Aquinas' Theory of Natural Law and Conscience

According to Aquinas, what does the practical question of moral life involve?

• Understanding general principles only

• Applying general principles in particular circumstances

• Judging the actions of others

• Avoiding all forms of guilt

What does Aquinas believe about feeling guilty for every action we have done that turned out wrongly?

• We should always feel guilty

• We should never feel guilty

• We should feel guilty only if our motives were bad

• We should not feel guilty if our motives were good

What are the three intellectual skills involved in prudence according to Aquinas?

What is the simplest summary of Aquinas' view of conscience found in Summa Theologica?

According to Aquinas, what is the role of conscience in moral decision-making?

• To apply general principles to specific situations

• To judge the past actions of others

• To avoid all forms of guilt

• To understand general moral principles

What does Aquinas believe about the necessity of prudence in moral life?

• It is not necessary

• It is only sometimes necessary

• It is always necessary

• It is necessary only in complex situations

What does Aquinas insist on in his treatment of natural law?

• The need for intellectual virtue of prudence

• The importance of feeling guilty

• The application of moral principles in all situations

• The understanding of general principles only

What does Aquinas believe about the consequences of our actions?

• They are always within our control

• They are sometimes beyond our control

• They are never beyond our control

• They are always predictable

What does Aquinas say about the judgment of practical reason?

• It is not important

• It is the same as understanding general principles

• It involves applying knowledge to action

• It is only about avoiding guilt

What does Aquinas think about the mind in relation to God?

• The mind is purely a natural phenomenon.

• The mind is God-given.

• The mind is incapable of error.

• The mind is only for scientific reasoning.