1. DEFINITION OF NATURAL LAW:
The term natural law is used to mean a body of ethical imperatives supposedly
inherent in human beings and discovered by human reason. It therefore differs from
statute law, from supernaturally revealed law, and even from so-called "laws of
nature."
The word "natural" is, of course, highly ambiguous. Even "natural law" has been
defined in various ways; it now means different things to different people. Some find
the notion lacking in precise content. Others say natural law changes with an evolving
society. Others distinguish between "good and bad natural laws."
Natural laws are Cosmic laws that are not made by humans.
These laws may not be specifically taught to us but are felt by all at a subconscious level,
as if genetically programmed in our psyche. For instance, whether or not specified by
law, we are all aware that murder is not fair!
These laws apply to all human beings at all times, irrespective of Nature imparted
differences like gender and race or man-made categorizations like religion, region,
culture, caste, creed, language, etc.
Natural laws are, as such, moral codes which we collectively know as the conscience.
Anything which does not conform to these codes comes across as immoral or unfair and
all human beings, possessing average intelligence and emotional quotients, when faced
with the commission of such unfair acts suffer from what we call a guilty conscience,
whether or not we admit it.
In ancient times, the validity and righteousness of the positive laws of some of the most
glorious civilizations, such as the Greeks, were tested by pitching them against and
comparing them with the natural laws. While drafting the laws of any nation, effort was
always made to conform the positive laws as close to the natural laws as possible.
The nineteen natural laws are given below:
1. ....every man ought to endeavor peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he
cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war.
2. ...a man be willing, when others are so too, as far forth, as for peace, and defense of
himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented
with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself.
3. ...men perform their covenants made.
4. ...a man which receiveth benefit from another of mere grace, endeavor that he which
giveth it, have no reasonable cause to repent him of his good will.
5. ...every man strive to accommodate himself to the rest.
6. ...upon caution of the future time, a man ought to pardon the offences past of them that
repenting, desire it.
7. ...in revenges, men look not at the greatness of the evil past, but the greatness of the good
to follow.
8. ...no man by deed, word, countenance, or gesture, declare hatred or contempt of another.

2. 9. ...every man acknowledge another for his equal by nature.
10. ...at the entrance into the conditions of peace, no man require to reserve to himself any
right, which he is not content should be reserved to every one of the rest.
11. ...if a man be trusted to judge between man and man, that he deal equally between them.
12. ...such things as cannot be divided, be enjoyed in common, if it can be; and if the quantity
of the thing permit, without stint; otherwise proportionably to the number of them that
have right.
13. ...the entire right, or else...the first possession... of any object which ...can neither be
divided nor enjoyed in common... may be decided upon by a method of lottery.
14. ...those things which cannot be enjoyed in common, nor divided, ought to be adjudged to
the first possessor; and in some cases to the first born, as acquired by lot.
15. ...all men that mediate peace be allowed safe conduct.
16. ...they that are at controversie, submit their Right to the judgment of an Arbitrator.
17. ...no man is a fit Arbitrator in his own cause.
18. It is immoral/ incorrect for any person to take upon the responsibility of a judge in any
case in which greater profit, or honor, or pleasure apparently ariseth [for him] out of the
victory of one party, than of the other.
19. In case of a dispute regarding the facts of the case, it is the duty of the judge to give equal
weight to the testimony of both parties. In the absence of adequate evidence, such a judge
should pass verdict on the case based upon the testimony of other witnesses.
NATURAL SCIENCE OF ETHICS:
The natural science of ethics is based on the natural origins of human values. A natural 'science
of values' or 'moral science' is the science of moral development i.e. development of moral
consciousness or 'conscience'. The human conscience is the natural source of moral knowledge
or 'morality’. The principles for morality and ethical values which are prescribed by religions can
be found within the biology of human nature. Unlike fixed philosophical systems, natural ethics
are flexible.
"Scientists and humanists should consider together the possibility that the time
has come for ethics to be removed temporarily from the hands of the
philosophers and bioligicized." (Wilson, E. Sociobiology: The New Synthesis Belknap
Press of Harvard University Press, l975, 562)
The human species is a social species and the human organism is a
social organism:
Understanding is possible between individuals who are morally free, living in love and
understanding of the will of the other - also morally free. Freedom in this sense means obedience
to one's own conscience (fully developed and therefore fully 'human') Individuals who are not
free in this sense submit themselves to control. The sources of norms for ethical conduct are to
be found in human nature. Violation of natural moral norms results in mental and emotional

