Natural Law Theory (Lecture 3)

Question 1

What is the idea behind natural law theory?

Answer 1

-Idea that God created everything in the universe for a purpose

Question 2

What defines the correct action in natural law theory? Example?

Answer 2

To use the thing for its intended purpose
Fire: purpose is to keep you warm, not to burn things down, therefore using it to commit arson is wrong

Question 3

What are some ways we apply this theory today?

Answer 3

The argument of sex (only to conceive children, so any other sex is unethical, whether it be for pleasure or gay)
The argument with the environment (nature should not be exploited for human use because its PURPOSE is to sustain itself)

Question 4

What are some criticisms of Natural Law Theory? Example.

Answer 4

Confuses can with should
-ex: wood CAN be used for fire, but that doesn’t mean it SHOULD only be used for fire. Making paper isn’t unethical.
How do we determine what the purpose of a thing is? Who decides and why?

Question 5

What is a consequence of following Natural Law Theory?

Answer 5

We would never be ethically allowed to use anything for a new purpose, no advancement
Basically all of civilization is unethical
You cant always tell what the original purpose or something was

Question 6

What does natural law theory say about change?

Answer 6

It doesn’t account for the fact that change could be good, not necessarily bad or unethical