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Natural Law Religious Studies

In: Religion Topics

Submitted By fitzy123
Words 839
Pages 4
Part (b)
‘Natural Law as an absolutist/deontological theory cannot work in today’s society’
Natural Law was first propounded by Aristotle 4th century BC, it was a secular theory at the time of Aristotle. It was later revived in the 13th century AD by St. Thomas Aquinas, catholic theologian. In today’s society certain aspects of Natural law would be recognised as outdated and a theory that needs to be analysed. Many would agree with the statement ‘Natural law as a theory cannot work in today’s society’. Atheists would dispute the claim that God-given reason and nature provide us with the source of law. As Mel Thompson states in his book Ethical Theory, if one comes to the conclusion based on observation such as innocent suffering the world ‘is unlikely to be the product of an omnipotent or loving creator then the natural law argument loses its foundation. James Rachels also states that ‘the theory of Natural Law has gone out of fashion’. The world described by Newton, Darwin and Galileo has no place for “facts” about right or wrong. Their explanations of natural phenomena make no reference to values or purpose. ‘Perhaps no absolutist laws exist and there are no ‘right or ‘wrong’ actions as defined by a deontological approach. The problem with an absolutist and deontological approach is that it fails to consider several other factors in any moral action such as the individual, the culture, the individual’s situation or the consequences. A follower of situation ethics would argue that stealing is the right thing to do, for example, if a parent steals food to feed their starving child. A utilitarian would also allow loving consequences to be made, as it leads to the ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number’. Many people prefer to adopt consequentialist theories such as Situation Ethics or Utilitarianism which give them a greater sense of

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