Aquinas Double Effect Theory

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Aja Cochran
Professor Herlocker
Philosophy 103- Ethics
4 December 2014

The principle of the double-effect means allowing self-defense in a given circumstance to save a life. In comparison with the natural law theory, the principle is not morally obligated or imposed. “Do good and avoid evil” (Aquinas). According to the principal of the double effect theory, it would be moral for you to kill that person preemptively because; it would be okay to bring violence among a situation only for a good reason and outcome. A person would be inclined to protect their life no matter what, because it would be considered natural to their human nature. In this case, killing another individual before they kill you would turn out to be a good end. The divine law would not necessarily be enforcing this type of behavior, but simply saying that for certain actions and behavior, it is morally okay to cause a death if the intentions of it are reasonable. In these circumstances, this wouldn’t be unlawful for a person to do because they would be …show more content…
Using the new bomb would be permitted by the natural law of ethics because innocent lives of people would eventually be saved. As stated, the war has been costing untold millions of lives, so for this war to continue to go on, it would be selfish to put the lives of innocent people in constant danger. Even though the number of future deaths once the bomb is used will probably amount up to the number of previous deaths, the war would be put to an end. In the case scenario, it is important to analyze whether the decision made is good with human purposes. Causing harm among the civilians would not be acceptable because human purposes would not be obtained but as long as a good end is brought out of it then it would be acceptable. This case scenario would be

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