Ethics 3

The Natural Law Ethics Theory
(Divine Law)
Natural law is a philosophical theory that states that
humans have certain rights, moral values, and
responsibilities that are inherent in human nature.
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Natural law theory is based on the idea that natural laws

are universal concepts and are not based on any culture
or customs.
• The origin of natural law at its very basis is
God’s intention to put order in the world
through the moral law which was made
known to man. This moral law is the natural
law.
• The natural law provides us an internal

guide that we can follow so that decisions are
based on that which is desirable and good.
• Timbreza (2007) claims, that “there exists a natural moral
law which is manifested by the natural light of human
reason, demanding the preservation of the natural order and
forbidding its violation.”
• St. Thomas Aquinas, as cited by Timbreza (2007) explains
that the source of moral law is reason itself. Reason directs
individuals toward the good as the goal of our action.
• Reason recognizes the basic principle of “Do good, avoid

evil.” The idea is synthesized in what he calls “SYNDERESIS
or the capacity of each individual to desire what is good.”
Guide for Understanding the
Natural Law
• To understand it, we have to look into two
elements:
1. the purpose and
2.the essence.
Criticisms on the Natural Law
• Ambiguities of the concept of natural law.
• Positives argue that whether something is law or not,
cannot be determined by referring as to whether its
moral, fair or just.
• People may have different views on what is moral and

just fair.
Kant's Ethics or Ethical Theory
• Kant’s ethics are organized around the notion of a
“categorical imperative,” which is a universal ethical
principle stating that one should always respect the
humanity in others, and that one should only act in
accordance with rules that could hold for everyone.
• The question of how we ought to behave.

The good involves the principle
of universalizability. Kant
argues that there are Four
formulations of this principle.
1. Formula of the law of nature.
2.Formula of the end in itself.
3. The formula of autonomy.
4. Formula of the Kingdom of Ends.
Distinction between a Perfect Duty and
an Imperfect Duty Perfect Duty. It is
the duty which we are obliged to do all
the time.
Some Kantian Ethical Principles
1. In the medical context for Kant, it is always wrong to lie. It says that
medical investigators should not lie to their patients.
2. People should be treated as ends and not as means.
3. That we have also a duty to treat ourselves as ends and to preserve
our dignity and worth as human beings.
4. That an action is right insofar as it satisfies the categorical

imperative.
5. The distinction between perfect and imperfect duties suggests that
some rights should be recognized.
1. Kant’s principles have no clear way of resolving cases of conflicting
duties. Example, it is one’s duty to always tell the truth. What if telling
the truth to a patient about the real health status will shorten his or her
life.
2. Categorical imperatives fail to establish duties in cases involving
maxims that cannot be willed to become a universal law for subjective
reason.
3. The problem related to the notion that we have a duty to treat others
as rational beings or persons. In bioethics, it is the question of whether

to consider a seriously deformed fetus a rational being or not
(Timbreza, 2007).
Utilitarianism
• is considered the most important of the
consequentialist theories.
• Consequentialism is a theory that says whether
something is good or bad depends on its outcomes.
• As a consequentialist model, utilitarianism determines

moral valuation according to the consequence of the
act.
• John Stuart Mill formulated the Principle of Utility. It
claims to be the only moral principle expressed as:
“actions are good insofar as they tend to promote
happiness, bad as they tend to produce unhappiness.”
When individuals are deciding what to do for

themselves alone, they consider only their own utility.

Ethics 3

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Ethics 3

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The Natural Law Ethics Theory

Natural law theory is based on the idea that natural laws

• The natural law provides us an internal

• Reason recognizes the basic principle of “Do good, avoid

• People may have different views on what is moral and

• The question of how we ought to behave.

4. That an action is right insofar as it satisfies the categorical

as rational beings or persons. In bioethics, it is the question of whether

• As a consequentialist model, utilitarianism determines

When individuals are deciding what to do for

themselves alone, they consider only their own utility.

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