A legal theory that acknowledges the relationship between the law and human morality is known as natural law theory (Maritain & Sweet, 2001). What is right, evil, and nice or bad are all related to morality. The proponents of this philosophy are adamant that morality, not a centralized authority like the government or a leader, should determine human rules (Clarke, 2002). This means that our human nature drives us to comprehend laws and follow them. This essay explores the principles of the natural law theory, and also provides examples of ethical case studies and how natural law theory would make an attempt at resolving those dilemmas.
To begin with, the natural law comes from the belief that our morality comes from nature; everything in nature has a purpose, we included (Maritain & Sweet, 2001). Therefore, theorists argue that our purpose is to live a good and a happy life. Anything that could work against the purpose of living good and happy life is hence immoral and unnatural. Moreover, laws do have their purpose which is to provide justice (Maritain & Sweet, 2001). In the following case study, we find out that mobile phones, tablets and laptops are a source of the problem to many students. This mainly stems from the fact that they are they are fatigued since they do not have enough time to sleep as they spend so much time with their gadgets. This negatively impacts on them for they end up performing badly in school. It is natural for a person to get a good night sleep to allow the body to relax. Going without sleep for a long time makes a person feel terrible and getting a good night sleep makes a person ready to take up the duties and tasks of the next day.
Scientists’ belief that sleeps plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning and other vital functions (Cappuccio et al., 2010). Therefore, the students should be encouraged to spend enough time sleeping in order to allow them to learn and perform better even at school. Sleep helps learning and memory, and it is very difficult for a person to take in new information if he/she had a night of inadequate or disturbed sleep. Moreover, getting a good night sleep after learning something new is essential for it helps in processing and retaining information that has been learned. Lack of enough sleep interferes with students focus, attention and makes it difficult to receive information (Cappuccio et al., 2010). Lack of enough sleep and rest leads to over-worked neurons that can no longer function and coordinate information properly and this makes it difficult to access previously learned information. Secondly, inadequate sleep interferes with interpretation of events thus losing the ability to make sound decisions (Cappuccio et al., 2010). Therefore, students who spend so much time on laptops and mobile phones instead of sleep lacks the ability to make a sound decision because he/she is unable to accurately assess the situation, plan accordingly, and choose the correct behavior. This is because his/her judgment is impaired (Cappuccio et al., 2010).
Natural law theory categorically states that our purpose is living a good and happy life and anything working against this purpose is immoral. In this case, the gadgets are indeed good for they make is happy and helps us to feel that we live a good life. The students here are able to communicate with the outside world and keep a close connection with those whom they love and get entertained. This means that by using the gadgets, they live a good and a happy life. On the other hand, having a good sleep could make the students feel even happier and contented for they will be able to feel relaxed and to attain all the benefits that are discussed above. Therefore, using the natural law theory student should not be allowed to use their gadgets at night but rather be encouraged to sleep for long hours.
From a natural law perspective, a law that does not provide justice is not a law at all. A law that is good is moral and moral law is good. Therefore, each school needs to have a law that will govern the student on what to do to enable them to perform well and increase their concentration even in school. It is clear that giving the student freedom to spend time with their gadgets even at night is disturbing their sleep and thus affecting their learning and performance even in school. However, depriving them of using the gadget interferes with the purpose of living a happy and good life. The natural law approach in solving this ethical dilemma could only begin with the basic belief that every student has the right to live their life. Therefore, in this case, the students should be allowed to have their gadgets but be advised on the importance of a good night sleep and why they should not use them over the night. They should be helped to draw a line between living an innocent life and the life of an unjust aggressor. This is because the natural law theory does recognize the legal and moral concern of self-defense and this is used in justifying acts of war.
Yes, the student does have a right to live their life and use the gadget as much as they want, but if this is affecting their main purpose in school and prevents them from following the just law, then they should be banned from being used at night. This is because the theorists of natural law maintain that, our purpose is to live a good and a happy life and the gadgets to help in achieving this purpose but if they are used extremely they could interfere with this purpose. Spending so much with the gadgets denies the students adequate sleep, and this interferes with their performance. When they fail due to lack of concentration, they will end up with an unhappy and bad life and this is immoral. The law should be put in place to help the students achieve their purpose in life. This way, they are able to perform well and learn how to use the gadgets constructively to maximize their happiness and good living instead of interfering with their studies and the learning process.
Natural law theory does have its strength and weakness. One of the major strength and weakness is that it concentrates on human character and its potential for goodness and flourishing, and not on the rightness or wrongness of particular acts and so it allows for some measure of flexibility (Cappucio et al., 2010). In this case, it is good since it helps the students the flexibility of using the gadget and also have time to get adequate sleep. According to natural law theorists, it gives a person right to live their life, and in this case students are given right to live as they wish but choose to follow their conscience in the amount they spend on their gadgets and in their studies (Clarke, 2002). It is a very good theory for it does not interfere with a person’s freedom. However, the theory is weak for it does not concentrate on the wrongness and the rightness of a particular act. Using all the time with gadgets without studying is very wrong since it makes the student get poor grades in school. But this theory only looks at the human character and it’s potential for goodness and flourishing. This theory does recognize the legal and moral concept of self-defense, and this is used in justifying acts of war. This makes it harder to apply in this case for it needs a lot of willingness from both sides and cooperation. Students could be talked about using the gadgets wisely but could not be forced to do away with them.
To conclude, I believe that the natural law ethical theory could help me to resolve the ethical dilemma in future especially in my life since it will help me to make the right decision. This is because it deals with the morality that related to what is right or wrong and what is good or bad. Therefore, I will be guided by my human nature to figure out what the laws are and act in conformity with this law thus allowing me to live a good and a happy life.
References
Cappuccio, F., Miller, M. A., & Lockley, S. W. (2010). Sleep, health, and society: From etiology to public health. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Clarke, P. J. (2002). Examining philosophy and ethics: Answers for A level. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.
Maritain, J., & Sweet, W. (2001). Natural law: Reflections on theory and practice. South Bend, Ind: St. Augustine's Press.
