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NML is
An ethical theory based on
a sense of duty / rules or
obligations
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NML is
The view that there are universal
moral norms which apply in
all situations and at all times to all
people; the view that certain
actions are always good or evil,
regardless of the context or
situation in which the act is
performed.
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Aristotle
ancient Greek
Philosopher,
(384-322 BC)
(he was also the tutor to
Alexander the Great!)
There are Natural Moral Laws because:
Everything has
a purpose
The natural world
has a design
Fulfilling that design is
the greatest good or ‘superior aim’.
Thomas Aquinas
(1225-1274)
Medieval Theologian
Catholic Priest
Claimed people could find a
rational basis for Christian
morality using ‘Natural Law’
Therefore people could discover
what is morally good without the
use of the Bible, Church, divine
Revelation etc…
Aquinas’s claims
There are FOUR types of law present in the
universe:
1) Eternal Law (Laws present in
the universe)
2) Divine Law (Laws created by
God e.g. the Bible)
3) Human Law (Laws created by
societies)
4) Natural Law (Laws we see in
the church, the Church
attempts to apply)
• God had established the world and
had established an order and
pattern which reflects His will.
• Everything was created for a purpose.
Human reason, reflecting on that
purpose, can judge how to act.
• An act does not depend upon its
consequences for its moral
justification
(an act can be considered ‘morally
good’ even if it leads to suffering!)
• NML can be used by anyone (even if they
are not religious) because it is based on
REASON not REVELATION.
Humans are tempted by the
(that which can seem to be good or
pleasurable in a personal way but
does not always achieve anything
good)
to ignore the
(That which is based upon God’s will and restores
the right relationship with Him. This requires REASON)
Original sin was the result
of Adam and Eve being
tempted away from the
real good (God’s instructions)
to follow that which
seemed to be apparently
good (eating the fruit of the
tree of knowledge – disobeying
God).
Humans need
to apply
Natural Moral
Law to moral
dilemmas to
see if they are
acceptable or
not.
An act which is SEEN must also have a good motive.
For example, helping an
old lady across the road
is a good exterior act. If
it is done to show off, it
is bad. If the motive is
to genuinely help, out of
love or concern, it is a
good INTERIOR act.
Is an action taken
for the right reason?
For example, a doctor
who performs an
abortion to save a
woman’s life (good)
also takes away the life
of the foetus (Bad). BUT
the intention of the
doctor’s actions is to
SAVE life.
Aquinas used Aristotle’s four cardinal
virtues Practising these is a way to live a life that flourishes. Life would be happy and
.
the person would be closer to happiness.
The three ‘revealed’ virtues – based upon St.
Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians.
(rules of life according to Aquinas)
Worship God
Order society
Reproduce
Learn
Defend the weak
What would NML say about….
ABORTION
CONTRACEPTION
SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
Cohabitation
HOMOSEXUAL SEX
DIVORCE
MARRIAGE
FERTILITY TREATMENT
SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE
Do these moral dilemmas
conflict with the 5 Primary
Precepts?
• Does the dilemma contradict any of the PRIMARY
PRECEPTS? (Remember W.O.R.L.D!)
• Apply
(these are arguments for or against a dilemma based on the Primary Precepts and REASON. E.g. is
something being done for the right reason; how does a
moral question back up or go against the Primary Precepts)
This decides whether a moral
dilemma is right or wrong.
Attractions of NML
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It provides CLEAR ANSWERS to an
ethical dilemma (It tells it as it is)
It is POSITIVE in what it
promotes (e.g. it promotes
life, religion, defending the
weak etc)
It is based upon a belief in God
(which appeals to religious
people)
It provides a standard set of principles for all to live
up to.
It uses REASON and HUMAN EXPERIENCE
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Not everybody believes in God
It is UNCOMPROMISING
It does NOT attempt to provide happiness
in all cases
It assumes that
everybody has the same
moral values.
It has too many rules
It does not allow for other
ethical theories to be
followed