A) John Finnis' development of Natural law
- Created by: Gradebaker
- Created on: 17-05-19 11:39
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- John Finnis' book: 'Natural law and natural rights'
- Finnis accepts the idea that there is a natural justice that is applicable to all humanity
- However, unlike Aquinas who believed natural law re-establishes a right relationship with God, Finnis believed the purpose of natural law is to ensure a person is able to live a worthwhile life and 'flourish'
- Finnis begins by rejecting Aquinas's primary precepts. Instead, he argues that humans need 7 basic, self-evident, universal goods which apply equally to everyone at all times
- These basic goods are pre-moral: exist (objectively) before decisions are made
- Finnis believes the 'basic goods' are evident from practical, not theoretical reasoning
- Theoretical reasoning: describes what is true
- Practical reasoning: describes how to act
- 'Basic goods' are self-evident truths (not derived from God's law or logic); they just obviously exist
- Finnis calls them 'basic goods' because they are self-evident basic needs of all human beings
- The 7 basic goods:
- 1. Life- bodily health, procreation
- 2. Knowledge- being well-informed
- 3. Friendship- being sociable, acting in the interest of one's friends
- 4. Play- recreation, enjoyment, fun
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