THE ETHICAL

THEORY OF
NATURAL LAW
Natural Law Theory
refers to the general view that moral rules
and principles are objective and universal
truths that can be discovered in the nature of
things.
Natural law
Refers to the laws that are built into the
nature of life itself.

Reason means built in.

Natural Law Traditions:

to know what morality demands.

We need only to look to nature (human
nature) and ask what it requires.

Moral Law traditions :

moral law is accessible to human reason.
The stoic Interpretation of
the Natural Law
The belief that ethics or morality must be
grounded on nature is possibly the oldest in
the history of philosophical thought.

stoic- comes to be associated with a

particular attitude of serenity if not
indifference, on anything that arises in the
universe.
The stoic Interpretation of
the Natural Law

The Stoics equated nature with law and reason and taught
that what was important was to live a life according to
nature.
The Stoics conceived the whole of the universe as governed
by certain immutable laws that exhibit rationality.
The Aristotelian Influence
on Natural Law Thinking
Believes that everything that exists in nature
serves some particular and specific purpose.
It is clear that for Aristotle, to follow nature is
to follow reason. And to follow reason is the
way to be good.
Basic and Universal Natural
Human Inclinations
Self Preservation man has to preserve himself
in existence.
Propagation of our Species to unite sexually to
produce offspring for the continuance of the
next generation of the human race.
To Live in Peace and in Harmony with Other Men
just and fair dealings with others.
To Seek for Truth and Knowledge of the Good
to use his will and intellect to know the truth and
seek the good.
Natural Law and
Contraception
Articulated brilliantly by St. Thomas Aquinas
The concrete application of Natural Law
Theory is the Roman Catholic opposition to
contraception. It is argued that the
conception of a baby is the natural purpose of
the sexual act.
Anything that deliberately or willfully
frustrates the natural outcome (of the act)
must be viewed as ethically wrong.
 Any other form of sexual intercourse that
does not lead, or at least not open to the
possibility of conception like anal and oral
intercourse, masturbation, homosexuality
and the like are considered to be morally
wrong.
Specific Ethical Principles
Under Natural Law Theory
The Principle of Double
Effect
The action intended, in and of itself must be
good or at least morally indifferent or neutral
The evil effect must not be directly intended
but morally allowed only as a regrettable side
issue (side effect).
The evil effect must not be the means by
which the good effect is achieved.
The good effect must outweigh the evil effect
or at least proportional.
The Principle of the
Inviolability of Life
The principle of the inviolability of human life
springs from the religious belief that life, any
human life, is of infinite value as it is a sacred
and precious gift from the Almighty Creator.
Its worth outweighs everything in the world.
It can never be sacrificed by whatever means
or for whatever reasons.
The Principle of Forfeiture

There are real life cases wherein a persons

life is mortally threatened by the presence of
another who is an aggressor. Here, the person
who is in mortal danger is innocent (an
innocent person is one who has not willfully
threatened anyones life nor having any
intention to do harm to anyone in any way).
In a certain situation like this, the principle of
forfeiture can be invoked.
The Principle of Totality

A traditional element in biomedical

discussions, the principle of totality refers to
the view that a part (of the human body, that
is) exists for the good of the whole. This
particular bioethical principle is often invoked
when a particular part or organ of the human
body has to be cut off, mutilated, or
removed.
Logic & Ethics
 3.When there is a reasonable probability that
he revolt will be a success.

4.When the good to be achieved is well

proportionate or of the same weight to the
damage that would be inflicted.

5.The decision to wage a violent revolt

against the government should come from
the majority and not just from a few private
individuals.
-Critical Assessment of Natural Law Theory

Strengths of Natural Law Theory

1.Natural law theory affirms our basics belief in the infinite and
inherent worth and value of human life.
2.It give a purposive direction and coherent explanation to all
realities in the cosmos.
3.It offers a clear and comprehensive guideline as to what are the
things that we ought to do and not to do.
4.It grounds morality in human nature that is discoverable by reason.
5.It gives emphasis on the various human inclinations as something
good, and thus should be promoted and enhanced.
6.It grounds morality on certain universal human values such as the
value of life, truth, and goodness.
7.It coherently integrates the significant role of conscience in
knowing whats right and wrong.
8.It explains in a systematic manner why things (nature) are the
way they are and their implications to human moral action.
9.It provides a religious dimension to morality (a good
alternative to purely humanistic and secular ethical theories).
10.It categorically rejects relativism and subjectivism in our
search for a valid moral principle that will govern our action
and conduct.
11.It provides reasoned justification on why some things and
good or bad, right or wrong.
12.It offers a clear logical guidelines in complex situations such
as the principle of double effect, and the principle of forfeiture.
13.It gives a definite assessment as to the morality of certain
popular actions such as the use o f contraception and other
sex-related actions (homosexuality, masturbation, sexual
perversion, etc.)
14.It offers a more philosophical alternative to the Divine
Command Theory of ethics.
15.It is deeply consistent with our own intuition concerning the
objectivity of morality.
Criticisms Against Natural
Law Theory
While natural law theory has many appealing
characteristic, such as the belief in the
objectivity of moral values that is grounded in
the very nature and structure of our basic
humanity, as well as the very notion of
goodness as that which promotes human
realization, objections and criticism against it
are also advanced. Some of these problems
and objections are the following (See Barry
1985; Mackinnon 1998 & Timbreza 1993).
1.Can the way things are by nature provide
the basis for knowing how they ought to be?

2.If natural law is discoverable by human

reason, and since reason is true to all men,
then why Is it so difficult to know and be
certain what it is?

3.In what sense is the natural law a law?

4.The popular scientific theory of evolution

may also present a serious challenge to the
traditional natural law thinking.

5.Is human fixed?

6.Is human nature inherently good or bad?

7.What about the negative human

tendencies?

8.The idea of St. Thomas that human nature

originally comes from God as its author is
problematic.

9.What is natural for one may not be natural

for another.

10.Is conscience always right?

Case No.1: Is Cheating a Natural Thing?
Case No.2: Homosexuality
Case No.3: The mother or the Baby: Who
should be Saved?
Case No.4: Suicide or Euthanasia
Case No.5: Sex Drive and the Religious
Case No.6: What about the Hermit?
Case No.7: Is Sex Only for Reproduction?
Case No.8: Same Sex Marriage
THE END.