Introduction to Introduction to Natural LawNatural Law

THOMAS AQUINASTHOMAS AQUINASROMAN CATHOLICROMAN CATHOLIC

ABSOLUTE MORALITYABSOLUTE MORALITY

WHAT IS MEANT BY NATURAL WHAT IS MEANT BY NATURAL LAW?LAW?

““Natural Law is the rational Natural Law is the rational understanding and following of God’s understanding and following of God’s final purpose.” final purpose.”

(Mel Thompson – ‘Teach Yourself Ethics)(Mel Thompson – ‘Teach Yourself Ethics) God created everything for a purpose.God created everything for a purpose. Humans were created with the ability Humans were created with the ability

to reason and can therefore choose to to reason and can therefore choose to follow an intended purpose.follow an intended purpose.

THE ORIGINS OF NATURAL THE ORIGINS OF NATURAL LAWLAW

Aristotle Aristotle Greek philosopherGreek philosopher Final Cause or Final Cause or

purposepurpose Anything that Anything that

prevents or prevents or interferes with the interferes with the purpose for which purpose for which something is something is created is wrong.created is wrong.

THOMAS AQUINAS THOMAS AQUINAS 1225 - 12741225 - 1274

He studied the He studied the work of Aristotle.work of Aristotle.

Roman Catholic – Roman Catholic – God created God created everything with a everything with a sense of sense of purposepurpose..

A A rationalrational basis basis for Christian for Christian morality.morality.

Efficient causeEfficient cause – the agent that – the agent that brings something about.brings something about.

e.g. - being sexually attractivee.g. - being sexually attractive Final causeFinal cause – the final aim or – the final aim or

purpose of somethingpurpose of something

e.g. – the procreation of childrene.g. – the procreation of children A bad action is one in which the A bad action is one in which the

natural cause or purpose is not natural cause or purpose is not achieved.achieved.

ABSOLUTE MORALITYABSOLUTE MORALITY

Natural Law must be followed Natural Law must be followed without question whatever the without question whatever the circumstances or the situation. circumstances or the situation.

There is no flexibility – a human must There is no flexibility – a human must work out (rationalise) if an action work out (rationalise) if an action fulfils it’s purpose in nature.fulfils it’s purpose in nature.

A good action is one which was A good action is one which was achieved by fulfilling the purpose for achieved by fulfilling the purpose for which it was designed.which it was designed.

How to apply Natural Law?How to apply Natural Law? ““Reason and the Reason and the

regularities of the regularities of the natural world natural world should be your should be your guide.” (Peter guide.” (Peter Mullen)Mullen)

The four cardinal The four cardinal virtues: -virtues: -

PrudencePrudenceJusticeJusticeFortitudeFortitudeTemperanceTemperance

The opposite of the four The opposite of the four cardinal virtues and the seven cardinal virtues and the seven

deadly sinsdeadly sins PridePride AvariceAvarice LustLust EnvyEnvy GluttonyGluttony AngerAnger SlothSloth

Primary PreceptsPrimary Precepts

These are general such as to worship These are general such as to worship God and to love one’s neighbour.God and to love one’s neighbour.

These are inflexibleThese are inflexible ““The first principles of Natural Law The first principles of Natural Law

are altogether unalterable.”are altogether unalterable.”

Primary PreceptsPrimary Precepts

Preserve LifePreserve Life ProcreateProcreate EducateEducate Life peacefully in societyLife peacefully in society Worship GodWorship God

Secondary PreceptsSecondary Precepts

These are more These are more specific such as to specific such as to only have one only have one husband or wife.husband or wife.

They have to be They have to be interpreted in the interpreted in the context of the context of the situation.situation.

There is some There is some flexibilityflexibility

““It’s secondary It’s secondary precepts…though precepts…though they are they are unalterable in the unalterable in the majority of cases…majority of cases…can nevertheless can nevertheless be changed on be changed on some particular some particular and rare occasion.”and rare occasion.”

What are the strengths?What are the strengths?

Based on reasonBased on reason Good guidance is given on how to Good guidance is given on how to

behavebehave It is an example of absolute moralityIt is an example of absolute morality It is a clear cut theoryIt is a clear cut theory It is straightforwardIt is straightforward There is no need to look at each There is no need to look at each

individual situation to work out if an individual situation to work out if an action is right or wrongaction is right or wrong

What are the weaknesses of What are the weaknesses of Natural Law?Natural Law?

It is inflexibleIt is inflexible It is based on a perceived sense of It is based on a perceived sense of

purpose within naturepurpose within nature It is based on the assumption that we It is based on the assumption that we

are rational human beingsare rational human beings It is based on a belief in a creator GodIt is based on a belief in a creator God It takes no account of individual It takes no account of individual

circumstances or situationscircumstances or situations

How to apply Natural Law How to apply Natural Law

A middle aged man A middle aged man has a heart has a heart

condition and needs condition and needs a new heart valve. a new heart valve. Is it natural to do Is it natural to do this or should the this or should the man be allowed to man be allowed to

die naturally die naturally without medical without medical

intervention?intervention?

Two adults of the Two adults of the same sex are living same sex are living

together as a together as a settled and happy settled and happy

couple. They couple. They decide that they decide that they want a family to want a family to

make their make their relationship relationship

complete. They complete. They decide to adopt a decide to adopt a

child. It this child. It this morally right?morally right?

ESSAYESSAY

A, Outline the theory of Natural Law. A, Outline the theory of Natural Law. (15 marks)(15 marks)

B, “Natural Law is compatible with B, “Natural Law is compatible with Christian Ethics.” Evaluate this view. Christian Ethics.” Evaluate this view. (10 marks)(10 marks)