PHIL 235 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Intuition, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Christian Ethics
10 Apr 2020
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Document Summary
The basic principle of natural law is: good should be sought after and done, evil avoided. This is known through an intellectual intuition of practical precepts of moral behaviour. Scriptures weren"t the primary source of natural law, this came from greek philosophy. The claim of the natural law tradition is that moral knowledge is accessible not just to believers but to anyone who is willing to reflect critically on human experience. Natural law assumes that human beings are essentially good and have a capacity to know and choose what is right. However, the natural law tradition in christian ethics is due more to greek philosophy than scriptures. The key greek philosopher was aristotle who influenced aquinas in particular. For aristotle, human nature is rational, therefore, morally good actions are those that are directed (through reason) toward the full actualization of human potential.
