Lecture Notes: Thomas Aquinas and Natural Law Theory

Introduction to Thomas Aquinas

• Italian, Christian monk, 13th-century philosopher.
• Believed morality was essential for everyone.
• Concerned about how people could follow God's rules without knowing God.

Natural Law Theory

• Theory that God preloads humanity with the ability to understand what's good.
• Most influential version of natural law theory.

Basic Concepts

• God created the world with natural laws for life sustenance and functioning.
• All creatures have an intuitive desire for what's best for them (basic goods).

The Basic Goods

• Self-preservation: Instinct to sustain life, avoid danger.
• Reproduction: Instinct to reproduce, for humans facilitated by sex drive.
• Education of Offspring: Teaching offspring survival skills and morality.
• Desire to Know God: Instinct to seek God, even without exposure.
• Social Nature: Humans are social animals, need for community.
• Avoidance of Offense: Avoiding actions that alienate social group.
• Shunning Ignorance: Natural curiosity, desire for knowledge.

Deriving Natural Laws

• Instinct shows basic goods, reason derives natural law from them.
• Right acts align with natural law.
• Positive and negative laws: Promote life vs. prohibitions like 'do not kill'.

Challenges to Natural Law Theory

• Ignorance: Misunderstandings about what's good.
• Emotion: Emotional impulses overpowering reason.

Criticism of Natural Law Theory

• Less appealing to non-believers.
• David Hume's Is-Ought Problem: Challenges deriving moral imperatives from natural instincts.
  • Survival instincts might lead to immoral actions.
  • Reproduction can be questioned as a universal good.

Conclusion

• Discussed the theory and criticism of natural law.
• Mention of future content exploring Immanuel Kant's philosophy.

Additional Information

• Episode produced in association with PBS Digital Studios.
• Filmed in Dr. Cheryl C. Kinney Crash Course Studio.
• Graphics by Thought Cafe.
• Encouraged to check out PBS Digital Studios’ latest shows.