value (e.g. Telling the truth is always right, even when it may cause pain or harm)
Divine Law
The Bible - this reflects the Eternal Law. The Second of Aquinas's four Laws.
Doctrine of Double Effect
The idea that a bad action can be done as an unintentional by-product of a good act
Exterior and interior acts
Both intention and the act are important. To act in a good way for the wrong reason is to perform a good exterior act but a bad interior act
Eternal Law
The principles by which God made and controls the universe which are only fully known by God. The First of Aquinas's four Laws.
Euthanasia
Literally ‘a good death’. It describes a medical procedure by which either a person terminates his or her own life because of extreme pain or suffering, or the life of another person is either allowed to come to an end or is brought to an end with the assistance of others, because of a critical medical condition.
Final cause
Aristotle's idea that everything has a purpose.
Faith
Steadfastness in belief in God; one of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with hope and charity; included by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory.
Fortitude
Sometimes referred to as courage; to show endurance, and to possess the ability to confront fear and uncertainty or intimidation in order to achieve one’s goal; one of the four cardinal virtues (see above).
Intrinsically good
Something which is good in itself, without reference to the consequences
Natural Law
The theory that an eternal, absolute moral law can be discovered by reason. The Second of Aquinas's four Laws.
Ontic Evils
The idea in Proportionalism that there is a lack of perfection in the world due to the fall - sin permeates throughout the whole world. Evil reflects the moral ambiguity of the universe in contrast to simple Deontological and Theological / Natural Moral Rules which they cannot reflect as they have an idealistic view of humanity. E.g - Do not murder' - ideal world easy to follow - fallen world due to presence of OE there are situations where breaking this COMMAND = PROP - shooing gun man / JUST WAR.
Ontic goods
The idea in Proportionalism that there are distinct 'goods' use as justice, that can be used to establish proportional reasons to do a good evil act. A good ACT Act is one that follows the Deontological Theo moral rules but House added exception - must be carried out with Good intention - according to HOOSE AGAPE most imp intention. A right ACT not a good act but creates lesser of 2 evils - means we may break a DEON RULE, however consideration of the context of this unique event.
Pre moral Evil
The idea in Proportionalism that some actions are bad but not evil. inflicting bodily harm - cutting someone with a knife is usually evil but but exceptions the act may not be evil e.g SURGEON - depends on the situation / intention / context. An evil like pain, death and mutilation is in itself, pre- moral and should not be described as moral, it is the act as a whole that needs to be considered.
Primary and secondary precepts
Primary precepts are concerned with self-preservation, reproduction, education, living in society and worshipping God – all things must operate in accordance with these principles. Secondary precepts are rules which direct people towards actions which maintain the primary precepts
Primary precepts
The fundamental principles of Natural Law - Primary precepts are concerned with self-preservation, reproduction, education, living in society and worshipping God – all things must operate in accordance with these principles. Secondary precepts are rules which direct people towards actions which maintain the primary precepts
Proportionalism
Determines the moral value of an act from the proportion of the action's good and evil effect(good outweighs the bad. Developed by Bernard Hoose as a contemporary adaptation of Natural Moral Law.
Purpose / telos / Function
Something is good if it fits its purpose/telos. The idea that the rightness or wrongness of an action can be discovered by looking at whether or not the action agrees with human purpose. Aristotle- There are laws which govern how the world works. Same goes for morality, which follows a natural law which we can discover through observation and reason. Everything has a purpose built into its nature. To understand anything, 4 questions must be asked: what is it, what is it made of, how did it come to exist and what is it used for?
Rationality
The use of reason
Real Goods
The right thing to do - it fits the human ideal
Revealed Virtues
The three virtues of faith, hope and charity revealed or disclosed through Scripture (St Paul in 1 Corinthians 13). Christian theology teaches that these virtues differ from the cardinal virtues in that they cannot be obtained by human effort. A person can only receive them by being infused through divine grace into the person. Also often called theological virtues because they are directed by God
Real and apparent goods
When humans do bad acts, they are pursuing apparent goods, falsely believing them to be really good. Humans would never knowingly pursue evil, and actions not in the pursuit of perfection can be explained as the pursuit of apparent goods. To distinguish between the two is to use reason rightly and intend on doing the right thing
Secondary Precepts / Principles
These are worked out from the primary precepts- the fundamental principles of Natural Law - Secondary precepts are rules which direct people towards actions that maintain the primary precepts. For example, the principle ‘to live in an ordered society’ leads to rules such as ‘return property to those from whom it was stolen.’ However, the secondary precepts have to be interpreted in the context of the situation and there is some flexibility in extreme cases. For example, if someone owned a gun that had be stolen from them, but intends to kill others with it upon its return then you would not return it as this is the rational thing to do.
The four different types / levels of law
The eternal law is revealed in divine law and guides human beings to happiness in heaven; it is made known in natural law and from it human law is derived. Aquinas believed that there are four types of related law. These are: eternal law - God creates all that exists with a purpose and everything acts according to God’s plan; divine law - divine law is God’s eternal law given through scripture; natural law - some aspects of God’s eternal law are also accessible via natural law which we can discover through our ability to reason, enabling us to distinguish between right and wrong. Aquinas believed that we cannot grasp all the details of eternal law until God reveals them to us upon our death; human law - society’s legal systems that should be derived from natural and divine law.
Teleological ethics
Concerned with the result, not the action
Temperance
Self-control or restraint, abstention, and moderation. The ability to control instincts and desires in order to be considered honourable. One of the four cardinal virtues
Prudence
The ability to judge rationally between actions and to recognise the most appropriate actions at a given time. One of the four cardinal virtues.
Justice
The treatment of people with equality and fairness, both generally and before the law.
Hope
An expectation of and desire of receiving; refraining from despair; believing in the possibility of eternal life in heaven with God. One of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with faith and charity.