Introduction
Natural law is a theory in the viewpoint of classical pragmatism and it is very important. The natural theory is not created by human beings, it is based on reality and it is the same at all times for all human existence. Natural law is a rule or a pattern that cannot change; it is for the people to discover and in nature, it is an inevitable moral law. It is a way by which people can logically show themselves to their good
Main Body
The natural rules are discernable by the human being because they have reasoned. It is therefore expected that human beings should use their reasoning and then act according to the laws. In the natural sense, human beings have the natural urge to feed, drink, sleep and have children. These deeds are necessary for species to exist and produce offspring. For this reason, the activities related to these laws are morally right, and all the activities that act in opposition to these laws are considered to be morally wrong. The theory of natural law can be taken and used in the conduct of a believer and a nonbeliever.
The nonbeliever reasons to discover the rules that govern natural events and use them to decide on human actions. For the believers, there is a deity that brought everything into existence including the laws also, therefore obeying those laws that are given by deity is the morally the right thing to do (Kirk 118).
According to the doctrine of the natural law theory of morality things that are said to be natural have functions and purposes. It is believed that the whole benefit of something is the realization of its benefits and its purposes. Happiness and excelling in life is good for human beings, it is a fulfillment of the human unique nature, which is what we do best by our character. For our wisdom, nonfigurative knowledge, deliberative decision, thoughts, companionship and social cooperation based on a sense of fairness among others involves the expansion and exercise of our abilities. Our true nature is characterized and fulfilled by moral virtues like bravery, fairness, goodwill, self-control among others. The life of taking drugs is taken to be bad, the reason being that it is not in agreement with our natural purpose (Kirk 234).
Natural law is a laydown of the truths about honesty and justice; they are rules that we have to keep in order to get a prosperous life. We can discover moral principles by the ways of single-handedly human reasoning. Immoral deeds are known to violate the natural rule therefore the immoral behavior is taken to be going against nature hence it is against our main purpose and is not traced anywhere in the natural human race.
Virtuous manners are said to be natural, for example, not speaking the truth is unnatural because the purpose of truth is to air what is in our brains to others. When we mislead people with our words, we are applying the words contrary to their appropriate purpose and it is against the theory of the natural law (Brink 375). In reference to the divine law, if anything is against the natural law, it is too believed to be against the divine law. Some things that are religious in nature are sometimes in contrast with the divine law but not with the natural law.
The Natural moral law is particularly anxious about both outdoor and indoor acts, also referred to as a deed and a motive. Basically, it is not enough to do the right thing only and to be really moral, but an individual’s motives have to be correct as well. For example, helping an aged person across the road, is an exterior thing to do, in order to impress some other people, which is an interior act, is incorrect. On the other hand, good objectives do not at all times lead to good deeds. The purposes have to coincide with the basic or theological qualities. Fundamental virtues are gained through the reasons applied to the natural world (Aquinas 268).
Conclusion
The discovery of the natural law is a nonstop unfolding enterprise and our knowledge of it, mainly on the subject of its secondary precepts, is unfinished. As an enlightened and rational human race, we will continuously be engaged in a critical assessment of our deeds in a realistic order.
Works Cited
Aquinas, Thomas. On Law, Morality and Politics. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1988.
Brink, David. Legal Positivism and Natural Law Reconsidered. The Monist, 68: (1985), 364–387.
Kirk, John, A. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York, NY: Pearson Longman, 2005.