Which term means 'the universal moral principles discoverable by reason'?

• A. Beatitudes
• B. Natural Law
• C. Commandments
• D. Dignity

Answer: (B)

Natural Law refers to universal moral principles discoverable by reason. It’s the idea that there are basic norms about how humans ought to act that come from rational reflection on human nature and what’s needed for people to live well together. These norms are universal and not tied to a single culture or to revelation alone, because they emerge from what it means to be human and to live in society. For example, reasoning about the good of flourishing, honesty, and keeping promises leads to timeless judgments about actions like harming others, lying, or breaking trust.

Beatitudes are religious blessings that describe a certain kind of spiritual happiness, not a general system of morality known by reason. The Commandments are divine laws given by God, important as religious directives, but they are not described here as something discovered purely by reason. Dignity refers to the inherent worth of every person, a valuable concept, but it’s a principle about worth rather than a complete set of universal moral rules that can be derived through rational inquiry alone. Natural Law best fits the description because it centers on universal norms accessible through rational thought about human nature and flourishing.