Group 2

• Natural Law theory proposes that reason serves as the foundation for moral principles, guiding individuals toward what is considered morally good.
• Natural Law


  • "It is universally accepted that killing someone is wrong. But punishing someone for killing is right."
• St. Thomas Aquinas


  Medieval Roman Catholic scholar who reconciled the political philosophy of Aristotle with Christian faith. He produced a comprehensive synthesis of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy that influenced Roman Catholic doctrine.
• Natural inclination of human person

  • Self preservation
  • Just dealing with others
  • Propagation
• Greek Heritage in Ethics


  Ethics plays a crucial role in our lives and society, guiding our actions and shaping our moral framework. The roots of Western ethical thought can be traced back to ancient Greece, where philosophers laid the groundwork for enduring ethical principles.
• Socrates


  • Employed the Socratic method, engaging in questioning and dialogue to explore ethical inquiries
  • Central to his philosophy was the idea that "An unexamined life is not worth living," emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and moral inquiry
  • Proposed that virtue is knowledge, suggesting that understanding morality leads to virtuous behavior
• Plato


  • Presented his theory of the tripartite soul, dividing the psyche into the appetitive, spirited, and rational components
  • The allegory of the cave served as a metaphor for ethical enlightenment, highlighting the journey from ignorance to knowledge
  • Concept of philosopher-kings and the ideal state explored governance guided by philosophical wisdom
• Aristotle


  • Defined eudaimonia, or happiness/flourishing, as the ultimate human good, achievable through virtuous living
  • Virtue ethics emphasized the cultivation of moral virtues as a means to achieve eudaimonia
  • The golden mean concept advocated for finding a balance between excess and deficiency in ethical virtues
  • Highlighted the importance of friendship in fostering social bonds and ethical character
• Essence of Law


  • As rational beings, men have free will, through our capacity for reason, we are able to judge between possibilities and to choose to direct our actions in one way or the other
  • Our actions are directed toward attaining ends or goods that we desire
  • We act in pursuit of our own end or good with regard for other people's ends or good
  • Since we are not an isolated being, that is we belong in a community, we consider what is good for the community as well as our own good. This is called the Common Good
  • The determination of the proper measure of our acts can be related to as law
  • A law is considered with the common good
  • A law is necessary to be communication to the people involved in order to enforce them and better ensure compliance. This is referred to as promulgation
• Eternal Law is the Divine Wisdom of God which oversees the common good and governs everything
• Natural Law is a philosophical theory that states that humans have certain rights, moral values, and responsibilities that are inherent in human nature.
• Human Law refers to instance wherein human beings construct and enforce laws in their communities.