Natural law

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/natural-law

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core tenet?Existence of universal moral principles discoverable through reason, independent of human enactment
2. How is natural law different from laws made by people?Laws made by people are called positive law and can change, while natural law is always the same and comes from nature.
3. Why do some people think natural law helps make good laws?Because natural law gives us objective moral standards that can guide and check the laws people write.

Natural Law: A theory positing universal moral principles inherent in nature and discoverable by reason, serving as a standard for human laws.
Positive Law: Laws created, enacted, and enforced by human authorities, distinct from inherent moral principles.
Reason: The faculty of the mind that allows for logical thought, understanding, and the discernment of moral principles.
Natural Rights: Fundamental entitlements believed to be inherent to all individuals by virtue of their humanity, not granted by governments.