What is the role of ordinary human reason in morality?

• A. It provides natural law to reason with
• B. It replaces divine revelation
• C. It is not involved in moral decisions
• D. It only confuse

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that ordinary human reason allows us to know the natural law, the universal moral principles accessible to anyone by reflecting on human nature and the purposes proper to a rational, social being. By considering what helps human flourishing and what harms it, we can see which acts are right or wrong and what duties flow from being human. This is why reason provides natural law to reason with: it offers the standard and content that our deliberation uses to judge actions and shape moral decisions.

Divine revelation does not replace reason; rather, it informs and enriches our moral understanding, guiding and correcting our judgments where reason alone might fall short. Reason remains actively involved in morality, helping us apply universal goods to concrete situations and discern how best to live rightly. It does not merely confuse; when properly formed, ordinary reason clarifies and grounds our choices in the moral order.