Crack the code to find the key principle of today’s lesson.

Extend your understanding by giving 3 possible arising issues/ views from the statement.

Natural Law

To know the origins of Natural LawTo understand how Aristotle

developed the theory.

The theory of Natural Law claims that all humans can discover what is right, what it is written into our nature in some way. As such, the theory has had many proponents across the world and dating back to Aristotle and beyond. Aristotle developed the theory, but on this site we are more concerned with Aquinas' theory of Natural Law

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was

an Italian Catholic philosopher and the church's greatest theologian. He was brought up in his family's castle with seven brothers, educated at a monastery and then the University of Naples, after which he joined the Dominican order at Naples.

His brothers were not happy about this, and kidnapped Aquinas, holding him captive for a year. They did everything they could to dissuade him from

returning to the Dominican order, including presenting him with a prostitute. He was not tempted, and drove her away with a firebrand. Aquinas returned to the order and went to study in Cologne under Albertus Magnus ('Albert the Great'), who went with him to Paris where he later gained a doctorate and lectured in theology.

Aquinas was a large man - known to many

as 'the dumb ox', although Albert the Great said of him that "the Dumb Ox will bellow so loud his bellowing will fill the world."

Aquinas' work has had an astounding influence, yet after a mystical experience only months before he died, he declared "I cannot go on... All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me."

Aquinas died in his 50th year. In 1323 he became a saint, and at the Council of Trent in the mid 1500s, only his work and the Bible were placed on the altar. Aquinas' teaching is seen by many Catholics as being

the basis of their theological position.

Aristotle posited four causes for anything and everything.

EFFICIENT CAUSE – the

agent that brings something about.

The carpenter

MATERIAL CAUSE – the

matter from which the thing is made

from.

The wood of a chair.

FORMAL CAUSE – the

kind of thing that something is.

The chair shape.

FINAL CAUSE – the goal or

purpose that a thing moves

towards.

To sit on

Now try your examples on your sheet

Understanding it’s roots…

Look at the pictures in front of you;

For each you need to answer

the key questions;

Humans?

You will notice the things you’ve worked on in

the task are inanimate objects…

Humans do have a purpose/cause and aims. This can be broken down to;

Subordinate aimsSuperior aims

What is the purpose of a human being?

Aristotle believed it was to seek happiness in

life through a general all round well being – Eudaimonia. This is our final aim…so what is

our efficient aim?

God

God id the First Efficient Cause who gives

everything purpose.‘

‘

Now complete your human

sheet

Potential

Everything in the world has potential as we all have an aim/ cause.

‘An Acorn has the potential to become an oak tree, but not all do.’

Just like all humans have the potential to reach Eudaimonia, but not all do.

Aristotle's conclusion:

‘All those things to which man has a natural inclination are naturally

apprehended by reason as good’ – So the precepts of natural law follow

the natural inclinations

Debate – Aristotle said that morality should be based on reason and not

emotions.

Who does this sound like?

The Stoics

The Stoics, a group of Greek philosophers who

came after Aristotle, argued that the universe

has a basic design and purpose which human

morality should work in harmony with. The idea

of a morality that follows the natural purpose

of life is called Natural Law

Aquinas applies Aristotle’s theory to Christianity

Many Christian thinkers at the time regarded Greek Philosophy as a threat to their faith.

But Aquinas disagreed, he regarded the emphasis

on reason as a logical step for Christians. because, if the ability to reason is God-

given, how could it be wrong to use it?

Is this a fair conclusion?

Homework

If God has established human nature and designs us to live in a certain way, what can those who deny God’s existence believe about natural law?

Using your brain (if you have one) Write down your own thoughts to this question.