Gavin Howe
Natural law and theology are two distinct but interconnected concepts. Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that asserts the existence of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles that can be discovered through reason. It is often associated with Aristotle and later developed by Thomas Aquinas, who defined it as the participation of the eternal law in the rational creature. Natural law theorists believe that morality is connected to what is good for something, and that understanding human nature is crucial for creating laws that promote human flourishing. On the other hand, natural theology is the study of the existence and attributes of God, based solely on empirical data from the natural world. While natural law can exist independently of theology, as demonstrated by non-religious natural law theorists, the two fields often intersect, especially when considering the role of divine revelation and the relationship between human nature and God's intentions.
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What You'll Learn
Natural law is a subset of natural theology
Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that asserts the existence of a set of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles. These laws are discoverable through reason and are believed to be independent of enacted laws or societal norms. Natural law theorists often incorporate several ends and values to detect the principles and rules of natural law. For example, John Finnis bases his interpretation of natural law on seven basic goods: life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, practical reasonableness, and religion.
Natural theology, on the other hand, is the study of the existence and attributes of God, based solely on data available in the natural world. It does not rely on any special revelations or sacred texts but instead focuses on what can be observed and understood about God through nature. Natural theology seeks to understand what can be said about God, either positively or negatively, by examining the natural world.
While natural law is a broader concept that encompasses various philosophical and legal theories, it is often associated with religious and theological ideas. Many natural law theorists believe that morality is connected to a higher power or divine source. This is where natural law intersects with natural theology. The acceptance of a divine source for natural law is not philosophically necessary, but it is theologically necessary. This is because the acceptance of natural law allows for the acceptance of a higher, revealed law of God, as seen in the concept of "lex naturalis" and "lex divina".
Additionally, figures like Thomas Aquinas have significantly influenced both natural law and natural theology. Aquinas, influenced by Aristotle's writings, developed ideas on how natural theology should be utilized in politics and ethics, contributing to his writings on natural law. He emphasized the interrelation of revelation and nature, stating that grace perfects nature rather than abolishing it. This idea of "divine revelation" is also present in the understanding of natural law, where some believe that divine law replaces human positive laws.
In conclusion, natural law and natural theology are distinct concepts, but they often intersect and influence each other. Natural law provides a framework for understanding inherent laws and moral principles, while natural theology focuses on understanding the existence and attributes of God through the natural world. The relationship between these two concepts has been explored and debated by various philosophers, theologians, and scholars throughout history.
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Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory
The theory of natural law is often associated with Aristotle, who is often referred to as the "Father of Natural Law". However, this association is mainly due to Thomas Aquinas's extensive use of Aristotle's writings to explain natural law. Aquinas, influenced by Albertus Magnus, developed ideas focused on how natural theology ought to be utilized in the fields of politics and ethics, which led to his writings on natural law. Aquinas emphasized the interrelation of revelation and nature, stating that "Grace [or revelation] does not abolish nature (non tollit naturam), but perfects it."
Natural law theorists often incorporate several ends and values to detect principles and rules of natural law. For example, John Finnis develops natural law based on seven basic goods: life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, practical reasonableness, and religion. These goods are believed to be self-evident. Other natural law theorists argue that morality is continuous with the study of human nature and other scientific enterprises, and that when we know what is good for human flourishing, rules or laws that promote flourishing become critical.
Natural law has been of particular interest to members of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Christian thought, the main rival to biblical law has often been variations of natural law theory. However, natural law is not limited to these religions, and it is not necessary to be religious to be a natural law advocate. Nevertheless, religious commitment can be helpful to the natural law thinker, as universal natural law morality is a condition for human flourishing.
Natural law has been criticized as being nothing more than a revived Stoic paganism, lacking credibility in a world without religious consensus. This criticism argues that natural law, for all its claims to neutrality, is dependent on a shared religious agreement, and without this consensus, people's interpretations of natural law become disparate or are abandoned.
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Natural theology is the study of God's existence and attributes
Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that asserts the existence of a set of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles. These laws are discoverable through reason and are independent of enacted laws or societal norms. Natural law theorists often incorporate several ends and values to detect the principles and rules of natural law. For instance, John Finnis develops natural law based on seven basic goods: life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, practical reasonableness, and religion.
Natural theology, on the other hand, is the study of God's existence and attributes, limited to data available in the natural world. It involves arguments about the attributes or non-attributes of a deity and especially the deity's existence, without referring to divine revelation. Natural theology is not limited to Christian theology; it has been explored by ancient Greeks such as Plato and by Islamic philosophers such as Ibn Sina. The ideals of natural theology can be traced back to the Old Testament and Greek philosophy, with early sources evident in Jeremiah and the Wisdom of Solomon (c. 50 BCE) and Plato's dialogue Timaeus (c. 360 BCE).
