Natural Law

Natural Law

1. Aristotle

   • 'The natural' doesn't depend on grading in society or birth.
   • 'The natural ' is something which is everywhere
   • It is valid everywhere to everyone at all times
   • You don't need to be intellectual to understand or receive 'the natural'
   • It is forever and eternal
   • 'The natural' does not change with age or time and it's like your soul is always with her.

2. Aquinas

   • Believed that the final cause (what it's for) is what God intended it to do.
   • The efficient cause is God - who brought the world into existence
   • Did not see this as a threat to Christianity
   • Linked the Stoics idea of Universal Natural Law to Aristotle's view that people have a purpose and function
     • Stoics
       • Believed that the universe has a basic design and purpose which within it the human morality should work in harmony with
   • Real/Apparent Good
     • Aquinas believed that everyone has the sense of Natural Law within themselves, which inclines them towards perfection

3. Five Precepts

   • Preservation of Life
   • Educating the Young
   • Living in a Society
   • Worshipping God
   • Reproduction
   • To concentrate on NL you have to have a civilised society which is free to survive and flourish and these precepts are essential
   • Secondary Precepts
     • Preservation of Life - Do not commit suicide and do not switch off life-support machines
     • Educating the Young - Education is free and make schooling compulsory
     • Living in a Society - Build more homes and encourage community activities
     • Worshipping God - Set one day aside for a week for worship and hold school assemblies
     • Reproduction - Permit IVF and surrogacy whilst contraception is wrong

4. 4 Laws

   • Bible
   • Church
   • You
   • Precepts