PHILO 10: ETHICS

MODULE 4

Natural Law

Overview

This module will help the students know the principles of Thomas Aquinas’ Ethics in the
context of the Christian perspective. The activities in this lecture will bring to the avenue to
identify the natural law in distinction from, but also in relation to, the other types of law: eternal
law, human law and divine law.

Lessons in this Module

Lesson 1: Thomas Aquinas Context of Natural Law
Lesson 2: The Greek Heritage
Lesson 3: The Essence and Varieties of Law

At the end of this module, you must be able to:

Recognize how Thomas Aquinas made use of Ancient Greek concepts in the view of
Philosophical approach
Provide a rational grounding to an ethical theory based on the Christian faith
Apply the precepts of the natural law to contemporary moral concerns
PHILO 10: ETHICS

Lesson 1: Thomas Aquinas

Intended Learning Outcomes

 Discuss the relation and differences of the eternal law, human law and divine law
 Identify the natural law in distinction from, but also in relation to, the other types of law
mentioned by Aquinas
 Evaluate Aquinas’s context of the Christian story and the context of Aquinas’s

Introduction:

WELCOME! You are now in the new chapter of Lesson1 of Module 4. This lecture will guide
and help us know and to understand the concept of Aquinas’ Natural Law.

Time Frame: 3 days

Activity

What do the words NATURAL and UNNATURAL mean? Discuss each term to identify the
nature of their distinction.

Natural Unnatural
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Analysis

Discuss the context of the Christian Story of Aquinas.

“This is characterized by our pursuit of happiness. which we should realize rests ultimately not
on any particular good thing that is created by God, but in the highest good which is God
Himself.”

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PHILO 10: ETHICS

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Abstract
PHILO 10: ETHICS
PHILO 10: ETHICS
PHILO 10: ETHICS
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Application
Discuss to support your faith and the stand of Aquinas.

The sense of “right” and “wrong” are innate to man, and we cannot escape this reality which
one should embrace and obey. However, Aquinas claim that these right and wrong must be
guided and grounded in an objective basis for morality. But how could be the “wrong” be
guided and objectively grounded morally, where in the “wrong” itself is objectively immoral.
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Congratulation!
You made it.
Be prepared for the next lesson.