The Objective Norm of Morality:

LAW

St. Thomas Aquinas: LAW is

A decree or ordinance of reason Directed towards the common good Promulgated by competent authority, i.e. one who has the care of the community.

ORDINANCE or Decree
Obligatory force & not merely as recommendation or suggestion. ORDINANCE of REASON
It must be based on the insights of reason into what is truly good.

Common Good:
Laws can only be enacted for the common good & not for the private good of a few citizens. PROMULGATION: The official publication of a LAW so that it can come to the knowledge of the subjects. Necessary in order that a law becomes obligatory. Laws can only be enacted by those in charge of the community as a legitimate authority.

Relevance or Importance of Moral Norms / LAWS: (CFC)

1. Provide the objective criteria for our own conscience to judge what is morally good or evil. 2. Help our moral development, especially in the formation of our conscience. 3. Offer the needed moral stability in our lives. 4. Challenge us to stretch for an ideal beyond our limited experience, & correct our moral misconceptions in the process.

KINDS or Classes of LAW:

ETERNAL LAW NATURAL LAW HUMAN LAW DIVINE LAW

ETERNAL LAW
It is the plan of God in creating the universe & in assigning to each creature their specific nature. The universal law whereby God directs & governs the universe & the ways of human community according to his plan of wisdom & love.

Eternal Law.
A type of DIVINE WISDOM The Creator, therefore, has in Himself the type of what creatures are to do to attain their END & PURPOSE.

NATURAL LAW
I. PHYSICAL LAWS & their properties The nature of all created things which is the principle of their movements & actions. II. MORAL ORDER the universal natural moral laws built into human beings by God when creating them & are made accessible to the light of reason (discern what is good & what is evil). - It binds man to seek the good fitting his rational nature.

NATURAL Moral LAW:

It is the eternal law as knowable by sound human reason without the aid of supernatural revelation. The basic precept: DO GOOD, AVOID EVIL.

Natural Moral Law is recognized by all men regardless of creed, race, culture, or historical circumstances.
Morality written in mans heart. Law of reason Compelling the individual to be true to his nature as rational human being. Pagpapakatao

Sapagkat akoy tao lamang(?)

Natural Moral Law is the human participation in Gods wisdom.

Man knows naturally, by the light of his understanding, that there are some things evil in themselves, & some things which are necessarily good.

The inclinations of human nature & the Natural Law:

1. The inclination to the good. 2. The inclination to self-preservation. 3. The inclination to sexual union & rearing of offspring. 4. The inclination to knowledge of the Truth. 5. The inclination to live in society.

Properties of Natural Law

UNIVERSAL UNCHANGEABLE OBLIGATORY & INDISPENSABLE RECOGNIZABLE

HUMAN positive LAW

Contains regulations promulgated by legitimate human authority. STATE (civil laws) - Constitution & CHURCH (ecclesiastical laws) - Canon Law Intended to preserve peace & harmony Directing each members of the society to work towards the common good.

PROPERTIES OF HUMAN LAW

Enforceable Obligatory Concerned with external conduct only Limited to particular groups Historically conditioned Fallible

Human Laws must:

Conform with Divine Laws Promote the common good Just & not discriminatory Dynamic Practicable

DIVINE LAW
The norms contained in the word of the Holy Scripture (Bible) as revealed divine law. They may spell out obligations of natural law in order to clarify them, e.g. the 10 Commandments. Direct us towards our proper end.

SUMMARY: ETERNAL LAW the uncreated & eternal plan of divine wisdom directive of all things. TEMPORAL LAW 1. Natural Law 2. Positive Law a. Divine Positive Law God as author OT & NT b. Human Positive Law Man as author, a God-given power. [CIVIL & ECCLESIASTICAL LAWS]