Natural law as the hermeneutical basis of the universal ethics Cover Image

Prawo naturalne jako hermeneutyczna podstawa etyki uniwersalnej
Natural law as the hermeneutical basis of the universal ethics

Author(s): Józef Zabielski
Subject(s): Philosophy, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Theology and Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku
Keywords: nature; natural law; the statute law; civilization and cultural transformation; ethical evaluation; moral obligations; moral deformation; moral responsibility

Summary/Abstract: Rationalism of human nature demands to know the moral foundations and legitimacy made by human decisions and actions. This norm directs to the human nature, since a man first of all he wants – and should – be a man what means to pursue contained in its nature objectives and capabilities. This fact calls for the recognition of human nature, which is the ontological foundation of ethical norms of human action. This problem becomes more timely in the context of the development of modern civilization and cultural, scientific and technological progress and the growth of the needs and possibilities of their fulfillment. The consequence of these changes is deepening differentiation of human action evaluation and justification of ethical standards. This condition demands intensification of their search for the basics of universal ethical standards and guidance, motivation of its obliging nature of the universal dimension. Such a foundation of ethical standards of a general nature is a natural law anchored in the personal nature of the human beings that connects all people and sets them to a common norm of conduct. In this analytical reflection we will focus on two dimensions of the title issues: 1. The essence of the natural law obliging its power and attitude to the statute law; 2. The natural law as the standard valuation of human action and its deformations.

  • Issue Year: 14/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 89-102
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish