Is it true that Natural Law Theory is a relativistic theory.?

Natural Law Theory is an absolutist theory, asserting that moral truths apply to everyone without exception, and any action thwarting a natural end goal is immoral.

Aquinas, Divine Command Theory, and Natural Law Theory

Ethics can be approached through Divine Command Theory, where morality stems from God's commands, or Natural Law Theory, where morality is derived from reason and the inherent purpose of things in nature, with Thomas Aquinas advocating for the compatibility of reason and faith.

Core Principles

Divine Command Theory (DCT): Morality is determined by God's commands; what is right is what God wills, and what is wrong is what God prohibits.
Natural Law Theory: Morality is based on reason and the inherent purpose or 'end goal' of things in nature, as established by God's rational creation.
Euthyphro Dilemma: Poses whether something is good because God commands it, or if God commands it because it is good, highlighting potential issues with DCT.
Doctrine of Double Effect: An action with a bad side effect is permissible if the intent is good, the bad effect is not intended, a good effect is promoted, and the good effect outweighs the bad.
Supremacy of Reason: Argues that reason, not religion, should be the basis for moral decision-making.

Action Steps

Analyze ethical dilemmas by considering Divine Command Theory: determine if actions align with divine commands.
Analyze ethical dilemmas by considering Natural Law Theory: assess if actions align with the natural purpose or end goal of things.
When evaluating actions with potential negative consequences, apply the Doctrine of Double Effect: check intent, unintended bad effects, good intentions, and the balance of good over bad outcomes.
When making moral decisions, consider the Supremacy of Reason: prioritize rational analysis over religious adherence.

Key Terms

Divine Command Theory (DCT): An ethical theory stating that morality is derived from divine commands, meaning an action is right because God commands it and wrong because God forbids it.
Natural Law Theory: An ethical theory that posits morality is based on reason and the inherent purpose or 'end goal' of things in nature, as established by a divine creator.
Euthyphro Dilemma: A philosophical question posed by Plato: 'Do the Gods love holiness because it is holy, or is it holy because the Gods love it?', recast as 'Is something Good because God commands it or does God command something because it is Good?'
Doctrine of Double Effect: A principle that allows for an action with a foreseen negative consequence if the action itself is morally good or neutral, the negative consequence is not intended, a good effect is intended, and the good effect outweighs the bad.
Autonomy Thesis: The view that reason, rather than adherence to sacred texts or deities, should guide ethical decisions.
Dependency Thesis: The view that ethical decisions should be based on alignment with faith or natural law.
Supremacy of Reason: The philosophical stance that reason should be the primary basis for all moral decisions, with religion playing a secondary or no role.
Relativism: The belief that moral truths are not absolute but vary depending on the individual (subjective) or culture.
Absolutism: The belief that moral truths exist and apply universally without exception.

Pro Tips

For theists uncomfortable with analyzing Divine Command Theory, remember Thomas Aquinas's view that pursuing knowledge is a divine act and 'to disparage the dictates of reason is equivalent to condemning the word of God.'
When considering Natural Law Theory, remember that it describes both how things are and how they ought to be, meaning a deviation from an end goal is considered defective.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Assuming Natural Law Theory is relativistic: It is an absolutist theory asserting universal moral truths.
Confusing 'is' and 'ought': Just because something is a certain way in nature does not mean it ought to be that way.
Ignoring the Euthyphro Dilemma's implications: If morality is arbitrary (based on God's whim), then anything could be good; if God commands based on pre-existing Goodness, then Goodness exists independently of God.

Myth vs Reality

Natural Law Theory is a relativistic theory.: Natural Law Theory is an absolutist theory, asserting that moral truths apply to everyone without exception, and any action thwarting a natural end goal is immoral.

Real World Examples

A religious person asked if stealing is permissible.: They would likely answer 'no' because God forbids it, illustrating Divine Command Theory.
Administering chemotherapy to a pregnant woman.: Natural Law Theory, using the Doctrine of Double Effect, would permit this if the intent is to save the mother's life, the fetus's harm is an unintended side effect, and the good effect (saving the mother) outweighs the bad (harm to the fetus).
A ten-year-old girl is pregnant due to rape, and Ohio law prohibits abortion after six weeks.: An appeals committee would consider how Natural Law Theory (with or without the Doctrine of Double Effect), Divine Command Theory, Cultural Relativism, and Virtue Ethics would address the situation.

People

Thomas Aquinas: Medieval theologian and philosopher who argued for the compatibility of reason and faith and developed Natural Law Theory.
Socrates: Ancient Greek philosopher who questioned the basis of piety and goodness, influencing discussions on ethics and reason.
Plato: Ancient Greek philosopher, student of Socrates, who discussed the Euthyphro dilemma concerning the relationship between gods and morality.
Aristotle: Ancient Greek philosopher whose notion of nature having inherent order and purpose influenced Aquinas's Natural Law Theory.
Victor Hugo: Author whose novel 'Les Misérables' provides an example for discussing Divine Command Theory regarding the morality of stealing.