Essay: Understanding the Core Principles of Natural Law

This essay provides an overview of natural law, a philosophy asserting that certain rights are inherent in human nature and are based on morality and ethics. The essay discusses the views of Aristotle as the father of natural law and explains how natural law functions, differentiating between good and evil, and providing examples of its application in ethical dilemmas, such as the concept of self-preservation and the universal prohibition of killing. It acknowledges the limitations of natural law, including instances where outcomes may be perceived as unfair, and the doctrine of double effect, using the example of abortion to highlight ethical dilemmas. The essay concludes by emphasizing the simplicity and grounded nature of natural law, which is based on morals and universally accepted, making it reliable and absolute. The essay references several academic sources to support its arguments.

Running head: NATURAL LAW 1
Natural law
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Introduction
Law theory is the principle through which a litigant proceeds. Natural law is a
philosophy declaring that certain rights are in-built by the feature of human nature. It is
endowed by nature. The law is based on morality and ethics. The law is based on what is
correct. This law is a discovery of humans through reasoning and choosing between good
and evil. I agree with the law of nature since it treasures its power by discovering certain
universal ideals in, decency and ethics. What the law commanded varied from one place to
the other. But with the law of nature, the laws should be the same everywhere. Many people
consider Aristotle as the father of natural law (De Vattel, 2017). Aristotle argued that besides
the laws that the people have set up themselves there is a higher law that is according to
nature. This paper provides the nature of natural law.
How natural law works
Natural law finds certain things good and useful while others are evil and distractive.
What constitutes rights or wrong is the same for everyone. Morality is used to express this
concept. It is universally accepted that killing another person is wrong. And whoever kills
someone is punished and at times it is considered that killing the person would be the right
punishment. That is an example of natural law. Using natural law to solve ethical dilemmas,
there is a basic belief that everyone is entitled to live their lives through respect and
consideration (Leiboff, and Thomas, 2014). Natural law comes in to define an innocent life
and the elements that comprise of an unjust aggressor.
Natural law pays a certain attention to the idea of self-preservation. People tend to use
this law to justify acts of violence. They rely on this law to justify their actions. Throughout
history, there have been difficulties to apply what seems simple concept to complex issues in
nature. Giving an example of an act of violence like murder, it is against people's personal
proclivity to live a perfect and innocent life. In some instances, the act goes against the law of

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nature where the interest of two groups determines what is right or wrong. In this instance,
the larger group always win over the smaller group. Killing is forbidden by the law of nature
despite the circumstances. This is because it goes against the purpose of human life. Law of
nature does not consider killing another person in circumstances of self-defence (Bix, 2017).
It still forbids the killing of another person.
Limitations
In some instances, the outcomes of natural law can be unfair. Jesus did not follow all
the rules of natural law. It was written in the 13th century which makes it very out-dated Von
(Glahn, and Taulbee, 2017). Natural law has a doctrine double effect. It does not allow
abortion yet some actions are done out of necessity. Aborting a child to save the life of the
mother is a dilemma.
Conclusion
The nature of natural law is just and simple. It agrees with what is obviously right and
condemns what is wrong. Natural law is grounded on morals. Most of the people follow these
laws because they are universal which makes them fair. Natural law is reliable since it is
absolute.

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References
Bix, B. (2017). On the dividing line between natural law theory and legal positivism. In Law
and Morality (pp. 49-60). Routledge.
De Vattel, E. (2017). The Law of Nations or the Principles of Natural Law. Philadelphia: T.
and.
Leiboff, M., & Thomas, M. (2014). Legal theories: contexts and practices. Thomson Reuters.
Von Glahn, G., & Taulbee, J. L. (2017). Law among nations: an introduction to public
international law. Routledge.