AS Level- Natural Law. Aquinas Grammar

What is natural Law? Natural law claims that everything is created to a particular design and for a

particular purpose, and that purpose is what is ‘good’ to which everything

aims.

-“Good is to be done and evil is to be avoided” (Aquinas)

What are the historical roots of natural law? Can be found in the ancient Greek and Roman world.

Roman lawyer Cicero formulated the classic description of natural law in his

work On the Republica. In this he says

- True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting.- (They will not be) different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law.- (There will be) one master and ruler, that is, God, over us all.

What are the Teachings of Aristotle? Rooted in the philosophy from the 4th Century.

He believed that everything in life has a telos (purpose) and as such

differentiated between efficient causes and final causes:

1. Efficient cause- getting something done (opening a bottle)

2. Final cause- the end product (the bottle opened)

While law changes from place to place, Natural law is always the same and

applies to everyone

In the middle ages theologians argued that this principia ethica, understood

that the law that govern human conduct must lead to the highest good, that

being God.

What are the Teachings of Aquinas? Most famous exponent of the natural law

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AS Level- Natural Law. Aquinas Grammar

13th Century

Central feature of Catholic moral teachings

He developed Aristotle’s ideas and argued that the natural telos of the world is

found in God.

Wrote Summa Theologica

His ethical theory is absolutist and deontological(focuses on the ethnicity of

actions) actions are intrinsically write or wrong.

Believed that both intention and act are important.

Acts are intrinsically (basically) good or bad

In summa theological , Aquinas described natural law as a ‘moral code of existence,’ created by God

All Primary Precepts relate to the purposes and are derived from reason-do

not kill, do not lie, do not steal

Examples of Natural Law in Action in Modern Society:

The natural telos of sex is to procreate and anything that prohibits (stops) this

natural outcome is seen as a barrier to the fulfilment of the sexual telos

therefore contraception is wrong. Examples of contraceptive methods that

stops procreation occurring are Condoms and the morning after pill. Although

the natural law fails to acknowledge situations where contraception could

benefit to prohibit continued AID’s. But the Catholic Church argues that sex

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Primary Precepts

Preserve lifeLive in societyEducate ChildrenReproduceWorship God

Secondary Precepts

Do not commit MurderDo not abort an Unborn childDefend the DefencelessDo not commit Suicide

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AS Level- Natural Law. Aquinas Grammar

outside marriage should not happen outside marriage and why should they

change their view on natural law being universal to suit the minority.

If a couple is unable to have children does this make their relationship

unnatural, should they be having sex, does natural law condone rape?

What if homosexuality proves to be genetic, will it then be accepted as

natural?

Strengths of Natural Law? Guidance on day-to-day questions

Clear and defined so it could be applied universally

Prevents one being treated as a means to an end

Enables people to establish common rules in order to structure communities

Based on reason so all people know what is right and wrong in themselves

Attractive in a world that suffers from intercultural strife and disharmony

Problems with Natural Law? We all have the ability to do good but are often driven by selfish desires in a self-

centred world.

What is homosexuality was deemed to be genetic, would it then become natural

Today, the human body is seen as a whole living organism that works together, not

the fragmented collection of parts that Aquinas seems to believe in.

Peter Vardy and Paul Grosch challenge Aquinas. They believe that it isn’t

necessary that every discharge of semen should produce a new life. What about

the benefits to the couple’s relationship.

Peter Vardy and Paul Grosch also argued that Aquinas’ theory is wrong as the

human body is not a set of fragmented parts but one organ working together.

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Actions are moral

consequences

Based on the law of nature

Based on ideal that God created

the world and established order

to bringing everything to

fulfilment

Based on human

reason, not religious beliefs

A clear out theory that applies to everyone

We all have the capacity of

reason; therefore can find a good way to live with

reason in relation to natural law

Contains basic and

fundamental Laws

Features of

Natural Law

AS Level- Natural Law. Aquinas Grammar

Gemma Mulhern 13J

AS Level- Natural Law. Aquinas Grammar

Critical Analysis…

‘The natural is that which everywhere is equally valid.’ (Aristotle)

‘Good is to be done and evil is to be avoided.’(Aquinas)

‘Moral code which human beings arte naturally inclined towards.’(Vardy)

‘The Natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man.’ (The catechism of the Roman Catholic Church)

‘The natural law is nothing other than the light of understanding placed in us by God.’ (Aquinas)

‘The term natural law refers to the prescription laws as derived by human nature as opposed to

the descriptive laws of Nature’ (Jenkins)

‘The Moral life is the life according to reason’ (Summa Theologica)

‘The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man, because it is

human reason ordaining him to do good and forbidding him to sin’ (Leo XIII)

‘There will be one master and ruler that is God’ (Cicero)

Gemma Mulhern 13J

AS Level- Natural Law. Aquinas Grammar

Glossary Deontological- the theory of our duties. It places a sense of duty over what is naturally.

It is when you are not worried about the outcome. They know if the act is right or wrong

but contain it anyway. For example, having sex outside of marriage.

Deduce- reach by reasoning from evidence.

Intrinsic-essential to the basic nature of something

Apprehend- arrest and take into custody; grasp or understand

Precept- rule of behaviour

Telos- purpose

Disparage- speak contemptuously

Inclination-liking, tendency or preference

Virtue-moral goodness; positive moral quality

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