Objective Norm of Morality: Law. 1. Why is it important to have laws? Can you live without them? 2. Enumerate some house rules and school policies and.

Objective Norm of Objective Norm of Morality: LawMorality: Law

1. Why is it important to have laws? Can you live without them?

2. Enumerate some house rules and school policies and regulations.What is your attitude towards these laws?

3. Can you break laws, rules and regulations without any harmful consequences? Why?

4. As a Christian what laws of God do you obey or try to live with? Have you been successful in doing so?

Law is an ordinance of reason for the Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good promulgated by the common good promulgated by the person who takes charge of the person who takes charge of the community.community.

-St. Thomas Aquinas-St. Thomas Aquinas

Ordinance of reasonOrdinance of reason suggests that suggests that the means of the law must be based the means of the law must be based on the insight of reason into value. on the insight of reason into value.

A law must be reasonable because it A law must be reasonable because it serves as a guide to promote what is serves as a guide to promote what is right. right.

Each law has a purpose; it is not a Each law has a purpose; it is not a caprice or a whim.caprice or a whim.

The The common goodcommon good implies that the implies that the goal of the law must be for the goal of the law must be for the common good of the community on common good of the community on which it is imposed. which it is imposed.

A law helps not only in the improving A law helps not only in the improving of the society but also in the assuring of the society but also in the assuring the betterment of the individuals in the betterment of the individuals in the society.the society.

By the person who takes charge of By the person who takes charge of the communitythe community underscores the fact underscores the fact that ordinances carry the force of law that ordinances carry the force of law only if they are imposed by only if they are imposed by competent or legitimate authority.competent or legitimate authority.

PromulgatedPromulgated or made known to all or made known to all through an official publication.through an official publication.

Kinds of LawKinds of Law

1. Natural Law1. Natural Law

2. Divine Law or Eternal Law2. Divine Law or Eternal Law

4. Human Law (civil law and church or 4. Human Law (civil law and church or ecclesiastical law)ecclesiastical law)

Natural Law Natural Law

Refers to moral insights people are Refers to moral insights people are capable of knowing by means of their capable of knowing by means of their reason, and independently of the reason, and independently of the verbal revelation of God. verbal revelation of God.

Recognized by all men regardless of Recognized by all men regardless of creed, race, culture or historical creed, race, culture or historical circumstances.circumstances.

The word natural means:The word natural means: not supernaturalnot supernatural not positive not positive found and derived from the found and derived from the

nature of a nature of a person.person.

Natural law is that law of human Natural law is that law of human conduct which arises from the full conduct which arises from the full reality of human nature as ordered to reality of human nature as ordered to its ultimate end, and which is its ultimate end, and which is recognized by means of reason recognized by means of reason independent of positive Christian independent of positive Christian revelation.revelation.

Three Essential Characteristics of Natural Law:Three Essential Characteristics of Natural Law:

Natural Law is universal (Universality) Its Natural Law is universal (Universality) Its primary principles are self-evident such that primary principles are self-evident such that it is for all individuals with fully developed it is for all individuals with fully developed reason to have an invincible ignorance of reason to have an invincible ignorance of them.them.

Natural Law is one and the same for all Natural Law is one and the same for all (Unity and Invariability) All classes of people (Unity and Invariability) All classes of people possess equal moral dignity as persons; possess equal moral dignity as persons; hence, they possess equal basic rights.hence, they possess equal basic rights.

Natural Law is immutable (Immutability) This Natural Law is immutable (Immutability) This means that there cannot be any change in means that there cannot be any change in whatever is fundamentally good or evil.whatever is fundamentally good or evil.

Divine Law or Eternal LawDivine Law or Eternal Law God is the author of the laws God is the author of the laws

governing the universe.governing the universe. He designed all the laws of the He designed all the laws of the

universe in His own infinite mind.universe in His own infinite mind.

Is the plan flowing from God’s Is the plan flowing from God’s wisdom which directs all actions and wisdom which directs all actions and movements.movements.

Is the Divine reason and/or will of Is the Divine reason and/or will of God Himself commanding the God Himself commanding the preservation of the natural law and preservation of the natural law and forbidding its disturbance.forbidding its disturbance.

Each being tends towards particular Each being tends towards particular end that reveals the will of God end that reveals the will of God which contains the blueprints that which contains the blueprints that bring order to the universe by bring order to the universe by directing all of creation to their directing all of creation to their respective end goals.respective end goals.

There is no freedom from the laws, There is no freedom from the laws,

but but freedom within these laws.freedom within these laws.

We cannot break the laws, but if we We cannot break the laws, but if we ignore them, they can break us. If we ignore them, they can break us. If we disobey the laws, even in ignorance, disobey the laws, even in ignorance, our nature is damaged for they are our nature is damaged for they are laws of reality. laws of reality.

HUMAN LAW

LAWS ENACTED BY CHURCH OR STATE ECCLESIASTICAL LAW CIVIL LAW

A HUMAN LAW DERIVES ITS BINDING FORCE FROM NATURAL LAW AND ULTIMATELY FROM ETERNAL LAW

A CONCRETE AND DETERMINATE APPLICATION OF NATURAL LAW

The treatise of human law deals with The treatise of human law deals with the juridical order of society, be it of the juridical order of society, be it of the state or of the Church (or similar the state or of the Church (or similar religious bodies), insofar as this order religious bodies), insofar as this order is determined by laws enacted for is determined by laws enacted for the common good. the common good.

Civil Law – Is the particular Civil Law – Is the particular application of natural law in given application of natural law in given societies.societies.

Church Law – Is the particular Church Law – Is the particular application of divine law to the application of divine law to the Christian community.Christian community.

Sources:Sources:

Ramon B. AgapayRamon B. AgapayEthics and the Filipino, 1991Ethics and the Filipino, 1991

Esteban T. Salibay, Jr.Esteban T. Salibay, Jr.Christian Morality in Contemporary Society, Christian Morality in Contemporary Society,

20022002