From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence?
Is it possible for Aquinas’s moral theology to engage constructively with contemporary moral naturalism? The proposed question has already been a subject of scholarly interest, eliciting various responses. Some authors emphasize the difficulties and contradictions, while others identify potential af...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Mariano Asla María Soledad Paladino |
| author_facet | Mariano Asla María Soledad Paladino |
| author_sort | Mariano Asla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Is it possible for Aquinas’s moral theology to engage constructively with contemporary moral naturalism? The proposed question has already been a subject of scholarly interest, eliciting various responses. Some authors emphasize the difficulties and contradictions, while others identify potential affinities. This paper explores the extent to which Aquinas’s concept of Natural Law might align, albeit partially, with a form of moral non-reductive, non-non-cognitivist ethical naturalism. Specifically, it aims to assess how his view of Natural Law, rooted in practical reason and natural inclinations, incorporates a teleological understanding of nature, which provides a foundational basis for this consonance. Within this framework, moral virtue emerges as central in bridging bio-psychological facts with ethical principles. Aquinas’s assertion that <i>gratia non tollit naturam, sed perficit</i> “grace does not destroy nature but perfects it” (ST I. q1. a8) further underscores the continuity between nature and normativity, suggesting that while grace and revelation introduce true novelty, they enhance rather than supplant the natural moral order. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad618fe9f7b9480da25cebc756d6c75c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad618fe9f7b9480da25cebc756d6c75c2025-08-20T02:43:43ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442024-12-011512156010.3390/rel15121560From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence?Mariano Asla0María Soledad Paladino1Instituto de Filosofía, Universidad Austral, Pilar B1630FHB, ArgentinaPhilosophy Institute, Austral University, Pilar B1630FHB, ArgentinaIs it possible for Aquinas’s moral theology to engage constructively with contemporary moral naturalism? The proposed question has already been a subject of scholarly interest, eliciting various responses. Some authors emphasize the difficulties and contradictions, while others identify potential affinities. This paper explores the extent to which Aquinas’s concept of Natural Law might align, albeit partially, with a form of moral non-reductive, non-non-cognitivist ethical naturalism. Specifically, it aims to assess how his view of Natural Law, rooted in practical reason and natural inclinations, incorporates a teleological understanding of nature, which provides a foundational basis for this consonance. Within this framework, moral virtue emerges as central in bridging bio-psychological facts with ethical principles. Aquinas’s assertion that <i>gratia non tollit naturam, sed perficit</i> “grace does not destroy nature but perfects it” (ST I. q1. a8) further underscores the continuity between nature and normativity, suggesting that while grace and revelation introduce true novelty, they enhance rather than supplant the natural moral order.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/12/1560naturalismethical naturalismnatural lawAquinasvirtuesfaith |
| spellingShingle | Mariano Asla María Soledad Paladino From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence? Religions naturalism ethical naturalism natural law Aquinas virtues faith |
| title | From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence? |
| title_full | From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence? |
| title_fullStr | From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence? |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence? |
| title_short | From Ethical Naturalism to Aquinas’ Notion of Natural Law: A Non-Trivial Convergence? |
| title_sort | from ethical naturalism to aquinas notion of natural law a non trivial convergence |
| topic | naturalism ethical naturalism natural law Aquinas virtues faith |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/12/1560 |
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