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Practical exercise 12.3.1: Natural law
Consider your viewpoint on the following questions. There are no ‘right’ answers to these questions, although you will find some comments on each of them.
- Is it natural to be racially or religiously prejudiced?
Could argue that racism or religious prejudice is natural, in the sense that it is basic nature to distrust those that resemble us, but belong to a different group. However, could also argue that man is more civilized than to rely on basic instinct and that prejudice on the basis of difference is wrong.
- Is it natural to die by suicide?
Could argue that humans have free will including the choice when and how to end their life. Alternatively, could argue that it is unnatural to hasten death at one’s own hand and that death at the time that nature intended therefore renders suicide unnatural.
- Is it natural to be monogamous?
Could argue that there are several natural species who mate for life and that humans are such creatures. Alternatively, that the extent of infidelity in relationships renders monogamy an unnatural exception.
- Is it natural to use contraception?
Could argue that any man-made intervention in the process of procreation is against the basic laws of nature. Alternatively, that for some humans, the ability to choose when actively to minimize the chances of pregnancy (or disease) is a mature and natural choice.
As said in chapter 12, there are no right answers to any of these questions and they could be argued in many ways, depending on a variety of social, moral, and religious factors, or personal views. So what is the ‘right’ morality to be adopted?