Aquinas and Precepts Starter What would be a

Aquinas and Precepts • Starter – What would be a good way to start a sixth form lesson? ? ? • Reading – Aquinas and Aristotle’s Four causes • Hwk – Bring in strange and unusual object • To ensure understanding of Aquinas’ foundation of Natural Law • • To consider Aquinas’ fundamental primary goods • • To explore the relationship between descriptive primary goods and prescriptive secondary goods

Aquinas Reading and Precepts • Quick tester • 1) Natural law is revealed through faith/nature and interpreted by emotion/reason. • 2) Creation reveals God’s goodness/word • 3) Aquinas was a monk/priest • 4) Natural Law is influenced by Bible/Plato • 5) Aquinas wrote Summa Theologica/Fifty Shades of Grey

The Precepts • Is to ought… Examples? Eg Fire can burn therefore • Aquinas…Eudaimonia = heaven and union with God NOT flourishing happiness • Primary Precepts – Descriptive fundamental natural goods…general rules inbuilt into all humans by God • Secondary Precepts – Any rule that is rationally deduced from primary precept. Prescriptive.

Primary Precepts • • • The Preservation of Life Human Procreation The advancement of knowledge and learning Living in peaceful and harmonious community The worship of God • Five year old re-write

Secondary Precepts • • Abortion Euthanasia Suicide War

Summary • Aquinas identifies descriptive primary precepts and prescriptive secondary precepts, how do they link together to help people to make decisions?