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ETHICS: THEME 2 - NATURAL LAW (AO1) - Coggle Diagram
ETHICS: THEME 2 - NATURAL LAW (AO1)
AQUINAS' FOUR LEVELS OF LAW
at the heart of nature is eternal law
no one knows eternal law entirely, can only be partially understood through reflection of other three laws
these laws are divine law, natural law and human law
eternal law
best understood to be reflected through physical laws of nature innate to god's creation, and cannot be violated
is god's created plan, directing all of creation to its final purpose
e.g. gravity, law of motion - reflection of god's eternal law
divine law
law given to humanity through god's revelation
mostly found in scripture, direct intervention of holy spirit
develops eternal law but doesn't conflict w/ it; god will not command anything logically impossible/ against god's nature
inerrant divine law
directs human actions in the means of what we should/ shouldn't do, but can't regulate our intentions/ innermost thoughts like divine law
has authority; never wrong + directs humans to god-given purpose existing outside of the natural world
to achieve eternal happiness in union w/ god after death
(beatific vision)
natural law
first principle/ starting point for figuring out what is good/ evil using
recta ratio (right reason)
all creatures have inherent purpose, but humanity is different - created with
imago dei (in the image of god)
so humans are free, rational, self-conscious beings
humans aren't free to choose what is good/ evil, as natural law still works in alignment with eternal law
humans are free to decide whether they direct themselves to their true purpose of stray from god
human law
made for civil communities
eternal law - unchangeable, doesn't speak for individual cases
human law - adapts to societal change
can be applied to individual cases, not inerrant
can conflict with eternal law - this is wrong
when human law is good: aligns with eternal law, discoverable through human reason