The Thomistic Institute

From Nature to Norm: How to Derive 'Ought' From 'Is' – Prof. Catherine Peters

38 snips
Oct 3, 2025
Catherine Peters, an associate professor of medieval philosophy, passionately explores how to derive 'ought' from 'is' using a Thomistic natural law framework. She delves into the essence of human nature as the foundation for objective moral norms, emphasizing the importance of teleology and reason. Peters also clarifies that mere facts cannot establish moral duties and discusses the distinctions between law, virtue, and natural law precepts. Her insights provide a compelling bridge between philosophical anthropology and practical ethical reasoning, challenging listeners to reconsider the is-ought debate.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Ethics Grounded In Human Nature

  • Thomistic ethics links moral questions to an account of human nature rather than mere facts.
  • Both virtue ethics and law rest on a teleological, essential anthropology.
INSIGHT

Essence, Not Facticity, Matters

  • The 'is' relevant to natural law is essence or what a thing essentially is, not mere factual circumstance.
  • Knowing essence lets us infer what a thing ought to be or do because teleology links being and purpose.
INSIGHT

Human As Rational Animal

  • Thomas defines humans by genus and difference: a rational animal.
  • This classification yields properties and powers that ground moral considerations.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app