ETHC 101
Capstone Essay: The Divine Nature Ethics and Abortion
Liberty University
ETHC 101: Introduction to Ethics
Contents
I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 1
II. The Natural Law Ethic...……….………………………………………………………... 1
III. The Divine Nature Ethic……………………………………………………………….. 2
IV. Abortion… ……………………………………………………………………………... 4
V. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………… 7
VI. Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………. 8
Introductio
n
What is moral? Who decides morality? These questions are among the most
controversial topics. I will be talking about these questions by comparing Divine Nature Ethics
and Natural Law Ethics. Both these ethical views have their own definition of morality and
where it comes from. I will then discuss a controversial issue in our society; abortion. My goal
is to defend the voiceless and unheard, and to be very clear about what the Bible says, along
with my own personal thoughts, concerning this issue and both the ethical views.
Natural Law
Ethic
First of all, what is the definition of Natural Law ethics? “Natural law is a theory
in ethics and philosophy that says that human beings possess intrinsic values that govern our
, reasoning and behavior. Natural law maintains that these rules of right and wrong are inherent
in people and are not created by society or court judges.”1 So, is this view dependable to
determine morality? It doesn’t appear so, and here is why. Natural Law ethics state that humans
already have it in them to decide what is right and wrong; like a conscience. But how reliable
are consciences? We see in society, politics and just how people act in general that we live by
different beliefs and views. Thieves clearly don’t follow their conscience, or if they do, then
their sense of morality is very distorted. The same goes for murderers, rapists, terrorists, and
other criminals or people who view the wrong things as right. There it is again, determining
right and wrong. With the standards and beliefs of morality varying from person to person, who
is to decide what is moral? The people who have helped the poor, given to charities, and said
the most ‘nice’ things? But who is to ‘elect’ this person as ‘head of right and wrong?’ You’re
right, no one can.
Morality is clearly a very complicated and controversial topic. Seeing that Natural
Law ethics is faulty and has a weak foundation changing from person to person, it cannot be
what defines the world’s right and wrong. So, what can? Or, rather, who can? Next, I will
evaluate the Christian ethical view; Divine Nature.
Divine Nature Ethic
The specific Christian view I chose to compare is Divine Nature ethics. This view is God
centered, or as Michael Jones describes it as, “a reflection of the ultimate good that is inherent in
the nature of God himself… Argu(ing) that God’s commands do not determine what is good, but
rather they institutionalize and communicate the good that is part of the unchanging nature of
God.”2 Let’s look at the pros of this view that we can see right off the bat in this definition; God
is at the center, it has a strong and unchanging foundation, and we have the Bible as our sort of
map to guide us through this crazy world. Though, in and of itself the Bible can’t be the only
Capstone Essay: The Divine Nature Ethics and Abortion
Liberty University
ETHC 101: Introduction to Ethics
Contents
I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 1
II. The Natural Law Ethic...……….………………………………………………………... 1
III. The Divine Nature Ethic……………………………………………………………….. 2
IV. Abortion… ……………………………………………………………………………... 4
V. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………… 7
VI. Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………. 8
Introductio
n
What is moral? Who decides morality? These questions are among the most
controversial topics. I will be talking about these questions by comparing Divine Nature Ethics
and Natural Law Ethics. Both these ethical views have their own definition of morality and
where it comes from. I will then discuss a controversial issue in our society; abortion. My goal
is to defend the voiceless and unheard, and to be very clear about what the Bible says, along
with my own personal thoughts, concerning this issue and both the ethical views.
Natural Law
Ethic
First of all, what is the definition of Natural Law ethics? “Natural law is a theory
in ethics and philosophy that says that human beings possess intrinsic values that govern our
, reasoning and behavior. Natural law maintains that these rules of right and wrong are inherent
in people and are not created by society or court judges.”1 So, is this view dependable to
determine morality? It doesn’t appear so, and here is why. Natural Law ethics state that humans
already have it in them to decide what is right and wrong; like a conscience. But how reliable
are consciences? We see in society, politics and just how people act in general that we live by
different beliefs and views. Thieves clearly don’t follow their conscience, or if they do, then
their sense of morality is very distorted. The same goes for murderers, rapists, terrorists, and
other criminals or people who view the wrong things as right. There it is again, determining
right and wrong. With the standards and beliefs of morality varying from person to person, who
is to decide what is moral? The people who have helped the poor, given to charities, and said
the most ‘nice’ things? But who is to ‘elect’ this person as ‘head of right and wrong?’ You’re
right, no one can.
Morality is clearly a very complicated and controversial topic. Seeing that Natural
Law ethics is faulty and has a weak foundation changing from person to person, it cannot be
what defines the world’s right and wrong. So, what can? Or, rather, who can? Next, I will
evaluate the Christian ethical view; Divine Nature.
Divine Nature Ethic
The specific Christian view I chose to compare is Divine Nature ethics. This view is God
centered, or as Michael Jones describes it as, “a reflection of the ultimate good that is inherent in
the nature of God himself… Argu(ing) that God’s commands do not determine what is good, but
rather they institutionalize and communicate the good that is part of the unchanging nature of
God.”2 Let’s look at the pros of this view that we can see right off the bat in this definition; God
is at the center, it has a strong and unchanging foundation, and we have the Bible as our sort of
map to guide us through this crazy world. Though, in and of itself the Bible can’t be the only
