natural moral law overview

AQUINAS’ NATURAL MORAL LAW

 

General

Teleological in its creation but turned deontological through the Catholic Church’s process of manualism.

Overview of theory basis:

God created the world with a sense of order and purpose. Human reason can determine how to act to fulfil that purpose. It is based on reason so universal and accessible to all. 

1.     God is immutable and thus consistent

2.     God is absolutely good and creation reflects this

3.     God’s nature is reflected in the laws of nature that regulate the world

4.     Everything has a final cause

a.     Humans final cause on earth = eudaimonia

b.     Humans ultimate telos = beatific vision

Division of Law

ETERNAL LAW

God’s blueprint for the natural and moral order of creation

DIVINE LAW

Special revelation disclosed in scripture, gives knowledge of truths not discoverable by reason but dependent on God’s grace

NATURAL MORAL LAW

Eternal law reflected in nature and interpreted by reason [not dependent on belief in God or special revelation]

HUMAN LAW

The laws of human societies based on natural law [can be fallible]

Primary precepts

Synderesis rule = humans naturally pursue good and avoid evil

Primary precepts are the fundamental goods that are always, absolutely true and that all humans are disposed to.

Obeying the primary precepts leads to eudaimonia. IPEWS

1.     Preserve innocent life

2.     Procreate

3.     Educate children

4.     Worship God

5.     Live in an ordered society

Secondary precepts

The application of the primary precepts to specific circumstances to determine the final purpose of an act. E.g speed limits

-      Whatever facilitates humanity’s telos of each primary precept is right and whatever hinders it is wrong 

o   E.g contraception is wrong because it hinders the primary precept of procreation which…