Natural Law and Thomas Aquinas

Introducing Natural Moral Law It is an absolutist and deontological approach to ethics, prescribing fixed moral rules and real duties. The theory can be traced back to ancient ideas of natural morality: the view that humans have an inherent sense of right and wrong. Aristotle: “the natural is that which everywhere is equally valid”. The Stoic philosophers emphasised the importance of rationality in the working of the world. Cicero: “True law is right reason in agreement with nature”. However, it is best known as a Christian system of ethics. The Bible hints at such ideas; St Paul argues that some morals are known from nature (Romans 1).

Natural Law Aquinas adopted Aristotle’s view that all things have a purpose. Aquinas says you can find that purpose by looking at the natural world and the bible. The bible shows the purpose for God creating man. Humans are free but not lawless. The law of nature restricts us in some ways and Natural Law restricts us in others. We are able to go against natural law, although this would be a conscious choice, but not the laws of nature.

Aquinas God designed everything to serve a purpose. We can find this purpose through observation of the natural world and the bible. Humanity was given the ability to reason and the freedom to choose what is right (that which fulfils God’s purpose for them) Natural Law is the rational understanding and following of God’s final purpose.

Aquinas In his book, the Summa Theologica, Aquinas says there is a natural law which is: Accessible through the natural order Universal Unchanging For all time Relevant to all circumstances Given by God

Aquinas Everyone knows the natural law but only theists realise it affects life after death.

The Primary Purposes of Human Life The idea of natural law is that God gave us a purpose. Aquinas said our purpose as humans is to do the following: Live Reproduce Learn Worship God Order Society The first is the most obvious and is instinctive. Without this the others cannot be achieved.

Secondary Precepts These are rules which cause people to fulfil the primary purposes. There are two types: Everything which we logically need to do to live in accordance with the primary principles. Respect parents Do not murder These are absolute values (which maintain moral order) Things which reason alone cannot deduce from nature. Eg. Monogamy is good for social order but polygamy works in some societies.

Possible secondary precepts are; Do not kill No Capital Punishment Preservation of life Reproduction Order in Society Worship God Learning No Contraception Permit IVF and Surrogacy Do not steal Build more homes Hold school assemblies Set one day a week aside for worship -eg Sunday. Free education for children and university students Make schooling compulsory

Secondary Precepts For example, suicide might be considered wrong because it breaks the first precept of self-preservation. Another example: the modern Roman Catholic Church has prohibited contraception on the grounds that it breaks the precept of reproduction. Natural Moral Law is still in use in the world today.

Aquinas For something to be “good” it fulfils its purpose Natural Law gives man the opportunity to achieve this. Paul said: “Since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Aquinas conceded that we live in a fallen world and will break natural law but the aim of man is to try to accomplish it, despite the limitations.

Natural Law Natural Law is designed to make sense when applied to all humanity and so many of the rules we get from it are designed to suit the community. It can be good to take a personal risk to benefit society. Theft is wrong because it goes against the community Drunkenness is wrong because it deprives you of your reason. It is made known to people through supernatural revelation.

The 3 Norms The discriminating norm The binding or obligatory norm Human nature itself The binding or obligatory norm The divine authority of God which forces people to obey his rules The Manifesting norm Reason which determines the moral quality of actions tested by the discriminating norm.

Four conditions must be met… Double effect Double effect refers to situations where there is an intended outcome and another significant but unintentional outcome. According to Natural Law it is our intentions that are important, not the consequences of our actions. Double effect would not allow you to perform an action where an unintended outcome had devastating effects. Four conditions must be met… We do not wish the evil effects and make all reasonable efforts to avoid them The immediate effect in itself should be good The evil is not made a means to obtain the good The good effect should be as important, proportionately at least, as the evil effect. Can the students – working in pairs – come up with Double Effects under the following headings – Abortion, Euthanasia and Crime and Punishment.