The Spec says that you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
• the origins of Aquinas’ Natural Law in Aristotle’s idea of purpose;
• Aquinas’ ideas of purpose and perfection;
• the use of reason to discover Natural Law;
• the primary and secondary precepts.
Candidates should be able to discuss critically these views and their strengths and weaknesses.
Download easy natural law notes.doc for a good, clear, basic introduction to Natural Law.
Download The text task from 'Summa Theologica'
This is an important extract from Aquinas' text. See if you can label each one of the primary precepts. Highlight the relevant parts and if you want you can use the labels on the 2nd page to stick next to them (or just write out the label?!). I have duplicated the labels to save on printing so don't get confused!
Download The Primary Precepts task sheet.
Download The Natural Law 'evaluation' task.
Using the SECOND page highlight which bullet points refer to weaknesses and which, strengths of Natural Law. You may be able to work these out, but I suggest that you have read the textbooks as well. Do try and provide reasons why you have decided which point is a strength and which is a weakness. If you aren't sure, then do some research and find out! Talk to your class mates, or even email me!
When you have decided on your statements, you can use the FIRST page as preparation for the AO2 essay...
Download The Natural Law AO2 essay pro-forma.
Please print this out, fill it in and hand it in with your essay!
Revision
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Download A brief but clear summary of Natural Law
Download The Vocabulary test sheet.
See if you can fill in the meanings of the words without peeking at your notes!
Download Natural Law group task.
I will probably give this task to you at the end of the year, but it might be worth a look. It is an activity that helps you to visibly present the key features of Natural Law as well as how these key ideas can be applied to the various ethical issues we will look at in 'Part 2' of the course.