Natural Law Theory Essay - 6453 Words

According to Jenkins, â€Å"The natural law theory begins with theories about the nature and purpose of the world and moves on to ask about the purpose of every action or object. The right thing to do is that which fulfils the natural purpose.† Natural law was developed by Thomas Aquinas, in which he believed that there is such a thing as natural moral law. Natural law ethics depends on the belief that the world was designed by a creator, God. It teaches everything God made has a purpose, including every aspect of human life, and everything should work towards the purpose assigned to it. If we fulfil this purpose we do ‘good’, for example it is good to preserve life (â€Å"Do not kill†). If we frustrate the purpose for which something has been†¦show more content†¦Human nature is generally good and therefore if we do wrong it is because we are in pursuit of an apparent good, e.g. abortion, can seem like at a good thing at times. According to Vardy and Grosch, â€Å"Humans seek apparent good, but this is not true good; only apparent good because it does not conform to the perfection of human nature which all humans share.† A historical example would be that of Hitler and Stalin, who did not seek out evil but sought what they thought, was right. The theory of natural law states that you are only responsible for the immediate consequences of your actions – not for the secondary or unintended effects of your action. This adds flexibility to the theory of natural law in such areas as just war and etopic pregnancy. According to Thompson, â€Å"Natural law is based on nature as seen by human reason enlightened by Christian faith. In the light of Jesus’ teaching and belief in God, reason can decide, by looking at nature, what is right.† Natural law however has some faults. It depends on the belief that the world was designed by a creator. Aquinas assumes that all men must seek to worship God, atheists not taken into consideration. According to Thompson, â€Å"...if someone does not believe in God, then the natural law theory loses its foundation.† The theory also suggests that reproduction is one of God’s natural purposes of creating humankind, not considering those who are biologicallyShow MoreRelated Natural Law Theory Essay661 Words   |  3 Pages Natural Law Theory The natural law theory is a theory that dates back to the time of the Greeks and great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle. Defined as the law which states that human are inborn with certain laws preordained into them which let them determine what is right and what is wrong.(Bainton 174) This theory was them adapted by religious philosophers to fit the Christian religion.(Berkhof 114) This, however was not exactly the same as the original. The classical thinkers were the firstRead MoreThe s Natural Law Theory1219 Words   |  5 Pages The Aquina’s Natural Law Theory has five primary precepts: Reproduction, Life (living to the supreme good), education in adult life, worshiping God, and law and order (Natural Law Theory, 2010). With this being one theory that Christians live by, I think these five precepts would be very easy to automatically disagree with some, if not all of these scientific advancements. Such as birth control and homosexuality, but with the changes in society s view, so does the natural law. The Stoics believedRead MoreExplain the Theory of Natural Law1808 Words   |  8 PagesJanuary 2001 Explain the theory of Natural law (25 marks) The theory of natural law originates from Aristotle’s idea of goodness as fitness for purpose and stoic’s concept of a universal law of reason which is in agreement with nature. What we now call human nature. This point is then furthered by Aquinas who agrees with the argument but furthers it by linking it with his Christian belief by saying following this law is equivalent to following the command of God as human nature is in us inbuiltRead MoreExplain Natural Law Theory Essay1128 Words   |  5 PagesExplain Natural Law theory In this essay, I will discuss the theories behind Natural Law, as well as the qualities it is seen to possess. I will explain Aquinas’ concepts and theory on Natural Law, discussing eudaimonia and the doctrine of the double effect. Finally, I will reflect on some of the positive and negative aspects, in summarising Natural Law theory. It is important to highlight that Natural Laws differ from acts which occur naturally. There are many aspects to Natural Law, the firstRead MoreThe Natural Law Theory Essay examples1037 Words   |  5 Pagesby the natural law theory is the only true and moral way to live life; especially a life lived in God’s image. God’s presence is a guiding factor to obtaining a moral and virtuous life, which can only be obtained by following the natural law theory. God created a set of laws as a supreme guide for humans to live life, like any law these laws were created to ensure wellbeing for everyone. The laws he created are the civil law, the natural law and the divine law God created them from a law much superiorRead MoreThomas Hobbes Theory Of Natural Law1794 Words   |  8 Pagesis whether laws and rules created in society are moral and fair and how these can vary between human beings and traditions. Therefore the whole notion of Natural Law governing society has been re ached from different conclusions, which in turn sees Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory as opposing to St. Thomas Aquinas’ theory of natural law. Yet this does not change the fact that many Western democracies base their moral decision-making within Hobbes’ concept. (Kenney, 2005) The theory formulatedRead MoreNatural Law Theory, Positivism, And The Fugitive Slave Law2385 Words   |  10 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the spoken word, hundreds of philosophers have defined law in different ways. Philosophy allows people to study the nature of people’s beliefs which can differ over time. Not even the law is exempt from the opinions of philosophers. Seeing law in different ways allows people to come to different conclusions about legal cases. The Fugitive Slave Law was a controversial law in American history, which allowed slave-owners to capture their slaves who have fled north to free states. Once, jurorsRead MoreLegal Positivism Over Natural Law Theory982 Words   |  4 Pageslegal justification, legal positivists can still embrace the moral idea and not be in conflict with their generally held belief in the â€Å"strictly legal† concept of law. In Torben Spaak’s opinion, there is a reason to desire legal positivism; he explains this throu gh introducing the concept of jurisprudence. When discussing the nature of law, Spaak states, â€Å"that while the moral conception is what is likely favored on a smaller scale, the strictly legal conception is more appealing because it is broaderRead MoreExplain Finnis’ Natural Law Theory Essay757 Words   |  4 PagesExplain Finnis’ Natural Law Theory (30 marks) John Finnis, an Australian legal philosopher has tried to resurrect the natural law tradition in moral philosophy and law since the mid-1960s. He tries to offer a neo-Aquinian natural law philosophy which does not presuppose a divine being. By focusing attention on goods rather than a single Good, Finnis skilfully articulates what he calls a theory of moral action for our day. Or, in other words, he seeks a theory of how to live well. Finnis identifiesRead MoreLocke s Theory Of Equality And Natural Law2387 Words   |  10 PagesLocke’s theory of equality and natural law. What is equality? Equality is the state of being equal and the rights of status. Throughout the 1st and 2nd treatise of government Locke put emphasis on equality. Locke is a liberalist who believes that everyone should have equality in a governed society. The reason Locke feels that way is because in a society the people create the government. With the citizens doing this they give the government consent to g overn them by protecting them and their property