Natural Goodness & Natural Law

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Natural goodness, the idea that something is good insofar as it fulfills its proper function or purpose, has deep roots in moral philosophy. The course begins with Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, which provides the foundational framework for this concept. We then explore Aquinas's development of Aristotle's view, especially how he integrates it with a theistic understanding of God's creative purposes and commands. Nowadays, we refer to this synthesis as 'Natural Law'. The second half of the course turns to the resurgence of interest in Aristotelian and Thomistic ethics since the 1950s, led by thinkers such as Elizabeth Anscombe, Alasdair MacIntyre, C.S. Lewis, Philippa Foot, and John Finnis. Through close engagement with contemporary texts, students will assess whether these recent appropriations represent a faithful evolution of the classical tradition originating in Aristotle, or a more problematic devolution of it. Crucial questions to be addressed: What is goodness? What grounds goodness facts, if anything? What is obligation? What makes something obligatory? Can we explain goodness and obligation apart from God?