When it comes to navigating ethical dilemmas, our instincts and reason play crucial roles. Our instincts provide us with a sense of what is inherently good, while reason allows us to derive natural laws based on these fundamental goods. In this blog post, we will delve into the concept of natural law, examine the challenges posed by moral reasoning, and explore different approaches to ethical decision-making.
Instinct, Reason, and Natural Law: At the core of natural law lies our instinctive understanding of basic goods. We intuitively recognise the value of life, for instance, which leads us to the fundamental principle of “Do not kill.” By employing reason, we can derive this natural law, acknowledging that our lives possess inherent worth and that killing violates this intrinsic value.
Your life is like my life
Your life is valuable
I should not kill
The Challenges of Moral Reasoning: Despite our ability to recognise natural law, we are not infallible. Ignorance often clouds our judgment, causing us to err in our pursuit of what we perceive as good. Furthermore, our emotions can overpower reason, leading us astray from the actions we know we should take. Philosopher David Hume presents a challenge to the concept of natural law with his “is-ought problem,” asserting that it is illogical to derive moral obligations from descriptive statements [1].
Kant’s Response and Manoeuvring Through Hume’s Argument: In response to Hume’s argument, philosopher Immanuel Kant proposes a solution that allows for moral reasoning and the derivation of moral laws. Kant suggests the use of practical reason and introduces the categorical imperative as a guiding principle. By applying practical reason, we can bridge the gap between descriptive statements and moral obligations, enabling us to make reasoned decisions in line with natural law [2].
Virtue Ethics and Consciousness: An alternative approach to moral reasoning is virtue ethics, which emphasises the cultivation of character and conscious decision-making. In this framework, we strive to develop virtuous traits that guide our actions in alignment with natural law. By cultivating self-awareness and consciously reflecting on our choices, we can ensure that our behaviour aligns with our moral principles.
The Four Causes to Knowledge: To deepen our understanding of knowledge and its connection to moral reasoning, we can explore the concept of the four causes—material cause, formal cause, efficient cause, and final cause. By applying these causes to our ethical decision-making, we gain a comprehensive framework for assessing the consequences, intentions, and ultimate aims of our actions.
In conclusion, navigating the complexities of moral reasoning requires us to consider both our instincts and our capacity for reason. Understanding natural law and its relationship to basic goods helps guide our decision-making process. While challenges such as ignorance and emotional influence may arise, philosophers like Kant offer insights and methods for manoeuvring through these obstacles. By cultivating virtue and consciousness, we can make choices that align with our moral principles and contribute to a more ethical world.
Take the time to reflect on your own moral beliefs and engage in conscious decision-making. Remember that understanding natural law and exploring different approaches to ethical reasoning can empower you to make well-informed choices that uphold the values you hold dear.
References:
Hume, David. “An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.”
Kant, Immanuel. “Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals.”
