Remind Me Again How We Got Here?

What is natural law and its primary tenant? What is Darwin's explanation of the theory of evolution? Can these two theories co-exist? How does Darwin's explanation affect natural law? This paper will discuss the major tenant of both theories, specifically focusing on natural law's attempt to ground moral values and Darwin's affect on this attempt at grounding.

What is natural law? Natural law stems from a merging of Stoicism and Roman jurisprudence during the Christian Middle Ages. Natural law's primary tenant is that nature is permeated with reason and, is, therefore, rational in itself. Therefore, to do anything against nature is irrational. Natural law promotes teleology, meaning we act for an end, a purpose. Nature has already dictated what that purpose is for every living entity, whether plant, animal or human. Natural law promotes the three souls, which are as follows, in ascending order: vegetative, sensitive and intellectual. Every living being must have the vegetative soul, the lowest soul, which allows for absorption of nutrients from its environment. The sensitive soul is able to sense its environment and react, though limited in the extent of its reactionary ability. The intellectual soul, which all humans possess, contain the lower two souls as well as intellect. Each level of soul has a purpose, as designated by nature.