2. NATURAL LAW OF ETHICS
Also called Thomistic Ethics
St. Thomas Aquinas
Synderesis
◦ Inherent capacity of individual to
distinguish the good from the bad
3. Propositions
1. Voice of right reason or voice of
conscience
◦ Voice of conscience will serve as a
natural guide
◦ Right thing- following conscience
◦ Wrong thing feel guilty, remorseful
4. Propositions
2. Man’s threefold natural inclinations
1. Self-preservation
Suicide
Smoking
drinking
2. Just dealings with others
3. Propagation of our species
Any form of contraceptive is wrong
5. Propositions
3. Three determinants of moral actions
1. Object
2. Circumstances
Who, What, Where, By what
means, why, How, When
3. End/purpose of agent
For an act to be morally good, these 3
elements must be good.
6. PROPOSITION
4. The double effect principle
◦ Woman 3 months pregnant with a
cancerous uterus
5. The principle of totality
◦ An individual has the right to cutt off,
mutilate or remove defect non-functioning
organs only if the general well being of
the whole body requires.
6. Principle of stewarship
