Aristotle says that we use our reason, which is given to us by the God of Classical Theism according to the Old Testament, to look at nature. This act is known as Synderesis. Once we have done this, we are told that we should apply the laws of nature to how we live our lives. Putting Synderesis to use is known as Conscencia.
The reason that Natural Law cannot be defied is because it can be backed up by Empirical evidence. Where as Plato believed you use logic to understand, known as A Priori, Aristotle followed the idea of A Posteriori; using physical information to decide how to live.
When looking at nature, Aristotle discovered that as well as following the laws, all living things and objects of this world go from Potentiality to Actuality. By reaching its Actuality, the object or creature would become Good, as it has reached its goal, or Telos. For example, a piece of wood has the Potentiality to become a Table. When it becomes a Table, it has reached Actuality, fulfilling its Telos and therefore it is Good.
As well as Aristotle, Sophocles and Cicero being main figures in believing and developing the theory of Natural Law, the man who make a massive impact on the theory was St. Thomas Aquinas.
When Aristotle’s theories reached the Western World, many people disapproved theories such as Causation and Natural Law, because it revolved around the idea of there being a Prime Mover instead of the God of Classical Theism, and therefore seemed as if Aristotle was trying to rival faith with reason.
When Aquinas saw these, however, he used Aristotle’s theories for his research, and came to the conclusion that the Prime Mover could be seen as God. By doing this, Aquinas was able to merge the theory of Natural Law Christianity; mainly, the Roman Catholic Church.
He combined Aristotle’s works with Christianity by stating that the God of Classical Theism created certain laws, such as the Ten Commandments, which can be found in the Old Testament. Where as some people questioned these, as well as the existence of God, everyone believed the laws of nature were absolute. Aquinas presented the argument that God created nature, and the laws of nature are the same as the laws created by God. This, therefore, illustrates the existence of a God of Classical Theism, as well as showing how both faith and reason could combine to present how humans should behave.
Just like Aristotle, Aquinas believed that humans were guided towards perfection (known in the Christian teachings as the God of Classical Theism), and that this is explained as an Apparent Good; something which is morally wrong and doesn’t fit the standards desired by God, but is sought indirectly. “A fornicator seeks a pleasure which involves him in moral guilt”.
When carrying out Conscencia, by following the laws of nature, Aquinas believed that both the act and purpose should be analysed. To be drawn towards doing Good for the wrong reasons is still considered as wrong, as good should be done through good will. For example, helping somebody with the shopping should be done as an act of kindness rather than a way to gain.
The main Telos nature attempted to follow was Survival. This would make such acts as killing Bad. Aristotle believed Precepts. Survival is one of five Primary Precepts, along with Educate, Reproduce, Ordered Society and Worship, and these are Absolute, and cannot be broken.
Rules that derive from these Precepts would be do not kill, obey the rules of the society etc. These are known as Secondary Precepts. These are more flexible, as they are Relativist. Even though killing could be seen as breaking the Primary Precept of survival, and the Secondary Precept of no killing, if it was killing to save a group of people, it would be helping more people to survive, so the killing would have been acceptable in the circumstances.
As well as the Primary and Secondary Precepts, Aquinas and Aristotle both believed there were certain virtues people ought to follow. These were known as Cardinal Virtues. Aristotle believed in Prudence; not being excessive, Temperance; doing enough, but not too much, Fortitude; ability to cope, and Justice; fair treatment.
Aquinas also taught these in his works, but he also believed there to be three additional virtues; Faith (in God), Hope (for the next life) and Charity; love for others. These are used in the Roman Catholic Church as Catechisms, or teachings.
With this, he believed the laws of God could be categorised into four groups, each dependant on the one above; Eternal Law is the order in God’s thought process, and therefore creates the structure of the universe, Divine Law, which is delivered to worshippers through God, his teachings and the teachings of the Church, Natural Law, which uses our senses and conscience to determine right and wrong, and Human Law, which helps keep order in the societies of the World.
As shown, Natural Law depends on both Divine Law and Eternal Law. Empirical evidence for this is in the teachings of the Old Testament, stating that there is no greater than God, and he created nature and the laws that it abides by. The hierarchy of Laws is also shown in Sophocles’ play, in which Human Law is broken, as Natural Law has greater power over it.
