Investigation of Natural Moral Law

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Investigation of Natural Moral Law

The roots natural law can be found in the ancient Greek and Roman

world. In this essay Thomas Aquinas and moral law theory will be

highlighted.

St Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), was an important Christian philosopher

and theologian who’s ethical theory is absolutist and deontological,

which means that it is focused on the ethicacy of actions. In his

work, summa theologica, Aquinas described natural law as a moral code

existing within the purpose of nature, created by God: ‘Law is nothing

else than an ordinary of reason for the common good promulgated by the

one who is in charge of the community’

Primary and secondary precepts

Whether or not an act leads towards God depends upon whether the

action fits the purpose that humans were made for. We have seen that

the main purposes and these are called primary precepts. Acts that

accord with the main human purpose are good. Acts not in accordance

with human purpose are bad. Secondary precepts are rulings about

things that we should or shouldn’t do because they uphold, or fail to

uphold the primary precept.

This natural law exists to assist humans to direct their actions in

such a way that they may reach their eternal destiny with God.

Reason and human purpose

The eternal law of divine reason is perceived through revelation. A

moral life is lived according to and in accordance with reason and an

immoral life is a life lived according to the odd with the reason.

Reason determines that the ultimate purpose and destiny of human life

is fellowship with God. Humans naturally tended towards this destiny

and should live according to their...

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...will consider how useful the application of natural moral

law can be to Justice. Justice is establishing a society in which

equality of liberty/freedom is promoted and provided. Hovner and

Westacott (2000) say that ‘any society I would like to live in must

prize individual freedom, but not to the exclusion of social

responsibility or of justice. Justice is fairness, equal opportunity

for all’. Justice is most associated with social democracy.

Justice has a notion of equality-

I) Fundamental equality- there are to be no special privileges and all

people are to be treated as equal.

II) Social equality-

III) Equal treatment for equals- People that are equal should be

treated equally

IV) Treat equals equally and unequally- some may need special help or

punishment. Equality does not necessarily imply sameness.

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