Natural Law Essay Plan

A Questions (25 Marks)

Explain the strengths of Natural Law theory. January 2010

• Introduce the theory
  • Aristotle wrote in Nichomachean Ethics that the Natural is 'that which everywhere is equally valid'
  • Cicero 'True law is right reason in agreement with nature'
  • Stoics emphasised the importance of Logos, or rationality, that governs the world and said that Natural Law is a law of right reason
  • St Paul wrote in his letters to the Romans about a law 'written in the hearts' of the Gentiles
• St Thomas Aquinas developed the theory of Natural Law and its primary and secondary precepts. 
  • He said 'Good is to be done and pursued and evil is to be avoided. All the other precepts of the law of nature are based on this.'
  • The theory he developed was absolutist and deontological, concerned with the intrinsic goodness or badness of actions and not with their consequences. It applied to everyone, everywhere at all times.
    • This gives reason to be moral and absolute about everything - therefore no exceptions can be made and there is a sense of justice.
      
    • It enables people to establish common rules to structure societies.
      
    • Natural Law provides justification and support for core ideas that are popular in modern times, such as human rights and equality
      
    • His first primary precept was 'Self Preservation and Preservation of the Innocent' and the other four primary precepts aim to ensure this goal
    • They are
      • Educate Children
      • Worship God
      • Live in Society
      • Continuation of the Species through Reproduction
  • By following these precepts, humans direct their actions towards reaching their eternal destiny with God. 
    • A considerable proportion of the human population still believes in God, which makes Natural Law something many can relate to in its…