Aristotle's Case

Thomas Aquinas used Aristotle's basic ideas and put forward guidelines that he believed would help us to understand God's purpose for us. Within these guidelines Aquinas came up with the five primary precepts; Preservation of Life, Reproduction, Education of Young, Knowing God, Living in a Society. These primary precepts are set in stone, they are non-negotiable and do not take into account an individual circumstance. Aquinas said that we must use the reason given to us to understand these guidelines; the guidelines are absolute and deontological. Aquinas said that humans have a tendency to 'do good and avoid evil'. Aristotle said that the final cause the Telos (the end) determines what is right and wrong. The efficient cause of reproduction is sex and the final cause the creation of a new life. Having an abortion prevents the act of sex from reaching its Telos; this is wrong because Aristotle said that everything must reach its Telos.

The first precept that a follower of Natural Moral Law may apply to the argument is Reproduction. Reproduction says that it is always right to encourage people to reproduce, and it is wrong to prevent reproduction, therefore a follower of Natural Moral Law would say that abortion is wrong as it prevents reproduction. Preventing reproduction by aborting the unborn child within you is going against another of the five primary precepts; Preservation of Life. Natural Law is absolutist and Deontological, it does not consider the individual circumstance or the consequences. It is set in stone and there are not exceptions, Natural Law applies to everyone. As abortion prevents procreation it will be frowned upon by followers of Natural Moral Law. If a pregnancy poses a serious health risk to the woman it would still be wrong to have an abortion, even if it may appear as an Apparent Good it is not Real Good.

Abortion also goes against the precept of Preservation of Life. This precept says that it is always right to save a life, and that it is always wrong to try and intentionally take or prevent that life. This might only be argued if the follower of Natural Moral Law believes that life begins at the moment of conception. Abortion kills the unborn foetus within the womb, this goes against the precept of Preservation of life, you do not preserve the new life but you end it. One of the 10 commandments is 'Thou shalt not kill', as Natural Moral Law is deontological a follower of Natural Moral Law would be following this commandment if they follow the precept Preservation of Life. The act of abortion in itself evil and turns humans away from their true nature, which is to 'Do good'.

Overall a follower of Natural Moral Law might say that abortion is wrong, it breaks two of the main primary precepts; Preservation of Life and Reproduction. The commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' shows that it is wrong to murder, the secondary precept it is wrong to have an