tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585732092994259978.post3359377515034825195..comments2024-02-26T19:22:15.069-06:00Comments on Lex Christianorum: The Golden Mouth of Natural Law: St. John Chrysostom on the Natural Law, Homily XIII on StatuesAndrew M. Greenwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17242573723573203387noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585732092994259978.post-33947195247653208872010-03-06T13:56:09.851-06:002010-03-06T13:56:09.851-06:00I think we are confronting difficulty in terms. T...I think we are confronting difficulty in terms. There is not always precision in the use of "law of nature" and the "natural law." Though I have tried to consistently refer to physical laws (e.g., of gravity) or those relating to strictly bodily functions (e.g., digestion) as "laws of nature," and the law of reason or moral law as the "natural law" or "natural moral law," I have sometimes been inconsistent. Obviously, viewed from a purely semantic view or denotatively the "law of nature" is identical to "natural law." But viewed conceptually or connotatively, there is a marked difference between "law of nature" and "natural law," the former being without moral significance, the latter being entirely moral in significance. Moderns try to use the term "natural moral law" to try to alleviate some of the lack of clarity which appears to be causing your woes. <br /><br />It's true from my view that both the "law of nature" and the "natural law," that is both physical creation and moral creation, are products of the Logos, and have their end in accord with his design. Ultimately, all law, finds its source in the eternal law, only in different ways. <br /><br />As to my "square circle" problem, I am always free to subject myself to law, and I do not see how freedom and subjection to law are inconsistent. Like love and marriage, freedom and law co-exist when things are working well. Can't I freely love my wife, though I bind myself to a promise, that is subject myself to an obligation to love her? The subjection to the law of our own nature is, I think, somewhat similar. Do we lose our free will because we subject ourselves to Christ? I don't think so: we actually broaden it when we submit to the Lord. <br /><br />I hope this helps take away some of the static between the communications.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.Andrew M. Greenwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242573723573203387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585732092994259978.post-8410266289387619142010-03-03T09:33:46.582-06:002010-03-03T09:33:46.582-06:00In this post, I am baffled and dismayed by this se...In this post, I am baffled and dismayed by this sentence you wrote: "Unlike the law of nature, the natural moral law presupposes and guides man's choice, his free will."<br /><br />This is a common sentiment amongst all Catholics that write on the Natural law: (1) That there is this underlying distinction between the "Laws of Nature" and the "Natural Law"; (2) That the Laws of Nature imply abnormal, stupid, evil, things.<br /><br />Where and what is this distinction? Is there a distinction? Or are Catholics really ignorant of the Natural Law? Is not "Natural Law" mean also the "Laws of Nature"? Is that not synonymous? And how pray tell can one approach The Good without the knowledge of Righteousness and the Golden Mean which are the Laws of Nature? Are not the Laws of Nature the product of the Logos? Or is the Logos only for the Natural Law and the Laws of Nature are from the Devil?<br /><br />My second point, is that I notice a problem. How can you write "We are not therefore only the natural moral law's executors, we must also be its willing subjects."<br /><br />How do you square the circle? How does one have "Free Will" but then is a "willing subject" to the Natural law? Is that not an oxymoron? And if I engage my "Free Will" to NOT follow the Natural Law, and Death is the result---how is that "Free Will"?<br /><br />I notice a conundrum. What is this difficulty between the "Laws of Nature" and the "Natural Law"? Now, I looked at Questia the Online Library and didn't really find anything solid on the "Laws of Nature". What document writes of the "laws of Nature" where the Catholics can point to and say this is evil and wrong and against the Natural Law. Where is Righteousness? Where is the Golden mean? Where is Harmony? Where is the "Combinatorial System" or "the combination of different but related parts"? <br /><br />It seems there is massive confusion somewhere in the line. "Houston, we have a problem.WLindsayWheelernoreply@blogger.com