Natural Law – Bernard Hoose’s Proportionalism

Deontological and teleologica Key idea of proportionalism – his maxim Natural Law – summary The goods are universal, self evident, valuable and obvious Application of Finnis’ Natural Law and Hoose’s Proportionalism to immigration and capital punishment Aquinas Reason Purpose - teleological Absolute Deontological 4 5 3 2 Application of Natural Law Abortion Key information Precepts – Kainz Laws Virtues - Kainz Real and apparent goods Interior and exterior acts Voluntary Euthanasia Precepts – Virtues – John Finnis Seven basic goods Nine requirements of practical reason What is the common good Why do we need authority Bernard Hoose Deontological and teleologica Key idea of proportionalism – his maxim Evil moral act Pre-moral ontic act Right act Good act

Evaluation of Natural Law, Finnis and Proportionalism Natural Law It is a successful theory It is not a successful theory Finnis Strengths Weaknesses Hoose

Natural Law - recap Aquinas’ natural law was deontological and absolutist. If something prevents the fulfilment of a thing’s God given purpose, it is wrong and immoral. Example: Using contraception may prevent the God given will of the reproductive organs. However, as we have looked at there are many flaws with this theory…..

Bernard Hoose’s Proportionalism Hybrid of Natural Law A modern version of Natural Law, proportionalism, argues from a more teleological perspective. It is viewed as a hybrid. The challenge of natural law is so great that some Catholic theologians believe there needs to be a compromise between Natural Law and Situation Ethics. 'Proportionalism' (the title of a book by British philosopher Bernard Hoose) accepts, as Natural Law does, that certain acts are wrong or evil acts in themselves. However, it says that it might be the right thing to do, if there is a proportionate reason, to perform such acts. ‘there are certain moral rules and it can never be right to go against these unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it’. Bernard Hoose Complete page 15 Deontological means Teleological means Hybrid means

Proportionalism However…. Proportionalism works within the framework of natural law, however is more flexible if a greater good would be achieved by working outside of it. It allows for ontic goods – qualities such as dignity, integrity and justice – which themselves are not moral but are desirable qualities and should be taken into account when making a moral decision. Aquinas’ teaching does allow for a degree of proportionalism, i.e. if someone was dying of hunger it would be acceptable to steal rather than die. However…. A proportionalist may argue that natural law fails to recognise the holistic nature of human beings because it makes a distinction between body and soul, rather than recognizing that humans are a psychophysical unity that combines reason and nature.

Proportionalism A proportionalist may argue that the best we can aim for is a theology of compromise – since we live in a fall world (original sin) the best we can aim for is a moral compromise, not moral perfection. It can be seem as more compassionate than natural law in so much as it allows an individuals circumstances to be taken into account. It does not allow for a person to suffer just to uphold natural law and acknowledges some non-moral evils have to be permitted to bring about a greater good. What is most important is bringing about a proportionate amount of good and evil. It recognizes that natural laws must be able to change and that it is impossible to identify laws that are eternally valid without adaptation.

Tasks page 19 What is an ontic good?   How did Aquinas’ theory allow some proportionalism? Why is proportionalism seen as more compassionate than Natural Law? What is the distinction between an evil moral act (an immoral act) and a pre-moral/ontic evil act (a bad act that in itself is not immoral)? What is the distinction between a right act (an act that follows the moral rule) and a good act (an act that is not a right act, but creates the lesser of two evils)?

Agape What is agape?

Task….. Create a summary diagram or mind map of Bernard Hoose’s Proportionalism is. Next….. On the back of the A3 summary sheet Strengths Weaknesses What are the strengths of proportionalism ? What improvements does it make on Natural Law ? What are the weaknesses of proportionalism ?

‘The weaknesses of Hoose’s Proportionalism outweigh the strengths ‘The weaknesses of Hoose’s Proportionalism outweigh the strengths.’ Evaluate this view. Hoose’s Proportionalism is a weak theory Hoose’s Proportionalism is not a weak theory

‘Hoose’s Proportionalism promotes immoral behaviour ‘Hoose’s Proportionalism promotes immoral behaviour.’ Evaluate this view. Hoose’s Proportionalism promotes immoral behaviour Hoose’s Proportionalism does not promote immoral behaviour  

‘Hoose provides a basis for moral decision making for believers and non-believers.’ Evaluate this view. Hoose’s Proportionalism provides a basis for moral decision making for believers and non-believers Hoose’s Proportionalism does not provides a basis for moral decision making for believers and non-believers  

Finnis and Hoose recap What 7 basic goods did Finnis identify? List three points he made about these goods Give 9 words to summarise the principles of practical reasonableness Three challenges to Finnis Three strengths of Finnis How is Hoose’s theory seen as a hybrid between deontological and teleological theories? What is proportionalism? According to Hoose how could a wrong act be morally right. Three challenges to Hoose Three strengths of Hoose

Answers What 7 basic goods did Finnis identify? List three points he made about these goods Give 9 words to summarise the principles of practical reasonableness Three challenges to Finnis Three strengths of Finnis How is Hoose’s theory seen as a hybrid between deontological and teleological theories? What is proportionalism? According to Hoose how could a wrong act be morally right. Three challenges to Hoose Three strengths of Hoose Life, knowledge, friendship, play, aesthetic experience, practical reasonableness, religion Universal, self evident, valuable, obvious Whole , prioritise, equally, not obsessed, effort, plan, don’t harm a good, community, practical reason Human reason fallible, moral relativism, why those values, religious, not clear, doesn’t help with dilemmas More measured, atheists, flexible, modern, community A combination of two theories Proportionalism – a more compassionate theory, based on individual circumstances Circumstances Too much freedom, no method, consequentialist, rejects the church, condemned by Vatican Updates NL, Compassionate, Circumstances, effective, Aquinas