1. Natural Law AS Revision

2. Aims To review the Natural Law theory To evaluate its claims
To apply Natural Law to the issue of sexual ethics

3. A quick quiz! Define the following key terms: Absolutist Deontological
Potentiality
Actuality

4. A quick quiz! What are the five primary precepts of Natural Law?
How do we figure out the secondary precepts?
What are Aristotle’s four causes?
What does Aquinas say about purpose?

5. A quick quiz! According to Aquinas, what is the supreme good?
What is the difference between an apparent good and a real good?
What is the Principle of Double Effect?
What are Aquinas’ four levels of law?

6. The universe is controlled by laws of nature
These Laws work in harmony in a rational structure
The laws of nature express purpose (e.g. ears fulfil the purpose of hearing)
The laws of nature also express values (e.g. ears that can hear are ‘good’; ears that cannot hear are ‘bad’)
The laws of nature are rational so we can understand them using our reason
So morality is independent of religion – by listening to reason both the believer and the non-believer can find out how to live a moral life

7. Natural Law

8. Natural Law
‘Good’ and ‘bad’ follow a natural law, like the law of gravity
This means that some things are naturally good – like preserving life – and some things are naturally bad – like killing the defenceless
These things remain good or bad despite what anyone may think

9. Discussion topics
Could something be wrong even if the majority of people think it is ok?
Do all people, by nature, want to be good?
Do all things in the universe have a purpose, or do some things appear to be meaningless?
Is what is natural always good?

10. Evaluation
Strengths
Weaknesses

11. Strengths Absolutist – clear, straightforward
Reasonable – primary precepts
Fair – the same rules apply to everyone
Combines faith and reason
Links goodness with purpose - when we fulfil our natural purposes we do good
Intentions and actions are valued

12. Strengths Doesn’t make moral decisions based on consequences
Bases moral decisions on reason, not emotions
The secondary precepts introduce an element of flexibility – they make Aquinas’ theory more realistic and practical

13. Weaknesses
Makes no sense if we do not agree that everything in the natural world has a purpose
Difficult to relate the basic principles to complicated practical problems
Depends on defining what is good – but this is a naturalistic fallacy

14. Weaknesses
Darwinism teaches that the there are no rational laws governing nature – there is no specific purpose, only blind evolution
Cultural relativism challenges the idea of common moral laws
Natural Law relies too much on the power and intrinsic goodness of human reason

16. Discussion
The biological purpose of sex is procreation, but it may have secondary purposes such as giving pleasure or showing love
Does sex always have to be open to the possibility of procreation?
How far should secondary purposes also be considered?

17. Example question
Critically assess the view that Natural Law is of no use when discussing sexual ethics (35 marks)
AO marks
AO marks

18. What are the main ideas in Natural Law?

19. What are the main issues in sexual ethics?

20. Why might Natural Law be of no use in discussing sexual ethics?

21. Why might Natural Law actually be useful in discussing sexual ethics?

22. Example question – booklets p.39
Candidates might explain the main teachings of Natural Law: purpose, potentiality and actuality, primary and secondary precepts
They might explain the deontological nature of Natural Law and its origins in Aristotle
They may consider Natural Law as a basis for Roman Catholic teaching
They could explain the nature of sexual ethics e.g. sex and procreation, sex with marriage and extra martial sex, homosexuality etc.

23. Example question – booklets p.39
Candidates should apply Natural Law to sexual ethics and could use examples to explain why Natural Law may not be the best approach because e.g. Natural Law can seem inflexible and out of date
On the other hand candidates could also argue that Natural Law is a useful approach to sexual ethics as it is universal and God-given, with some flexibility in the secondary precepts

24. Example question – booklets p.39
Better answers may consider that non-procreative sexual acts can be seen as natural for human beings, that we may not share a common nature and that there may be a variety of forms of sexual expression
Good answers may consider the approach of Natural Law that sexual acts may be wrong, even if natural, if they are against right reason e.g. rape and incest

25. Homework – booklets, p.39
Critically assess the view that Natural Law is of no use when discussing sexual ethics (35 marks)