The Natural Law Approach to Morality

“To disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to condemning the command of God.” St. Thomas Aquinas

The Natural Law Approach to Morality “True law is right reason in agreement with nature. It is applied universally and is unchanging and everlasting…there will be no different laws in Rome and in Athens, or different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is God…” Cicero De Re Republica

The Natural Law Approach to Morality “So when gentiles, not having the Law, still through their own innate sense behave as the Law commands, then, even though they have no Law, they are a law for themselves.” St. Paul Romans 2:14

The Natural Law Approach to Morality Natural Law is often associated with St. Thomas Aquinas ( ) Aquinas had been very influenced by the Christian tradition – he was a priest. He was also influenced greatly by the writings of Aristotle. Europeans had rediscovered Aristotle from Muslim scholars during the crusades.

The Natural Law Approach to Morality Aquinas believed that humans were naturally inclined towards a moral code – this is what he meant by Natural Law. He also believed that God had given further specific instructions (in the Bible, in the person of Jesus and in the Church’s teaching) that went not against, but further than Natural Law and developed it.

The Natural Law Approach to Morality Unlike atheist or agnostic Natural Law philosophers Aquinas believed that human beings were immortal. The purpose of human existence for Aquinas does not just lie within this life.

The Natural Law Approach to Morality Aquinas argued that the first priority in Natural Law is to preserve the self not just for this life but for life beyond the grave. He believed that it was possible to argue for the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice by reason alone. In other words they made sense even if you don’t believe in God. These four virtues had been identified by Aristotle. They are built upon by theological virtues of faith’ hope, and love which allow the believer to follow Natural Law with greater obedience.

The Natural Law Approach to Morality The starting point for all advocates of Natural Law is to try and establish the purpose of human life. For Aquinas, this included… Living life itself Reproduction Having an ordered society Worshipping God

The Natural Law Approach to Morality Aquinas did not believe that human nature was all bad. For him it was imperfect but quite a good guide about the way things should be. He believed that all human societies were made up of people who shared a common nature. Tommy, the big TA, believed that from studying human nature you can work out what Natural Law is and what the goal of human life is.