Lecture Series on “Natural Law” – Essential and Relevant
Lecture Series on “Natural Law” - Essential and Relevant
22
Oct
The Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy is organising a series of Public Lecture on Natural Lawn starting on 22 October 2020.
Covid-19 impacts our life and world dramatically. Scientists claim, that this situation might have been caused – among other factors – by a wrong treatment of nature by humans. Did nature put its brakes on to correct human behavior? Can we humans discover in nature how to act correctly? Does nature help us to get to know what to do? Philosophically speaking, should actions follow our being (agere sequitur esse), and is ethics fundamentally hooked up with reality and ontology? (bonum et verum convertuntur). Does the “ought” follow from the “is”, and should human life and societies comply with how things are?
After overcoming the mechanistic reductionism of the “natural fallacy”, which denies “value judgments” originating from “is” or facts, this Lecture Series attempts to trace back question of “natural goodness” (Philippa Foot), morals and good actions “in accord with reason” (S. Thomas Aquinas, S.Th. I-II.21.1.; ST I-II, 90.1). The philosophical and catholic tradition calls this the morality of the “natural law”. The lectures shed light on development and relevance of Natural Law from different philosophical and theological angles.
About the Talk
The lecture is entitled, “Natural Law: Essential and Relevant”. Being the opening lecturer, the speaker will present a panoramic view of the traditional natural law theory or concept and explore new approaches or applications of natural law today. His talk will develop three main points: first, some preliminary notes; second, natural law in moral theology, and third, three current consequences from the natural law continuing tradition, namely, human rights, virtue ethics and the Golden Rule.
About the Speaker
The lecturer is Fausto Gomez Berlana OP, Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy of the University of Saint Joseph (Macau), and Professor of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Santo Tomas (Manila). Professor Gomez will open the Series of Lectures on Natural Law (2020-2021).
Details
Date: 22 October 2020
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Don Bosco Auditorium, USJ Ilha Verde Campus
Organised by: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy, University of Saint Joseph
