1. Criticisms of Natural Law

2. 1. God did not create the world for a purpose. Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins. Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins. Universe is ‘absurd’ or ‘gratuitous’. Universe is ‘absurd’ or ‘gratuitous’. Universe is a ‘brute fact’. Universe is a ‘brute fact’. No design or purpose. No design or purpose.

3. 2. How do we know what is natural? The natural outworking of physical laws? Death is natural, so should we work to delay it?

4. 3. Natural v. culturally acceptable Subordination of women and slavery used to be viewed as ‘natural’. Subordination of women and slavery used to be viewed as ‘natural’. Is homosexuality Is homosexuality unnatural? unnatural?

5. 4. Natural Law obscures basic moral differences. Kai Nielsen Anthropological research suggests that some primary precepts are not in fact universal. Challenges idea of universal moral law.

6. 5.Vardy and Grosch challenge Aquinas’ view of sex Aquinas stated that every discharge of semen should be creative. Aquinas stated that every discharge of semen should be creative. However, sex could be justified in other ways, e.g. its benefits to a couple’s relationship. However, sex could be justified in other ways, e.g. its benefits to a couple’s relationship.

7. 6. Its rules can go against common sense. E.g. human teeth include incisors and canines. Does this mean we should all be omnivorous? Are vegetarians acting immorally? E.g. human teeth include incisors and canines. Does this mean we should all be omnivorous? Are vegetarians acting immorally? Should infertile couples have sex if there is no chance of conception? Should infertile couples have sex if there is no chance of conception?

8. 7. Does humanity have a shared purpose? Natural Law says we should all aim to have children. Does this make nuns and monks immoral? Natural Law says we should all aim to have children. Does this make nuns and monks immoral? Aquinas’ answer, that a few can choose this kind of lifestyle, seems inconsistent. Aquinas’ answer, that a few can choose this kind of lifestyle, seems inconsistent.

9. 8. The Bible does not always reflect a common human purpose. God can have different plans and purposes for individuals, e.g. Mary, prophets like Jeremiah. God can have different plans and purposes for individuals, e.g. Mary, prophets like Jeremiah. There might be different purposes for different people. There might be different purposes for different people. Aquinas: use emotional maturity – but this introduces an element of subjectivity. Aquinas: use emotional maturity – but this introduces an element of subjectivity.

10. 9. What happens when different purposes contradict each other? As well as reproduction, we have other purposes, e.g. to love God, learn, contribute to society etc. As well as reproduction, we have other purposes, e.g. to love God, learn, contribute to society etc. What happens when these conflict? What happens when these conflict? E.g. ‘Turn the other cheek’ versus self- preservation. E.g. ‘Turn the other cheek’ versus self- preservation.

11. 10. Are people actually motivated by reason? Was Aquinas too optimistic in his view of human nature and reason? Was Aquinas too optimistic in his view of human nature and reason? Are all of us as reasonable as Aquinas? Are all of us as reasonable as Aquinas? Don’t people sometimes knowingly choose the wrong thing to do? Don’t people sometimes knowingly choose the wrong thing to do?

12. 11. Criticism from Darwin’s evolutionary theory Living things are motivated by the will to survive. Living things are motivated by the will to survive. Natural selection. Natural selection. Humanity exists through chance, not the will of God. Humanity exists through chance, not the will of God. Humans = fundamentally self- interested. Humans = fundamentally self- interested.

13. 12. There is not enough attention paid to the Fall. Because of the Fall, we are fundamentally flawed. Because of the Fall, we are fundamentally flawed. We need the Bible and God’s revelation to know what is right. We need the Bible and God’s revelation to know what is right. Human reason is fallible. Human reason is fallible. Karl Barth. Karl Barth.

14. 13. The Naturalistic Fallacy G. E. Moore, Hume Not logically possible to look at facts and arrive at value judgements. ‘Ought’ cannot be derived from ‘is’. We cannot take our human nature and derive moral values from it.