| I am supposing the derivation of ethical standards from Natural Law, and therefore from an observation of how human beings and human societies operate, and what rules optimize their development. Even from a "deontological" perspective, the rules must at least fit with the type of creatures that we are, and, all things being equal, lead to better results than would be achieved by their infraction. Otherwise, we would be in the absurd position of saying that the effects of being just, kind, and honest are ordinarily baneful. While it is true that the world is not perfectly just, and that the individual, though good, may suffer, the net affect of following moral laws leads to a good society, and ordinarily is beneficial to the individuals within it. Therefore, even from a "deontological" perspective, there must be some kind of congruence between our nature as human beings and social creatures, and the moral law......... |
