NATURAL LAW

AND
ETHICS
Understanding the Foundation of Moral
Philosophy
ARISTOTLE

“Something is good as
long as it fulfill its
purpose”
 WHAT IS
MEANT BY
NATURAL
LAW?
Tommaso d’Aquino
(1225 – 7 March 1274)

• Summa Theologiae (Summa Theologica)

“ Summa” means Summary
“ Theologica” means Theology
“SUMMARY OF THEOLOGY”

• It was Aristotle who first developed this approach

to ethics but in seeking to combine Aristotle's
thought with the Catholic Churches teachings.
• Thomas Aquinas built on his thought and
developed a system of ethics known as Natural
Law. The Catholic Church to this day bases much
of its teachings, beliefs and practices on Aquinas'
natural law theory.
 NATURAL LAW
• Natural law is a theory of ethics that says that human beings
possess intrinsic values that govern our reasoning and
behavior.
• Certain right or values are inherent by virtue of human nature
and can be universally understood through the use of human
reasoning.
NATURAL LAW
• Is the rational understanding and following
God’s purpose
• “nothing else than the rational creature's
participation in the eternal law” is the human
being’s attempt to grasp, through the use of
reason, God’s purpose for his creation. Because
human beings are rational, then we are able to
apprehend this universal reason
Eternal Law is thethat governs
law that sets out theall
things. purpose of all things (final cause) and is
issued by the Supreme Being who is the
creator of all - God (Efficient Cause).
NATURAL LAW
• "Natural Law is the rational understanding and
following of God's final purpose.“
• God created everything for a purpose.
• Humans were created with the ability to reason
and can therefore choose to follow an intended
purpose.
"good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided”
• MATERIAL CAUSE- the matter that composes something.
• FORMAL CAUSE- the planning or function of something

• EFFICIENT CAUSE – the agent the brings

something about.
• FINAL CAUSE – the final aim or purpose
of something.

A bad action is one in which the natural

cause of purpose is not achieved.
WHY?
AQUINAS 5 PURPOSE
 PRIMARY PRECEPTS

Aquinas' 5 purposes of life (WORLD) make up the primary

precepts. They identify the good acts within a humans life and
our God-given purpose. This reflects on our Telos (final
purpose):
• God created us
• God gave us reason
• We use our reason to find our purpose
• Our purpose is to get back to God!
 SECONDARY PRECEPTS

Unlike primary, these are not always right. Their rules provide flexibility in extreme
situations and can be broken.
For each of the 5 primary precepts, the secondary precepts gives rules involving
what should or shouldn't be done.
Examples:
• Worship God: Go to church, Pray, Do not worship false idols.
• Ordered society: Do not steal, Respect others.
• Reproduce: Homosexuality is wrong, have children only within marriage.
• Learn: Right to education. Use your talents.
• Defend life: Stop abortion, Stop Euthanasia.
How do we know
if we already
fulfill our final
PURPOSE?
FIVE TRUTHS
1. The Human Being has, by virtue of his soul, the
rational principle.
2. The inclination of practical wisdom is inclined towards
the good.
3. The human being possessing practical wisdom is
inclined, for his/her purpose, towards the good.
4. This final end of the human being is happiness.
5. To do good is to be happy.
7 Basic Goods
1. life
2. Reproduce
3. Educate one’s offspring
4. Seek Good
5. Live in society
6. Avoid offense
7. Shun Ignorance
 From Purposiveness to
Intelligent Being:
If we concede that rationality allows us human beings to
understand the principle of causality [the purpose of things and
their functions] that governs our reason and the world…

Then, we also realize that this principle implies an order to

existence.
Core Principles of Natural Law
● Universality: The core principles of natural law are
believed to be universally applicable to all human beings,
regardless of their cultural background, religion, or
nationality.
● Reason as the Basis: Natural law is discovered through
reason, which allows us to understand the inherent good
and bad in our actions and the natural order.
● Objective Morality: Natural law posits that there is an
objective standard of right and wrong, independent of
individual opinions or desires.
Relationship Between Natural
Law and
● Moral Ethics
Framework: Natural law provides a moral
framework that helps individuals and societies develop
their own ethical codes.
● Guidance for Human Behavior: By understanding the
principles of natural law, individuals can make informed
decisions about their actions and strive to live a morally
good life.
● Role in Ethical Decision Making: Natural law can
serve as a starting point for ethical reasoning and can
help individuals weigh different options and consider the
potential consequences of their actions.
 Apparent good
versus Ideal / Real
good
God makes human beings with a certain ideal nature and this nature enables
human beings to use their reason and their experience to understand what is
right.

• Real good – A characteristic that will help people to become closer to the
ideal human nature that God had planned for them.
ex: one could develop that virtue of ‘charity’ and helping others by
being a sociable person (without chemically altering one’s
personality).
• Apparent good – A vice versa or sin that takes people away from the ideal
human nature that God had planned for them.
ex: if someone needs to take drugs or alcohol in order to become
more sociable and to develop the virtue of ‘charity’, then this is wrong.
Interior acts' versus 'exterior
acts'

Aquinas also distinguished between 'interior acts'

and 'exterior acts'. An act may be good in itself but
done for a wrong intention - for instance giving
to charity may be good in itself but if it is done
in order to attract praise and attention. When it
has been done from a bad intention.
John Paul II, in Veritatis Splendor
“The moral law has its origin in God and
always finds its source in him: at the same
time, by virtue of natural reason, which
derives from divine wisdom, it is a properly
human law. whereby we understand what
must be done and what must be avoided.
God gave this light and this law to man at
creation"
Natural Physical Law or Laws of Nature
- is a participation of the universal reason in a
deterministic way. This governs all non-rational
beings in the world. [e.g., the scientific laws]

Natural Moral Law

- is a participation of the universal reason that is
not deterministic but free. This governs all
rational beings in the world.
What ought I
do?
CONCLUSION
 General Moral Principle:
“Do Good, avoid evil.”
Follow reason in understanding the
natural inclination of things and
actions.

Avoid acting against the natural

inclination of things and action.
 • The meaning of virtues
CARDINAL VIRTUES is the 'excellence' of a
character's personal
qualities.
• These are important
There are 4 virtues: to fulfill a humans true
• Prudence: the ability to think nature and to avoid
before you act (wisdom) sin!
• Justice: balance the thinking
of yourself and others
(faimess)
• Fortitude: Determination not
to give up (courage)
• Temperance: resisting
temptation (self control)
REVEALED VIRTUES The three revealed
virtues involve faith,
hope and charity.
They can only be
received if infused by
• Faith: To follow and divine grace.
believe in God
• Hope: That there is life
after death with God.
• Charity: To be selfless
and to think of others.
 CONCLUSION

• St. Thomas further explains to us that following this reason, in similar vein as the
early Stoics, is to follow the natural flow of things. This natural flow of things, what St.
Thomas calls as Natural Law, is actually the use of reason in understanding the
intention and will of God for his creation.

• This is natural because all human beings possess reason, and therefore is capable
of knowing God’s will for all of us.

• If we follow properly this reason common to all human beings, then we are following
the will of God for us. We are participating in the Divine plan, the Eternal Law.
THANK
YOU !