Abstract

In the current discussion about the foundation ofChristian ethics some german Catholic theologians try to renew the naturallaw ethical system by interpreting it as a complex system of human moral rationality. Refering to the thomasian doctrin of the »inclinationes naturales« and integrating the results of the modern human sciences W. Korff wants to analyse the conditions of ethical reasoning. His argumentation is confronted with K. Barths emphatic rejection of any natural law ethics. But Barth bimself does not explainexactly, how living in faith relates to »natural« wisdom. Therefore we suggest to notice the helpful hermeneutical reflections of K. Demmer: He understands the »nature« of man as human cultural product and as the result of a process of selfinterpretation, in which faith takes a fundamental place by defining the basic principles of anthropology. But why should we use the term »naturallaw« instead of "personal" or »human rights«, in order to indicate the basic norms of theological anthropology and ethics?