A philosophical idea known as “Natural Law Theory” asserts the presence of a moral code rooted in nature and uncreated by humans. According to this theory, this code can be understood through intuition and reason and applies to everyone, regardless of their cultural, religious, or personal views. Yvonne Raley offers Natural Law Theory in “Ethics and Religion” to understand moral conundrums from a theological standpoint.
The controversial subject of euthanasia is one of the ethical conundrums that Raley tackles in her essay. It is contentious because it involves taking a person’s life to stop their pain and misery. Euthanasia is viewed from the standpoint of Natural Law as going against the natural order because it entails purposefully ending life with intrinsic value. According to this theory, human life has intrinsic value and should be protected whenever feasible. Therefore, Natural Law deems euthanasia morally impermissible.
Abortion is another ethical predicament analyzed in Raley’s paper. It is a contentious topic as it involves deliberately terminating a pregnancy to prevent childbirth. From the Natural Law outlook, abortion is perceived as contravening the natural order, as it involves deliberately destroying a potential human life. The theory argues that human life begins at conception and should be preserved whenever possible. Thus, Natural Law deems abortion morally impermissible.
Despite its appeal, Natural Law Theory has its detractors. One of the primary criticisms is that it is too rigid and inflexible. Detractors argue that the theory neglects the intricacies of human experience and allows no room for moral reasoning or personal interpretation. Another critique is that the theory is too closely linked to religious beliefs and, therefore, not applicable to those who do not share those beliefs.
To sum up, the Natural Law Theory provides a unique perspective for understanding moral problems and conundrums, especially when viewed through the prism of faith. According to the theory, an ethical framework is constant and lives separately from human creation; it is understandable through perception and reason. The theory continues to be a required field of philosophical research despite having its detractors because it offers a useful framework for understanding the complexities of human morality.