Natural Law

If a law exists in nature then it is valid everywhere

Stoicism

The stoics taught that the world is ordered by a universal law

Human beings have the use of reason and can use this to
understand nature and adapt their attitudes and behaviour to
conform to it. Emotion, the opposite of evil does not allow this
evil to have emotion was to be diseased

Aristotle
Wood burns in Greece and wood also burns in Persia

Based on the observation of nature he decided there are

permanent, objective natural laws which govern what will burn
or sink. Thus he believed there are similar laws that govern
what is right or wrong
Humans are best governed by these natural laws and if
followed would lead to a fulfilled natural life
Assumed all our actions are aimed at some end or good, and
there is one ultimate aim.
Happiness (eudemonia) is this ultimate and highest good,
therefore this was our telos

Aquinas
To follow natural law we must first work out the purpose of human
life. For Aristotle it was eudemonia, for Aquinas it was primary
precepts:
o
o
o
o
o

To
To
To
To
To

live
learn
reproduce
live in a fair and ordered society
honour and worship God

From these absolute deontological moral laws called secondary

precepts can be made

Primary = universally true without expectation and selfevident

Secondary = Vary dependent on laws of the land & codes of
conduct within family

Used efficient and final causes from Aristotle to formulate natural

law argument:
Primary precepts = final
Secondary precepts = efficient

Reason

Reason played a key role in the development of natural law.

God was the source of natural law and was routed in the
human mind. God created use for perfection and imago dei
and our purpose was to reflect this image perfectly

Reason was capable of leading us to this goal. First of the 3 to

see God as personal creator. Saw telos eternal rather than
temporal.

Perfection couldnt be discovered by natural law alone. Appealed to

eternal law and divine law.

Eternal law = God governs the universe and we can only

partially understand
Divine law = The Bible guides us in reaching our goal of
perfection. For Aristotle this was only possible after death

Reason was capable of guiding us towards virtue and away from

vice. 4 human qualities that reflect moral life:
o
o
o
o

Prudence
Temperance
Fortitude
Justice

Stoics agreed, Aristotle said these 4 were needed in order to

achieve telos.
Vices kept us from achieving our final cause
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Pride
Greed
Lust
Envy
Gluttony
Anger
Sloth

Based on Aristotles reason and purpose. Not based from God.

Contrast to the 3 in New Testament.

However natural laws can be broken, and so can reason. It can

sometimes be in error
Our desires (Genesis 3) lead us away from the image of God.
However using reason to decide if these desires are good
should be used.