Chapter 10: Natural Law Ethics

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jeremiah 31:33).

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (Romans, 2: 14-15).

Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it (Summa Theologica, I, I:8).

How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Natural law ethics is a deontological moral theory that posits the existence of universal moral principles inherent in nature or human reason. It holds that there are objective, universal moral truths that apply to all people, regardless of culture or time period. These moral truths are believed to be discoverable through human reason and observation of nature, including human nature. Many natural law theorists, especially in Western traditions, associate these principles with divine creation or God’s will. The theory often emphasizes what is considered “natural” for humans, using this as a basis for determining right and wrong. Natural law ethics often includes the idea that actions should be judged based on their ends or purposes. This theory has significantly influenced Western philosophy, law, and religion, particularly Catholic moral theology. Important figures in natural law ethics include Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and John Locke.