3. disintegration. The character structure of the mature and integrated personality - the 'productive'
character - constitutes the source and the basis of 'virtue'. 'Vice' is the indifference to one's own
self and self-mutilation. 'Self-love' and the affirmation of one's true self are the supreme values
of humanistic ethics. For the human organism to have confidence in values, he must know
himself and the capacity of his nature for goodness and productiveness. The science of ethics is
the systematic investigation into the real nature of the individual human organism as a member
of the human species.. The 'science of ethics' refers to the study of intrinsic and instinctive
natural valuing process as a part of normal human development... a 'science of values'...moral
science...
The search for guiding values for ethical living is the subject of the natural 'science of ethics'.
Development of morality is naturally revealed with the unfolding of human potential in a
normal process of psychological and moral development. Moral development is a function of
development of the biologically intrinsic moral consciousness or 'conscience’. The conscience is
the inner voice of a person's sense of responsibility, strength, courage and needs... the guiding
values of free will... the personal decision making process which is based on the organism's
inherent tendency for growth toward spiritual independence of maturity or 'self-actualization'.
'Self-actualization' can be characterized in terms of ethical values for communal living... values
for effective socialization or 'social values'. Social values of ethical behavior originate in a
natural valuing system which is intrinsic to the organism. Ethical values are 'operative values'.
Natural ethics is based on the natural valuing process of the human organism ... based on the
natural laws of human nature and human existence. For proper growth and development,
instinctive needs must be understood and respected. The natural valuing process and the
biological basis of morality. 'Universal human ethics' or 'humanistic ethics', 'intrinsic conscience
the natural valuing process is a part of normal human development. From a holistic perspective,
an individual's values system is the product of the totality of the individual's thought processes
within the context the individual's experiences in the changing social environment... The
principles for morality and ethical values which are prescribed by religions and philosophies can
be found within the biology of human nature. The natural system of ethics - natural ethics - is
flexible, unlike philosophical systems which are fixed.
As operative values human ethical values result from the intrinsic valuing process of the
human organism... also known as the “naturalistic” or “organism value system” which is shared
by all members of the human species. The human species is a social species which depends for
socialization and survival on the social values or 'virtues'. The virtues are natural ethical values
which are essential for creative and adaptive socialization. The human organism is a moral or
ethical being. The system of natural ethics evolved by a process of natural selection during the
course of human evolution.
A natural science of ethics is the systematic investigation into the biological basis of morality in
the evolution of social values i.e. morals or 'ethics'. Ethics is a function of the real nature of the
human organism as a member of a social species.

4. Ethical behavior is rooted in the morals of the rational human conscience. Development of the
conscience is a function of human psychological, emotional, intellectual and moral development.
The biologically based constitutional ethical impulses which are revealed in normal development
and which enable the individual to adjust to the realities of the social environment are 'natural
ethics'.
Natural ethics is a function of moral consciousness or rational
'conscience’:
It is the human conscience which constitutes the biological basis of morality and ethics. The
conscience is the natural source of ethical principles for guidance in the solution of human
problems. The human organism depends on the conscience in its efforts to adapt to the realities
of a changing social environment. The conscience is a biological mechanism which enables the
individual to make accurate evaluations of social conditions while at the same time preserving
the integrity of the personality. As the source of natural values and ethical behaviour, the
conscience is the unconscious perception of human nature and human needs. Analysis of the
conscience as a natural system of ethics is based on the understanding of human motives for
behavior i.e. 'human needs'. Human needs include the most urgent 'lower' needs - physiological
and psychological needs - and the less urgent 'higher' needs - the spiritual needs of the value-life
i.e. 'met needs'.
Spiritual needs or 'met needs':
The met needs are the biologically based constitutional ethical impulses revealed during
harmonious human development...... the spiritual needs of the value-life.
They are the guiding moral or 'ethical' values of humanness - the 'divine' values of the moral
being. also known as 'Being-values' or 'B-Values' - 'Being needs' (B-needs) the needs for truth,
beauty, goodness, justice, transcendence, wholeness, perfection, truth, 'love' as human
fellowship, justice, aliveness, richness, simplicity, uniqueness, self-sufficiency etc. They must be
satisfied for a person to become mature, to express the potentialities of human nature, to become
fully 'human'. Individuals who have had their lower needs gratified during normal growth are
less dependent on others for the gratification of the higher needs for spiritual growth, creation
and production. The individual who is motivated by the Being needs for growth, is 'growth
motivated.' The growth motivated individual relies on their inner resources and is independent of
others for the gratification of growth needs.
Motivation by the met needs for ethical living is 'met motivation’. A full definition of human
nature includes met motivation by the met needs because it is biologically based and instinctive.
Human needs for ethical living must be met for effective socialization, adaptation and survival...
survival value of 'virtue'. Human needs have evolved on the basis of their survival value to the
organism in a changing social environment. They determine the individual's full functioning as a
socially intelligent being. Social intelligence and adaptation depend on proper growth and
development. Individuals whose needs are met can be described by those human attributes, the

