1. The Objective Norm of
Morality:
LAW

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. KINDS or Classes of LAW:
ETERNAL LAW
NATURAL LAW
HUMAN LAW
DIVINE LAW

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.”

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

12. “Sapagkat ako’y tao lamang…(?)”

13. Natural Moral Law – is the
human participation in God’s
wisdom.
Man knows naturally, by the light
of his understanding, that there
are some things evil in
themselves, & some things which
are necessarily good.

14. 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.

15. Properties of Natural Law
UNIVERSAL
UNCHANGEABLE
OBLIGATORY & INDISPENSABLE
RECOGNIZABLE

16. 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.

17. PROPERTIES OF HUMAN
LAW
Enforceable
Obligatory
Concerned with external conduct only
Limited to particular groups
Historically conditioned
Fallible

18. Human Laws must:
Conform with Divine Laws
Promote the common good
Just & not discriminatory
Dynamic
Practicable

19. 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.

20. 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]