Chapter III Natural Law: The Essence and Varieties of Law

STUDY QUESTION P61

1. Are there other ways that the word “natural” is used to justify a particular way of behaving? How do
these approaches compare to the theory of Aquinas?

According to Aquinas, everything in the terrestrial world is created by God and endowed with a certain nature that
defines what each sort of being is in its essence. Using a thing's status as natural as a justification for that thing is a
logical fallacy, specifically an appeal to nature fallacy.

2. Can you think of human laws that are proper extensions of the natural law? Explain how this is so.
Can you think of other human laws that violate the natural law? Explain how this is so.

Yes! I can say that Human law can violate the natural law. There have been several attempts to argue that the
behavior of human is natural when the human thing to do is to manipulate nature for our own benefit. We build our
houses using the tree which is from our nature to build a safer and more comfortable place.

3. Is there other form of harm ---- short of killing another person--- that may be taken as a violation of
the natural inclination to preserve one’s being? Justify your answer.
Any kind of harm most especially killing another people is an evil act and thought to preserve one being. No one has
a right to kill and that was included 10 commandments “thou shalt not kill”. Also we don’t have a right to take
advantage of others weakness whatever our status and power that we have.

4. Are there current scientific developments for example, in biology that challenge the understanding of
nature presented by Aquinas?

Yes! There is current scientific development that can challenge the understanding of nature presented by Aquinas
and Aristotle studies is one of those many, but from my perspective the word of God is the only thing that can
challenge the understanding of nature by Aquinas because without God we are nothing and also he is the one and
only source of all beings in this earth.

5. It is possible to maintain a natural law theory without believing in the divine source? Why or why
not?

NO! the bible is our Natural Law in life, now a day there are many theories that they want and been proposed
without believing in the divine source if that is the case then we are all just wasting our time for nothing. Believing
in the divine source means we are depending ourselves to God and the divine source is the bible that is our manual
of life and that can make us all natural.

ACTIVITY PAGE: pp 63-64

1. Go online look for an instance of what might be “fake news”. See whether you are able to determine
the veracity of the news report. Detail your findings and opinion below.

 Russia and China push ‘fake news’ on coronavirus crisis, report claims

Honestly I myself am having a hard time to determine a news if it’s a real or not especially nowadays in our
generation there are so many news that been coming out in social media and we can’t determine or analyze what is
real or not, it can also lead us in confusion and misinformation. This Corona Virus causes a lot of pain that leads in
anxiety and depression. Yes, we have our freedom of speech but we need to be responsible enough on what we
shared or post also be considerate with each other emotion.

2. In view of Aquinas assertion that reason is what makes us uniquely human and that being reasonable
opens up both an epistemic concern for truth and also a social concern of being in relation with
others, provide an assessment on the value or disvalue of post-truth phenomena such as fake news or
alternative facts.

Fake new or any kind of fake don’t have any kind of value in our society, spreading fakes news does not give us a
good relation with others and also it can be a reason to lead them in a wrong path because of misinformation and
confusion, that is the reason why the only thing that is natural in us human is being selfish and spreading fake news
about others is the best example of it. Believe it or not, us human being there is time in our life that we enjoy
manipulating and taking advantage of other by making a fake news without thinking how it will effect and it can
cause a big trouble to the one who reading it.

3. Consider other topics within the realm of media ethics. Select one and give an initial presentation of
the significance of discussing this topic.

 The power of Digital Media

Blogging is included in a Digital media and this is the most trend today, a lot of teenagers imitate on what they been
watched and it can lead it into an accident, so being a vlogger its your responsible to inform your viewers the
possibility if they will imitate you. Also produce inspiring and entertaining video blogs especially in this time of
pandemic that many of us experience depression and anxiety.