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State of Nature
Natural Law Theory is the official ethic of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor_en.html Pope John Paul II, ''Veritatis Splendor'']; [http://www.pathsoflove.com/universal-ethics-natural-law.html International Theological Commission, ''The Search for Universal Ethics: A New Look at the Natural Law''].</ref> It was espoused by [[Thomas Aquinas]],<ref>See, for example, ''Summa Theologiae'', I-II, qq. 90-94.</ref> and argues that, as [[God]] created the universe and revealed His mind to man through the order inherent in things discernible by the natural light of reason, man can use his reason to discern God's Will by studying the natural world. For instance, a study of the male and female reproductive system naturally leads any sane person to see that their natural function is to come together for the purpose of procreation- so any acts excluding this purpose, such as [[homosexuality]], [[onanism]], [[contraception]], and acts during [[menstruation]], are wrong. Before the encyclical ''Casti Connubii'' in 1930, some Catholics believed that acts during [[pregnancy]] or after [[menopause]] were also wrong as against natural law.
Natural Law Theory is the official ethic of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor_en.html Pope John Paul II, ''Veritatis Splendor'']; [http://www.pathsoflove.com/universal-ethics-natural-law.html International Theological Commission, ''The Search for Universal Ethics: A New Look at the Natural Law''].</ref> It was espoused by [[Thomas Aquinas]],<ref>See, for example, ''Summa Theologiae'', I-II, qq. 90-94.</ref> and argues that, as [[God]] created the universe and revealed His mind to man through the order inherent in things discernible by the natural light of reason, man can use his reason to discern God's Will by studying the natural world. For instance, a study of the male and female reproductive system naturally leads any sane person to see that their natural function is to come together for the purpose of procreation- so any acts excluding this purpose, such as [[homosexuality]], [[onanism]], [[contraception]], and acts during [[menstruation]], are wrong. Before the encyclical ''Casti Connubii'' in 1930, some Catholics believed that acts during [[pregnancy]] or after [[menopause]] were also wrong as against natural law.
==State of Nature==
To understand Natural Law, it is important to understand humanity in the most basic state of nature. As [[John Locke]] explains:
{{cquote|To properly understand political power and trace its origins, we must consider the state that all people are in naturally. That is a state of perfect freedom of acting and disposing of their own possessions and persons as they think fit within the bounds of the law of nature. People in this state do not have to ask permission to act or depend on the will of others to arrange matters on their behalf. The natural state is also one of equality in which all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal and no one has more than another. It is evident that all human beings - as creatures belonging to the same species and rank and born indiscriminately with all the same natural advantages and faculties - are equal amongst themselves. They have no relationship of subordination or subjection unless God (the lord and master of them all) had clearly set one person above another and conferred on him an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K5UIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA189|last1=Locke|first1=John|title=Two Treatises On Government|date=1821|pages=189-191}}</ref>}}
The formula is simple. If humans have rights, and these rights exist prior to the existence of government, then government cannot be the source of rights. Rights must come from some place else.
==See Also==
==See Also==