Religion and Ethics
Theme 2: Deontological Ethics
A. St Thomas Aquinas’ Natural Law – laws and precepts as the basis of morality.
Overview of the theory;
A. Philosophy that certain rights are inherent by virtue of human nature and can be understood
universally through human reason.
B. Set of laws exist within the fabric of human nature.
C. Aquinas' view was that the universe has a natural order that works to achieve an end/telos and
is determined by a supernatural power.
D. Key Quotations:
o "The idea of Natural Law is sometimes described as the view that there is an unchanging,
normative order that is part of the natural world." [Buckle]
o 'Natural law is the same for all men… there is a single standard of truth and right for
everyone… which is known by everyone" [Aquinas]
o "Law is nothing else than an ordination of reason for the common good promulgated by
the one who is in charge of the community" [Aquinas 'Summa Theologica']
E. Cicero:
o Believed that as the dynamics in society changes, so does the ethics and people’s ethical
standards.
o Stated that the golden rule of ethics remains the same and is universal and unchanging.
Aristotle's four causes;
F. Describes the principles which bring about change and motion.
G. First thinker to determine that something that moves was made to move.
o Material Cause: what the object is made of.
E.g. Clay is the material cause of a bowl.
o Efficient Cause: the means or agency by which a thing comes into existence.
E.g. a potter is the efficient cause of a bowl.
o Formal Cause: the pattern, model or structure upon which a thing is made.
E.g. the formal cause of a bowl is a bowl shape.
o Final Cause: the goal or telos of a thing.
E.g. holding food is the final cause of the bowl).
H. The Soul is the ‘principle of living things’. Soul is the ‘form’ of matte.
I. Hierarchy of the soul:
o Plants: vegetative type of soul with powers of nutrition, growth etc.
o Animals: soul with the capacity for appetite and so they have feelings and desires
o Humans: soul with the power of reason.
Aristotle claimed these powers give insight into human nature
J. Aristotle's God (The Demiurge) is the teleological cause of the universe.
o Three defining characteristics of Aristotle's God:
1. Indestructible
2. Eternal
3. Unmovable
A. Says the First Mover must be immaterial.
B. God is a cause, acting as the great attractor;
o God Attracts all things and thus has a causal influence.
o God's very existence causes the movement of the outermost heavenly body; the
"Firmament."
The firmament moves in a circular motion, enlightened by its proximity to God.
Strengths Criticisms
Aristotle criticises Plato for having no concrete
can be defended evidence to back up his theories.
because it is HOWEVER: Aristotle has no concrete evidence that the
derived from material world is the source of knowledge.
Theme 2: Deontological Ethics
A. St Thomas Aquinas’ Natural Law – laws and precepts as the basis of morality.
Overview of the theory;
A. Philosophy that certain rights are inherent by virtue of human nature and can be understood
universally through human reason.
B. Set of laws exist within the fabric of human nature.
C. Aquinas' view was that the universe has a natural order that works to achieve an end/telos and
is determined by a supernatural power.
D. Key Quotations:
o "The idea of Natural Law is sometimes described as the view that there is an unchanging,
normative order that is part of the natural world." [Buckle]
o 'Natural law is the same for all men… there is a single standard of truth and right for
everyone… which is known by everyone" [Aquinas]
o "Law is nothing else than an ordination of reason for the common good promulgated by
the one who is in charge of the community" [Aquinas 'Summa Theologica']
E. Cicero:
o Believed that as the dynamics in society changes, so does the ethics and people’s ethical
standards.
o Stated that the golden rule of ethics remains the same and is universal and unchanging.
Aristotle's four causes;
F. Describes the principles which bring about change and motion.
G. First thinker to determine that something that moves was made to move.
o Material Cause: what the object is made of.
E.g. Clay is the material cause of a bowl.
o Efficient Cause: the means or agency by which a thing comes into existence.
E.g. a potter is the efficient cause of a bowl.
o Formal Cause: the pattern, model or structure upon which a thing is made.
E.g. the formal cause of a bowl is a bowl shape.
o Final Cause: the goal or telos of a thing.
E.g. holding food is the final cause of the bowl).
H. The Soul is the ‘principle of living things’. Soul is the ‘form’ of matte.
I. Hierarchy of the soul:
o Plants: vegetative type of soul with powers of nutrition, growth etc.
o Animals: soul with the capacity for appetite and so they have feelings and desires
o Humans: soul with the power of reason.
Aristotle claimed these powers give insight into human nature
J. Aristotle's God (The Demiurge) is the teleological cause of the universe.
o Three defining characteristics of Aristotle's God:
1. Indestructible
2. Eternal
3. Unmovable
A. Says the First Mover must be immaterial.
B. God is a cause, acting as the great attractor;
o God Attracts all things and thus has a causal influence.
o God's very existence causes the movement of the outermost heavenly body; the
"Firmament."
The firmament moves in a circular motion, enlightened by its proximity to God.
Strengths Criticisms
Aristotle criticises Plato for having no concrete
can be defended evidence to back up his theories.
because it is HOWEVER: Aristotle has no concrete evidence that the
derived from material world is the source of knowledge.