In natural theology, one asks what the word "God" means, whether names can be applied to God, whether God exists, and whether God knows the future choices of creatures, among other questions. The aim is to answer these questions without using claims drawn from sacred texts or divine revelation. Natural theology includes theology based on scientific discoveries, arguments for God's existence grounded in observed natural facts, and interpretations of natural phenomena or complexities as evidence of a divine plan or God's Will. For example, William Paley's 1802 work, "Natural Theology", makes a teleological argument for the existence of God, beginning with the watchmaker analogy.
While natural law is concerned with inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles, natural theology focuses specifically on the study of God's existence and attributes using reason and evidence from the natural world. Natural theology seeks to answer questions about God without relying on sacred texts or divine revelation, while natural law explores moral principles and the relationship between nature and human flourishing.
The relationship between natural law and natural theology is complex. Some view natural law as a subset of natural theology, as natural law is committed to theism to the extent that it acknowledges a designer or intention behind what a thing is. However, there are natural law theorists who argue that we do not need God to talk about morality or other normative claims about human nature. Religious commitment can be helpful for a natural law thinker, as universal natural law morality is seen as a necessary condition for human flourishing. Nevertheless, natural law does not require theology, and it is possible to be a non-religious natural law advocate.
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Natural law is committed to theism
Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that asserts the existence of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles that can be discovered through reason. It is a theory that is committed to theism, given its belief in a divine source and its association with theology.
The commitment to natural law satisfies an essential aspect of human nature, as described by Aristotle as "human political being", which is manifest in our need to live and discourse rationally with other humans in peaceful justice. It is theorised that God has imprinted human beings with his moral inclinations, and that humans have access to some knowledge of the moral law, even in a state of sin. This is supported by the Bible, which states that humans were created in the "image of God", denoting our need and capacity to be in a direct relationship with God.
The acceptance of the divine source of natural law is not philosophically necessary, but it is theologically necessary. The recognition of natural law allows for the acceptance of a higher, revealed law of God, which is referred to as "lex divina". This revealed law is considered to be above human positive laws, which are criticised as being relative and subject to individual preferences.
Natural law theorists often incorporate several ends and values to detect the principles and rules of natural law. For example, John Finnis develops natural law based on seven basic goods: life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, practical reasonableness, and religion.
While natural law is committed to theism, it does not require one to be religious to be a natural law advocate. It is an interreligious or interfaith enterprise, with universal applicability. However, religious commitment can be helpful to the natural law thinker, as universal natural law morality is considered a necessary condition for human flourishing.
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Natural law is an interreligious or interfaith enterprise
Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that asserts the existence of a set of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles, which are discoverable through reason. It is not an identifiable body of laws, but an abstraction. The concept was first developed by Stoic philosophers in the late classical Greek period, after Alexander the Great's death in 322 B.C. In the context of ethics, natural law theory posits that specific rights and moral values are inherent in human nature and can be universally understood, independent of enacted laws or societal norms.
Natural law theorists often turn to various ends and values to derive the principles and rules of natural law. For instance, John Finnis's interpretation of natural law is based on seven basic goods: life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, practical reasonableness, and religion. These goods are believed to be self-evident.
Natural law is considered an interreligious or interfaith enterprise, with adherents from various faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. While natural law is often associated with theology and religion, it is not exclusively tied to any particular faith. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent proponent of natural law, emphasized the interrelation of revelation and nature, which resonates in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim theology.
The acceptance of natural law provides a foundation for religious communities to accept a higher, revealed law of God. This relationship between revealed and natural law is a theological basis for religious natural law thinkers to advocate for natural law in intellectual discourse and political advocacy. However, some argue that natural law theory relies on a pre-existing religious consensus and that the loss of this consensus can render it ineffective.
In summary, natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that posits the existence of inherent laws and universal moral principles derived from nature. It is considered an interreligious or interfaith enterprise, with adherents from various faiths. While natural law often intersects with theology, it is not exclusively tied to any specific religion and can be approached from a philosophical standpoint.
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Frequently asked questions
Natural law is a philosophical and legal theory that posits the existence of a set of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles, which are discoverable through reason.
Natural theology is the study of the existence and attributes of God, limited to data available in the natural world.
Natural law is an ethical theory that connects morality with what is good for a thing, according to what that thing is. Natural theology, on the other hand, is concerned with understanding God's attributes and existence through the study of nature.
Natural law theorists often incorporate natural theology in their understanding of ends and values to derive principles and rules. Some consider natural law to be a subset of natural theology.
While religious commitment is not necessary for natural law thinking, it is helpful. Natural law satisfies the aspect of human nature that Aristotle called "human political being", but not our nature as "the image of God".
