Chapter II NATURA

L
The Natural
LAW

Law:
St. Thomas Aquinas
Group 2
Lee Charriz Cabangisan
Janeth Cabangon
Sophia Loureen Caborubias
Catherine Camarino
At the end of this chapter, you should be Learning
able to:
Outcomes

reco gniz e the meaning o f natural

1
law and its relation to ethics;
explain how natural law is an
2 imprint of the Divine Will on the
free person;
appreciate and articulate the role
3 of natural law in crafting an
ethical life; and
4 discuss conscience and how this is
defined by natural law.
 Introduction
Albert Camus' 1942 book, The Myth of Sisyphus,
prompted Rina Jimenez-David to question why she
wouldn't kill herself today. Camus' experiences during
two world wars highlight the bitterness of his time and
the importance of living sincerity, moderation, and
justice despite life's meaninglessness.
 Part I: The Academic Ethical Traditions

An Italian Catholic priest who belongs to the religious

Order of Preachers or Dominicans, St. Thomas
Aquinas was born in 1225. The title Aquinas identifies
his place of origin, Aquino which belonged originally
to the kingdom of Naples and about 120 km. south of
Rome. He was born to an affluent and influential
family; his father was recognized as the count of
Aquino.
CHAPTER II: The Natural Law ST. Thomas Aquinas

Our present age is not impervious to such

attacks of absurdity, frustration, and
near desperation. History, however, is
gracefully replete with people who have
exerted effort in pointing out a viable way
out of such darkness and confusion.
 Conscience and Natural Law

The ability of man to know is important in his/her

acting ethically. Hence, if one follows St. Thomas'
discussion on conscience, one is inclined to
conclude that "it is the proper functioning of
reason in moving the human person towards an
end goal that is fitting of his/her dignity."
ETSI DEUS
NON
daretur
 ETSI DEUS NON
ETSI DEUS NON DARETUR
DAqAuiRnaEsTpeUrsRpective presupposes
1 the existence of a God who is the
author (source) and the goal
(end) of all reality.For Thomas,
this creator related in freedom
with the human person and so
enables him/her in freedom to
recognize through reason, the
very principle of foundation of
all things.
2 ETSI DEUS NON DARETUR
The human being th e m is s a id to be g ifte d
with "the ability to kn o w th e hig he st g o od "
that en ga ge s h im /he r in fr e ed o m in
"choosing to act on th e go o d th at h e/s he
ought to do". Fr e ed o m h er e is k no w in g th e
best goal and bein g a b le to re a ch f o r it
through decisive action.
 ETSI DEUS NON
DARETUR
3
Human freedom for St.
God reveals his Goodwill Thomas, is an imprint of
as the Eternal Law the divine will in the very
reflected in the order of being of the human
reality. Relating the law person. This sharing of
as governing all is human reason in the
relating with God himself eternal will or divine law
whose will emanates to
govern all that is. is for him/her the natural
law.
ETSI DEUS NON DARETUR
- is an expression that highlights the validity of this ethical
system with or without faith in the creator God.
- Etsi ddeus non daretur means "even if there is no God"
-The deposit of knowledge or "divine wisdom" that comes to us
as "natural law" is valid in itself and is, therefore, the
reasonable code of conduct even for a man is good will who
maybe without faith.
 Three Contempo rary
Questions
Thomistic Natural Law: Man's participation in the execution of
the good and avoidance of evil through the use of his/her
reason and will.

Key Questions:

Who am I?
Who do I want to be?
How can I get there?
 WHO AM I?
Identity Inquiry:
Thomistic Natural Law explores human identity.
Self-knowledge reveals strengths and weaknesses.
Doing good shapes, while doing bad malforms.

Ethical Task:
All human acts are moral acts.
Ethics primarily concerns human identity.
The ethical person is defined by free acts.
 WHO DO I WANT TO BE?
Dynamic Self-Knowledge:
Self-knowledge adapts toward self-determination.
Ethical acts guide self-building.

Freedom and Goal-Setting:

Decisions shape freedom.
Transition from current self to desired self.
Freedom to build toward a specific goal.
 HOW CAN I GET THERE?
Reason and Evaluation:
Human reason discerns options and daily realities.
Decisions form the basis of freedom.
Evaluate the truthful transition to the desired self.

