Absolutism is the theory that acts are absolutely right or wrong. There is nothing relative. Absolutism provides a rock-solid base on making moral decisions the theory states that either the act is right or wrong. 100% right or 100% wrong. There is no leeway. Murdering someone by law and by the absolute theory is wrong, no exceptions. We have developed the idea that murder is wrong by the 5 primary precepts – preservation of life which then made murder absolutely wrong. However, one would argue that absolutism may create a sticky situation that has no ideal answer. So sometimes rules have to be bent – which is double effect. If sometimes rules need to be bent one could say you might as well have a relative theory. Relative theory is when the right or wrong decision depends on the circumstances. If a woman is raped and she falls pregnant because of that assault, the absolute theory would not enable her to have an abortion however the relative theory would. The absolute theory gives a very solid base of right and wrong – it is a theory that is needed so humans don’t follow their natural inclination which depending on the person - cannot be trusted. Using the absolute theory to make moral decisions is key to the knowing the line between right and wrong and where it can be bent such as with double effect or when it cannot. The absolute theory is an unbiased theory whereas the relative theory isn’t, so you are unable to make a balanced decision with the relative theory since circumstances play a part.
The absolute theory leads to double effect, double effect is the absolutes theory’s’ loophole – for the decision that has no right answer. There are conditions of double effect that must be followed for the reasoning to be double effect. The conditions as a whole holds the idea that no evil must be in your mind or heart when you are acting on the situation. The other key condition is that a proportionally serious reason must be present to justify allowing the indirect bad effect. There are many examples of this condition, an ectopic pregnancy is one of them. A doctor has to save the mothers life however is taking the life of the fertilised embryo which can be considered as murder since he is not letting that embryo grow. But he is saving the mother’s life. This double effect example works in line with the definition of double effect – “an act may have one effect and be known to have more then one”. Double effect justifies an action as long as the prime motivation was to produce a good effect. Double effect is useful for making moral decisions because its conditions and justification have created a concrete foundation on how double effect decisions are made.
Conversely, one may argue that if you need double effect that you might as well have a relative theory. Relative theory doesn’t have a base, so there is no solid foundation – humans would make the decisions themselves. Is every human able to trust them self to make a decision which could negatively impact someone innocent…
The five primary precepts are the idea that if we have a natural orientation to do good then the things we are naturally incline to do must be good. These occur both to humans and animals. Almost all of the current UK laws are linked to one of Aquinas’ primary precepts – this shows that law makers have made sure that natural law has come into the order for society. Primary precepts are so fixed that secondary precepts were put in place to enforce them such as murder laws which link to preservation of life. These are very useful for making moral decisions because they are the creation of right and wrong. Abortion controls as well as murder laws have all been enforced to preserve the life of humans. One could say that some women are barren – unable to reproduce. In the eyes of Aquinas, the woman who is barren has failed her purpose. The natural inclination is to reproduce, and barren women are not able to. The 5 primary precepts help immensely with making moral decisions because it gives every human a purpose in life, something to do whether that’s become a mother or father or if its to worship God.
Aquinas and the theory of double effect have created a rock-sloid series of reasons of why natural law is fully and wholly useful for making good moral decisions on natural law that have become a concrete foundation for natural law and decision making.
by
medinafaithrobertsgmailcom (student)
