NATURAL LAW

What NATURAL and UNNATURAL means?

NATURAL- refer to some kind of intuition that a person 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.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274)
-a Dominican Friar of the Middle Ages.
-His work of Summa Thelogiae.
-He was canonized in 1323

3 Parts of the Context Christian Story

1. God
2. Dynamic of Human Life
3. Jesus as our Savior

The Context of Aquinas`s Ethics

In our pursuit of happiness, we direct our actions toward specific ends. We might
explore how emotions ´`the passions`` are involved in a process and therefore require a
proper order if they are to properly contribute to a good life. We might explore our
actions related to certain dispositions (Habits) and how we develop either good or bad
habits with good disposition leading toward moral choices and a bad disposition
inclining us toward making immoral 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. We need a basis for
our conscience to be properly informed, and we need a clearer guidepost on whether
certain decisions we make lead us toward virtue. There is a need for a clearer basis of
ethics, a ground that will more concretely direct our sense of what is right and wrong.
We can recall now the ethical approach called the divine command theory urges a
person toward unthinking obedience to religious precepts.
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. Material Cause - the material components or elements. possess certain
materiality or physical stuff.
2. Formal Cause – the idea, concept on felt need. The shape that makes a being a
particular kind.
3. Efficient Cause – the agent. there is something which brings about the presence
of another being.
4. Final Cause – the result or output.
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. This principle introduce
by Aristotle is POTENCY and ACT.

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
As rational beings, we have freewill. Through our capacity for reason we are able
to judge between possibilities and to choose to direct our actions in one way or
other. Our actions are directed toward attaining ends or goods that we desire.
We work on a project to complete it. We study in order to learn. These are goods
and we act in a certain way to pursue them, so goods are sometimes refer to as
the ends of actions.
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 not 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 in just any way. There would have some kind of measure to our acts.
We should recognize the proper measure or limits to our actions that allow 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.
Example:
Traffic Rules. A motorist cannot just drive in any way he likes, but must respect
the traffic rules. This rule places a limit on his driving by placing maximum speed
he can travel on a particular road.
-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. In an
ideal sense without considering the reality that sometimes rules are not properly
 thought or seem to favor select persons or groups rather than the common good.
We can speak of law as a form of restriction and direction of human action in
such way that the common good s promoted.

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.

Precepts of 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.