NATURAL LAW

Ocober 2016 Pantaleon Alvarez speaker of house representative amend the family code
legalization of same sex unions.
What NATURAL and UNNATURAL means?
NATURAL- refer to some kind of intuition that a prson has, one which is so apparently
true to him that it is unquestioned.
-an appeal to something instinctual without it being directed by reason
-refer to what seems common to them given by environment.
Example: a man might claim that it is okay for him to have more than one sexual partner
since in a pride of lion alpa male gets to mate with all she lions.
- A man may deem it all right if he urinates just anywhere because all he sees is
natural function of human.
THOMAS AQUINAS- vision the Christian faith
The 3 Parts of the Context of the Christian Story
1. God
2. Dynamic of human life
3. Human Life and its striving toward God
The Context of Aquinas`s Ethics
-our pursuit of happiness
-explore how emotions ´`the passions`` are involved in a process
-explore our actions related to certain dispositions (Habits) and how we develop either
good or bad habits with good disposition leading toward moral choices.
Christian Life is about developing capacities given to us by God into a disposition of
virtue inclined toward good.
Conscience
For Aquinas there is a sense of right and wrong that we are obliged to obey. However, it
adds the sense of right and wrong must be informed and guided.
THE GREEK HERITAGE
Neoplatonic Good
1. THE IDEA OF THE GOOD- the source of all beings good which is prior to all being
and is even the cause of all being

2. THE GOOD AND THE ONE

Aristotelian BEING and BECOMING

4 CAUSES
1. Cause
2. The Form
3. The primary source of the change
4. The sense of end
BEING is not the case of something which is already permanently set as it is and remains
unchanging but Aristotle explain to us the PROCESS of BECOMING or the POSSIBILITY
OF CHANGE THAT TAKES PLACE IN A BEING.
SYNTHESIS
Aquinas idea ´`GOD IS THAT WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS AND IS ESSENTIALLY
GOOD``- we recognize that all beings are only possible as participating in the first being
which is GOD HIMSELF; Gods act, like an emanation of light and creation of beings.
- God is that all beings come as the FIRST efficient CAUSE, which all beings seek
to return, it is possible for us to speak of him as FINAL CAUSE.
- Creation is the activity of the outpouring or overflowing of Gods goodness.
- Aquinas said ´` Only God in the fullness of his being and goodness is perfect, all
other beings are participating in this goodness, and are good to that extent but are
imperfect since they are limited in their participation``..--- means God did not
create us to simply be imperfect and to stay that way as he leaves us alone. Instead
God in his infinite wisdom, directs us how we arrive at our perfection.
- God communicates to each being his perfection and goodness. Every creature
then strives to its own perfection thus divine goodness is the end of all actions. All
things from god created by Him in order to return in him. - means beings is not
accidental how beings emerge into existence or Each being is created by a
substance as particular combination of Form and Matter. It means that being is a
unique creation of God.
THE ESSENCE AND VARIETIES OF LAW
1. ESSENCE
There are many possible desirable ends and goods, and we act in such ways as
to pursue them. However just because we think that a certain end is good and is
therefore desirable does not necessarily mean it is indeed good. This is why it is
important for REASON to always be part of the process. Acts are rightly directed
toward their ends by reason. But this does nt mean that through reason we can
figure out how to pursue something that we already had thoughtlessly supposed
to be good for us. What is necessary is to think carefully WHAT REALLY IS IN
FACT GOOD FOR US.
-Aquinas remind us ``We cannot simply act in pursuit of our own ends or good
without any regard for other peoples end or good. We are not isolated beings, but
beings who belong to a community as well as our own good. This is called
COMMON GOOD.
-COMMON GOOD have many variables to consider such as COMMUNITY we are
thinking of. we must consider not just our own good but also of others, we cannot
act injust any way. There would have some kind of measure to our acts. We should
recognize the proper measure or limits to our actions that alow us to direct our acts
in such way we can pursue ends, both our own and also the others, together. This
proper measure of our acts referred to as LAW:
-LAW concerned with the common good. In the way making of a law belongs either
to the whole people or to a public person who has care for the common good or
concerned for the good of the community.
- PROMULGATION  it is necessary for rules or law to be communicated to the
people involved in order to enforce them and to better ensure compliance.

2. VARIETIES
Eternal Law- the assertion that the divine wisdom that directs each being towards
proper end. Refers to what God wills for creation, how each participant in it is
intended to return to him.
Human Law refers to all instances wherein human beings construct and enforce
laws in their communities.
NATURAL LAW
1. IN COMMON WITH OTHER BEINGS
-desire to preserve one’s own being.

2. IN COMMON WITH OTHER ANIMALS

-Engage in the sexual act and to reproduce exists.

3. UNIQUELY HUMAN
-To good according to the nature of our reason. To know the truth about God and to live
in society.