Natural Law Theory Crash Course Philosophy #34

Ever feel like there's an unwritten rulebook of the universe? A cosmic "please" and "thank you"? Well, buckle up, because that might just be Natural Law Theory in action!

Imagine a world where right and wrong aren't just opinions. A world where morality is, like, baked into existence. That's the gist.

What in the Ancient World is Natural Law?

It all started way back when, with the big philosophical guns like Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas. These thinkers were staring at the stars, pondering the meaning of life, and probably arguing about who got the last olive.

They figured there was a natural order to things. Not just gravity and photosynthesis, but a moral compass guiding us towards... something good.

Think of a tiny seed. It’s naturally inclined to grow into a flower or a tree, right? Natural Law folks believe humans are the same! We are naturally inclined to be good.

The Aquinas Angle

St. Thomas Aquinas, bless his heart, took Aristotle's ideas and gave them a divine makeover. He believed that this natural law was basically God’s plan written into our hearts.

It's like having a built-in GPS for moral behavior, whispered by the heavens. The goal? To flourish, to live a good life, and maybe, just maybe, get into heaven.

So, according to Aquinas, stealing bread to feed your starving family? Probably okay. Why? Because preserving life is a fundamental good, and sometimes you gotta break a rule to follow a higher one.

But Wait, There's a Twist!

Now, here's where things get a bit spicy. Whose "natural" inclination are we talking about, anyway? What seems "natural" to one person might seem totally bonkers to another.

Think of cultural norms. Some societies thought slavery was perfectly natural. Yikes! That's where the debate gets heated and Natural Law’s biggest weakness reveals itself.

It becomes a slippery slope. What is truly universal and unchanging versus what is influenced by culture, bias, and outdated ideas?

Modern Day Musings

Natural Law Theory isn't just a dusty relic of philosophy class. It still pops up in legal debates, political discussions, and even ethical dilemmas.

Think about human rights. The idea that all humans have inherent dignity and rights? That's pretty Natural Law-ish. The theory provides justification for why these things must be protected.

Or consider environmental ethics. Some argue that we have a natural obligation to care for the planet because it's part of the natural order. Go green!

Natural Law: A Gut Feeling or Universal Truth?

So, is Natural Law a reliable guide, or just a fancy way of justifying our own biases? That's the million-dollar question. It certainly is food for thought!

Maybe it's a bit of both. Perhaps Natural Law is a starting point, a framework for ethical thinking. A friendly reminder to listen to that nagging voice inside us, the one that whispers, "Maybe don't kick puppies?"

Whether you agree with it or not, Natural Law Theory offers a fascinating peek into how humans have grappled with the age-old question of what it means to be good. And that's a quest worth pondering.