Natural Moral Law

Natural Moral Law

1. Aristotle

   • Distinctive nature of human beings is an ability to rationalise
     • Thus human nature can reach their end purpose through reason

2. Aquinas

   • God created the world ex nihilo
     • ex nihilo - from nothing
     • Inherent design can be led to through human reason
   • Essentialist Foundation
     • Essence of humanity is prior to existence, within the Divine Mind
       • Imago dei (ideal plan for humanity) was in God's mind prior to creation
         • Thus Natural Law is objective, foundational and God-Given
           • Exterior acts are good for perception. Interior acts are instrinsicly good in intent
           • Efficient causes bring about Good. Final cause is the final purpose
             • Final cause of sex is children Efficient causes is sexual attraction and intercourse
         • Primary Precepts
           • Worship of God
             • Ordered Society
               • Reproduction
                 • Learning
                   • Defect the innocent
                 • Homosexuality, masturbation, contraceptives go against our Natural Primary Precepts and thus are Secondary Precepts
   • Sin is falling short of God's plan, through misuse of free will
     • Natural Cardinal Virtues
       • Prudence - Caution
       • Temperance - measured lifestyle
       • Fortitude - Strength of character
       • Justice
       • The revealed virtues through Biblical texts and religious experience

3. Cicero

   • "True law is right reason in Agreement with Nature"

4. CRITICISMS

   • Casuistic Problems as NML rules out homosexuality which does not lead to procreation, but rules out adultery which can lead to procreation
   • Homosexuality is in accordance with nature - over 500 species of animal engage in homosexual behaviour
   • Peter Vardy
     • What is the purpose of a mouth? For eating or kissing or both?
     • The need to make assumptions is implicit in Aquinas' entire approach
       • Rests on assumptions
         • There is a purpose
           • People believe in purposelessness - Nihilism
         • God exists
           • Theism vs Atheism
         • There is uniform human reason
           • People's disagreements on the existence of God is proof that human reasoning is not uniform
           • Human beings do not have a uniform nature and moral law may vary over time
   • Kai Neilson
     • From the perspective of science, there is no essential human nature
       • Anthropologists observe Eskimo killings of family members least likely to survive
   • Kevin Kelly
     • Christian ethicist
       • Christian ethics is focused on good acts and the dignity of a human person
     • Morality should be based off human as 'author and director or actions' rather than the concept that acts have values in themselves
   • James Rachels
     • NML is based off a certain world view. The world of Darwin, Newton and Galileo has no room for 'truths' about right or wrong