Religion and Ethics – Deontological ethics (Natural Law: Aquinas, Finnis, Proportionalism) — WJEC A-Level Religious Studies Revision

    This topic covers deontological ethical theories within the Religion and Ethics component, specifically focusing on the Natural Law tradition as developed

    Topic Synopsis

    This topic covers deontological ethical theories within the Religion and Ethics component, specifically focusing on the Natural Law tradition as developed by Thomas Aquinas and John Finnis, and the Proportionalist approach to moral decision-making.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Religion and Ethics – Deontological ethics (Natural Law: Aquinas, Finnis, Proportionalism)

    WJEC
    A-Level

    This topic covers deontological ethical theories within the Religion and Ethics component, specifically focusing on the Natural Law tradition as developed by Thomas Aquinas and John Finnis, and the Proportionalist approach to moral decision-making.

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    Objectives
    5
    Exam Tips
    5
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    9
    Mark Points

    Topic Overview

    Natural Law is a deontological ethical theory rooted in the idea that morality is derived from the nature of humans and the world, as created by God. Developed primarily by Thomas Aquinas, it argues that moral principles are universal, absolute, and discoverable through reason. Aquinas synthesised Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, proposing that humans have an innate purpose (telos) to achieve 'eudaimonia' (flourishing) by following the 'eternal law' of God, which is reflected in 'natural law'. This theory is absolutist and deontological, meaning it judges actions based on their intrinsic rightness or wrongness, not consequences.

    In the WJEC A-Level specification, Natural Law is studied alongside its modern developments, such as the 'New Natural Law Theory' of John Finnis, who secularises Aquinas's approach by grounding natural law in 'basic goods' and 'practical reasonableness'. Proportionalism, associated with Bernard Hoose, offers a nuanced Catholic approach that allows for exceptions to absolute moral rules when a proportionate reason exists. Understanding these variations is crucial for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of deontological ethics, especially in applied contexts like medical ethics, sexuality, and justice.

    This topic is central to the 'Religion and Ethics' component because it contrasts with teleological theories like Utilitarianism and challenges students to consider whether morality is discovered or constructed. It also connects to broader philosophical debates about free will, divine command theory, and the role of reason in ethics. Mastering Natural Law and its developments equips students to critically analyse moral dilemmas and engage with contemporary ethical issues from a deontological perspective.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →The Four Tiers of Law: Eternal Law (God's divine plan), Divine Law (revealed in scripture), Natural Law (moral principles discernible through reason), and Human Law (man-made laws derived from Natural Law).
    • →The Primary Precepts: Preservation of life, ordered society, worship of God, education of children, and reproduction. These are absolute and universal.
    • →The Secondary Precepts: Specific rules derived from primary precepts (e.g., 'do not murder' from 'preserve life'). These are also absolute but can be deduced differently.
    • →The Doctrine of Double Effect: An action with both good and bad effects is permissible if the good effect is intended and the bad effect is merely foreseen, not intended.
    • →Finnis's Basic Goods: Life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, friendship, practical reasonableness, and religion. These are self-evident and incommensurable.

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Aquinas' four levels of law: eternal, divine, natural, and human.
    • The five primary precepts of Natural Law: preservation of life, ordered society, worship of God, education, and reproduction.
    • The distinction between internal and external acts, and real versus apparent goods.
    • The role of the three revealed virtues (faith, hope, charity) and four cardinal virtues (fortitude, temperance, prudence, justice).
    • John Finnis' seven basic human goods: life, knowledge, friendship, play, aesthetic experience, practical reasonableness, and religion.
    • Finnis' Nine Requirements of Practical Reason.
    • Proportionalist maxim: it is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason.
    • Distinction between moral evil (immoral act) and pre-moral/ontic evil in Proportionalism.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Aquinas' four levels of law: eternal, divine, natural, and human.
    • The five primary precepts of Natural Law: preservation of life, ordered society, worship of God, education, and reproduction.
    • The distinction between internal and external acts, and real versus apparent goods.
    • The role of the three revealed virtues (faith, hope, charity) and four cardinal virtues (fortitude, temperance, prudence, justice).
    • John Finnis' seven basic human goods: life, knowledge, friendship, play, aesthetic experience, practical reasonableness, and religion.
    • Finnis' Nine Requirements of Practical Reason.
    • Proportionalist maxim: it is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason.
    • Distinction between moral evil (immoral act) and pre-moral/ontic evil in Proportionalism.
    • Distinction between a good act and a right act in Proportionalism.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Ensure you can clearly explain how Natural Law is both deontological and teleological.
    • 💡When discussing Proportionalism, emphasize that it is a hybrid theory, not a purely consequentialist one.
    • 💡Use specific terminology like 'ontic evil' and 'agape' when discussing Proportionalist justifications.
    • 💡Practice applying these theories to the specific issues mentioned in the spec: abortion, voluntary euthanasia, immigration, and capital punishment.
    • 💡Be prepared to evaluate whether these theories remain relevant in a secular, pluralistic society.
    • 💡When evaluating Natural Law, always discuss both Aquinas and Finnis. Show awareness that Finnis modernises the theory by removing its theological basis, making it more relevant to secular ethics. This demonstrates depth and critical analysis.
    • 💡Use specific examples to illustrate the Doctrine of Double Effect, such as a doctor giving pain relief that may hasten death (good effect: pain relief; bad effect: death). Explain why this is permissible under Natural Law but not intentional euthanasia.
    • 💡In essays, compare Natural Law with another ethical theory (e.g., Utilitarianism) to highlight its strengths (e.g., universal, rational) and weaknesses (e.g., inflexible, outdated view of human purpose). This shows evaluative skills.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the primary precepts with secondary precepts.
    • Misunderstanding the role of 'apparent goods' as being inherently evil rather than wrongly reasoned.
    • Failing to distinguish between the deontological nature of Natural Law and the teleological nature of Proportionalism.
    • Over-simplifying Proportionalism as just 'Situation Ethics' or 'Utilitarianism'.
    • Misattributing the Nine Requirements of Practical Reason to Aquinas instead of Finnis.
    • Misconception: Natural Law is purely religious and only applies to Christians. Correction: While Aquinas grounded it in God, Finnis offers a secular version based on reason, making it accessible to non-believers. The theory appeals to universal human nature.
    • Misconception: Natural Law is the same as 'law of nature' in science. Correction: In ethics, 'natural law' refers to moral principles derived from human nature and purpose, not physical laws like gravity.
    • Misconception: Proportionalism is the same as consequentialism. Correction: Proportionalism is a hybrid; it retains deontological absolute norms (e.g., 'do not kill the innocent') but allows exceptions when a proportionate reason exists, unlike pure consequentialism which weighs all outcomes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Basic understanding of deontological vs. teleological ethics.
    • •Familiarity with Aristotle's concept of telos (purpose) and the four causes.
    • •Knowledge of the Judeo-Christian concept of God as creator and lawgiver.

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Evaluate
    Discuss
    Assess
    To what extent
    Explain

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