What and How to Study and Exam Tips?

● Books- LB Curzon, Raymon Wacks and Class

Notes
● Use examples given in class
● Must have a flow in answers
● Make a small summary above
● Answer Flow given below
1. Introduction
2. Explanation of Concept (Different Ideas
3. Theories and Thinkers
4. Relate to contemporary Issues
5. Original Conclusion
 PLATO

1. Concept of laws intertwined with common welfare and

justice

2. “we deny that laws are true laws unless they're enacted in

the interest of common weal of the state” The Laws

3. Justice – a general virtue

4. Fundamental of ethics lies in absolute values that are

emulated
 Concept of State

• Division of labor

• Certain tasks given to each member

• Craftsmen produce

food/shelter/clothing

• Guardians provide protection

• Rulers-only the most elite guardians

• Called the noble lie

• made to create higher common good

Each Role has virtues

Craftsmen represents
appetite – Temperance/
Moderation

Warriors represents Silver-

Courage

Ruler - Wisdom
 Concept of Justice

• Just State > Just Individual

• Justice arises when each class fulfils its own

purpose

• State is a means to an end for Justice

• Harmony between the virtues

• Balanced Uniformity- Everyone should know

their role and limitations

Types of State
 Aristotle

• Father of Natural Law and Mastermind of

Justice

• Looked at the concept of good – Eudaimonia

• Man can exercise will on nature thus different

from other animals

• Man is best under ambit of law and justice

 Concept of Law

• Rule of law must govern

• Law must be flexible

• Law can also be applied as an instrument

to Educate

• Built the modern concept of Equity

• General Rule of law but not positivist

 Concept of Justice
• Distributive Justice: involves

proportionate distribution of resources

• Equals must be treated equally, unequal

unequally

• E.g. Article 38 & 39 of Constitution

• Corrective Justice: Righting a wrong

• Restoration of disturbed equilibrium

• Imposition of penalties or damages

 Aristotle and State

• Role of state to satisfy a good life and citizens

• For e.g. Art. 32 and 226 of Constitution
• Rejection of Monarchy: Primitive, Obsolete,
Becomes Hereditary
• Aristocracy: Rule by best citizens, because of
natural endowments and education
• Polity: Rests upon a constitution

• Denegrated Forms
• Tyranny: Corruption of Monarchy
• Oligarchy: Of Aristocracy
• Democracy: of Polity
 St. Thomas Aquinas
• Influenced majority of Catholic doctrine
• God is the highest good
• Presumption of transcendental reason
• Inspired by Aristotle

• “Natural Law is nothing else than the

rational creature’s participation in the
eternal law”

• Natural law guides to goods like Life,

Knowledge, Procreation Society and
Reasonable Conduct
 Classification of Law

Lex Aeterna- Eternal Law- Divine Plan known to God,

Known to god, Gives Direction, some people perceive
it

Lex Divina-Divine Law- Revelations in Scriptures,

God’s positive law, Guidance to Man’s reason

Lex Humana-Human Laws- Man made laws, made

with reason, necessary for day to day activities

Lex Natualis- Natural Law Discoverable law by

reason, participation in divine law

Law which fails to correspond with natural or divine

law is no law at all