TO WHAT EXTENT IS NATURAL LAW A HELPFUL METHOD FOR DECISION MAKING?

P1 HUMAN NATURE/TELOS POINT/ANALYSIS

Based on the idea that there’s a natural order to the world - first developed by Aristotle. In Summa Theologica, Everything was made to reflect the imago dei - purpose is to reflect his perfection as much as possible, reflected fully in heaven. Humans apart of this created order - how we’re meant to behave. Given a ‘natural’ good, behave in accordance with divine law.

P1 HUMAN NATURE/TELOS STRENGTHS

Purpose to reality, follow order = satisfied/fulfilled even if we cannot reach eudamonia yet. Biological fact that certain behaviours cause an organism to flourish
Jeremiah 29:13 - “Plans/purposes that God has made for humans.”

P1 HUMAN NATURE/TELOS WEAKNESS

Physicist Sean Carroll says telos isn’t built into the architecture of the universe, presupposes a good designer who has the best interest for creations at heart. Epicurean hypothesis - no intelligent survivor, plausible theory.

P1 HUMAN NATURE/TELOS EVALUATION

Natural law upholds a need for faith and religion incorporated within the decision. It is not accessible for all - Dawkin’s analogy “what is the colour of jealousy?” - inductive argument.
Thus the fact that all we need to do is ‘behave naturally’ as we are given God-given reasoning (ratio), not inherently reliable