Self-Governance and Action:

Sound judgment bridges self-knowledge and self-
determination.
Command consistent actions.
Orchestrating actions leads to self-improvement.
 Application Example Goal:
Graduating with Competence Self-Assessment:
Identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Decision-Making:
Choose tasks aligned with the goal.
Active Participation:
Professors, lectures, exams—all contribute.
Self-Design and Cooperation:
Actively shape the path toward the goal.
 The relational &
and perfection of
love in aquinas
Thomistic ethic s is inc o m pl et e if it do es n o t en d
with the love th a t is di re c te d to w a rd s G o d.
Thomistic natura l la w is n o t C hr isti a n . It is a
disciplined system th a t fin ds u ltim a te fo un da tio n
and pe rfec tion in th e re a lity o f G o d.
through etsi Deus n on da re tu r, w e a re aff o rd ed
the autonomy of a re a so n a ble et hi c s in de pe nde nt
from faith ult ima te ly th is et hi c s is g iv en fu ll
meaning and perf ec tio n in a re la tio n sh ip w ith Go d.
 n in the ethi cal o rd er a lso a llow s
The independence that is give
u larity to be himse lf/herse lf, as the
the human person in partic
singular subject that he/she is.

g is n ot m erely a sta nd- in fo r th e

In this sense, the human bein
ro bo t w ho lea rn s the dire ctio n fr o m
Creator God. One is not a
s it to on esel f to fu nct ion a s a to ol
everything else and applie
for Deus ex m a china, or th e Go d of th e m ach ine.
 Divine Will an d a lso the en tirety o f a ll c rea tio n
cannot be limited by th e sc o pe of sati sfa c tio n
tha t is exclusive ly cho se n b y m a n
One cannot, g iven o ne's lim its, be the fu lfillm en t
of everything.
clusive of "the desire to be everything?"
Is not his/her goal setting in

One m a y ha ve th e lon g in g , ev en th e
potentia l, to b e w ha t he /she wa n ts to be,
stretching it so fa r a s em b rac ing th rou gh
his/her desire all that is.
Who evokes this thirst in the human person?

The desire that has to com e from so mew he re or

someone else who aw akens this in him/her.
He/She is not de sig n ed to fi nd pe rf ec ti o n o n
his/her own but th o ro u g hly rela te s w it h o th er
hu ma n pers on s a nd a ll of c re a tio n .
He/She is no t de sig n ed to b e a Ph a ri se e w ho is
perfect unto him se lf/h er se lf. H e/ Sh e is o pe n to be
in all and to exist for all.
One's goal, theref o re , is n o t o n ly to b e th e "s elf- m ade
man/woman" but, in hi s/ he r fu ll ef fo rt , "b e ope n a nd
available for ev er y th in g else " a n d "b e o pe n fo r the
love or fu llnes s th a t is bey o n d hi m /h er ."
Ultimately, as held by St . Th o m a s hi m se lf , th e tr u e
destiny of m an lies in a g ra tu ito u s pe rfec tio n
that is beyond th e hu m a n pe rso n y et re la te s w ith
him/her thoroughly in free do m a n d, th er ef ore , in
fullness of love.
It may be called spiritu a l, bea tific , o r he ave n ly
but in the expanse o f wha t is de si re d a n d w ha t is
reasonably att a in a ble by the hu m a n pe rs o n

The highest perf ec tion o f m an for St. Thomas is

in his/her wa n tin g to be with Go d.
"The ethical man is n o t the pe rf ec t m a n
but one who w a n ts to be s a ve d by
cooperatin g in fre ed om with w ha t is
attainable for him/her."
conclusion
Thomas Aquinas was influential in his articulation of the theory of natural
law.
He showed us that the universe was determined by an order of love that
ought to define the sense of the good of human beings.
Many philosophers up to this day build upon this idea of a natural order
upon which is founded a natural law.
However, as Western civilization evolved, other theories also evolved which
insisted that the foundation of norms for the good should be rooted in
human reason alone.
In this school of thought, Immanuel Kant would be one of the most
important thinkers.