5. ethical values, which have survival value for the human organism as a social organism. They
enable the individual to adjust to the realities of a social environment -self-respect, self-
directedness, self-discipline, sense of purpose, sense of worthiness and so on. Ethical values for
communal living are characteristic of maturity and self-actualization. With complete growth,
individuals become self-actualized. 'Self-actualizing' individuals are autonomous... self-
sufficient.
The self-actualizing individual:
Self-actualizing individuals are self-transcending living in the realm of ethical values. Obeying
their own conscience, they experience 'true' freedom. They are detached and private and resist
enculturation. They are spontaneous and enjoy life in all its aspects, reacting with fresh
appreciation and richness. They make decisions in their own 'true' interest while leading ethical
lives. They are problem-centered, making personal decisions on the basis of B-needs, thus
making choices which are in the 'true' interest of society. They are responsible to themselves and
to others as well. They have democratic 'character structure' and identify with the human species.
They accept their own nature and maintain their personal integrity while adapting to social
changes. They have a non-judgmental, non-interfering attitude towards others perceiving them as
unique individuals with their own intrinsic qualities. Their comprehensive understanding of other
people makes for meaningful interpersonal relations and successful adaptation to social changes.
They enjoy the pleasure of insight and experience high frequencies of so called 'peak-
experiences'. They have a capacity to perceive reality holistically... objective 'holistic
perception'. Holistic perception leads to holistic reasoning - transcending opposites, dichotomies,
polarities, contradictions and incompatibilities perceiving these as interpenetrating facets of a
whole. They are creative and productive and define their full individuality in their 'work'.
Psychological wholeness and personality integration achieved through proper development of the
intrinsic human conscience is the basis of social intelligence. Failure to satisfy human needs
leads to undeveloped conscience and pathologies of diminished humanness. A culture which
recognizes and respects the human needs for socialization and provides the necessary conditions
for fostering proper human growth and development is a 'healthy culture'. As a result of
culturally fostered human development, the individual becomes 'self-actualized' - living
according to the 'higher' ethical values of a rational conscience. Ethical individuals can live
together in peace and justice because they naturally do what is right and necessary for communal
living.
Implications for education:
Education for ethics is education for moral knowledge of a rational conscience. Intrinsic
conscience must be properly developed for ethical living. Development of the conscience is a
part of normal human development growth with total freedom and love. The process of
education for proper human development involves the fostering of an individual's instinctive
responsibility to himself and his own needs. It therefore depends on the creation of an
environment which fosters self-discipline, self-actualization and the full development of
'humanness,' the natural ethical core of every human being. A healthy social and cultural
environment which recognizes and respects the individual's human needs can provide the

6. necessary conditions for fostering proper human growth and development. the individual
becomes self-actualized as the result of a culturally fostered human development... living
according to the higher Being values which comprise his natural system of ethics. The self-
actualized individual lives in accordance with natural biological laws and the evolutionary
process.
REFERENCES:
http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9501/articles/henry.html
http://www.holisticeducator.com/naturalethics.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/natural-law-theory.html
http://spemc.org/resources/presentation_020509.pdf
http://josephevers.blogspot.com/