ABSTRACT
The tradition of natural law ethics is considerably broader than the best known of its contemporary applications–its use to condemn the unnaturalness of contraception–implies. Learning about cultural diversity has posed a great challenge to natural law theories, but human moral systems have considerable unanimity on certain matters. The reason a natural life-span has become an issue is the possibility of extending life through new medical techniques. To say that people are naturally inclined toward the things that promote human community, is not the same as saying that they will be equally well nourished by just any community, even with no sense of participation whatsoever. The choice of a natural life-span must take place in a context in which the requirements of justice are met. A sense of justice may be natural to us humans, but the specification of what counts as justice is more culturally shaped than we often think.
