Explain how natural law can be used to decide the right moral action

Explain how natural law can be used to decide the right moral action

Natural law is a law based upon the observations of natural occurrences. While moral action is the actions you chose to perform because they agree with your sense of right and wrong. In the way Natural law is presented to the majority of people is as a step by step guide to living a “good” life, in the eyes of god.

The original concept of Natural law was thought of by Aristotle and was then adapted by Thomas Aquinas to fit the teachings and views of the Roman Catholic Church. Who was concerned with moral law of how human beings should behave .It is understood by reflecting on human nature and by rationally working what will lead to fulfilling your purpose. According to natural law “good” can only be achieved when the subject has fulfilled its end purpose, the end purpose of human beings is to be rational and achieve Eudemonia. Eudemonia is human flourishing, when they achieve happiness. Aquinas also believed natural law was in everyone, so everyone is good. Human’s unconsciously aim for perfection, to avoid evil and aim for god. Because we are made in god’s image, we are unable to knowingly go for evil. As Animals and humans share desires and wishes it’s only the ability to be rational that separates the human beings from the beasts. Aquinas also believed that the only way to discover divine design in nature, would be through human reason. The divine design was created to the essence/the idea before its actual existence. So the only way reason discovers what is right, is by interpreting nature.

Aquinas believed he had discovered, through his observation of nature, the correct path you had to take if you were to fulfil your purpose. To help others to follow this path he created 5 rules called the “5 Primary Principles” and if you followed them you where ensured a “good” life, this was called following the synderesis rule. The 1ST primary principle is to live, the 2nd primary principle is to learn, the 3rd to reproduce, the 4th to live in an ordered society and the final 5th one is to worship god. Through the 5 Primary Principles which a things you “must” do, where born the secondary principle’s. Which are things you shouldn’t do. So for to live the secondary principle would be don’t kill and don’t commit suicide. The secondary principle for learn would be study the bible, learn from mistakes. The 3rd secondary principle from reproduction would be don’t abort, don’t use contraception. The 4th would be obey the rules and respect elders. The final secondary principle from worship god would be don’t be an atheist and respect creation. There are also the 4 cardinal virtues which are prudes, Temperance, fortitude and justice, As well as the 3 theological virtues. Faith, Hope and Chasity. By following the 4 cardinal virtues and 3 theological virtues it helps you become a good person and help develop people into good people. Although natural law is seen as a natural law is an absolute but it does have the potential to change, as secondary principles are slightly relativist. This is because human condition can change so the secondary precepts can change.

Aquinas believed that god was the author of nature and that reason comes from humanity therefore natural law should take property, it’s the reason that allows us to understand natural law. “In matters of actions it is most shameful to act against things as determined by nature.”- Aquinas Because of the way the primary principles are worded some people might interpret it as meaning that Homosexuality and Marital contraception is seen as worse than Rape, Incest and Adultery. Because by having Homosexual sex you can’t reproduce and they don’t condole using contraception while although most well minded people would say Rape, Incest and adultery is very wrong according to the primary principles it still follows the principle to reproduce while Homosexuality and Marital contraception doesn’t so they could be seen as worse.

Although according to natural law we are supposed to use our reason to discover what the good course of action is, it can be difficult at times to decide which of the actions is best. However to disguise between the real and apparent good is by using your reason. Some people follow “apparent” good which is where they think they are doing “good” but they are actually committing evil .e.g Hitler thought the world would be a better place without the Jews. How “good” the act is can depend on the thought process behind the act, this is called the interior and exterior act, the exterior act is the action themselves e.g. giving money to charity. While the interior act is the reason you do it e.g. it looks good. The only way act is a good act is when you have a good interior and exterior act, if you have a good exterior but a bad interior the action is considered bad because you justification behind the action is not considered good.

Natural law appeals to people as it’s very compassionate and it also means people can’t just justify their actions. By following natural law it makes it easier for people to use it to keep things in order. However because of the nature of their beliefs there are no grey area’s which can mean people feel picked on as though the result is not the appropriate considering the reason behind the action. The understanding of human purpose is also very limited as there is only single purpose for all of humanity.

In the Roman Catholic Church natural law is used to decide the right moral action, however this isn’t the view I would take. Although Natural law has many strengths, that fact on the whole there is no Leigh way for the situation behind the action. Which to me is important in making moral decisions, as every action is unique in the story and the idea behind it. As I believe the interior act is more important then the exterior and in my mind. If the interior is good in my view that makes the whole action good regardless of the exterior. However this is not the view of natural law.