Thomas Aquinas

On Natural Law
Ethics and Contemporary Issues
Professor Douglas Olena
Page 102 to 104
Question 94
 Article 2: Many Axioms

The precepts of natural law are like

demonstrations of mathematics and logic.
They are something like axioms.
 Article 2: Many Axioms

Precepts of natural law::Practical Reason

First principles of demonstration::speculative
reason
 Article 2: Many Axioms

102 “The first principle of practical reason is the

one based on the concept of the good: Good is
what everything desires.”
“This... is the first principle of law: Good is to be
done and evil avoided.”
This is the foundation for all practical reason.
 Article 2: Many Axioms

The ordering of the precepts of natural law

stems from the order of natural inclinations.
1. toward natural good: self-preservation
2. toward natural animal instincts: mating of
male and female, education of children, etc.
3. toward good based on reason: singular to
man.
 Article 3: Acts of Virtue
103 To act according to reason is to act
virtuously.
“In this respect, all virtuous acts pertain to
natural law.”
But to act virtuously is not necessarily a
matter of natural law.
The exercise of reason tells us what it is to live
well.
 Article 4: Universality

103 Speculative reason gives us necessary or

universal principles.
Practical reason deals with contingencies in
human activity.
The closer we get to particulars, the farther away
we are from universality.
 Article 4: Universality

103 “We claim that first principles of natural

law are the same for all...” theoretically.
But on a case by case basis in the real world,
there are obstacles to applying the rule that need
to be compensated for.
Question 95
 Article 2: Whence come

104 “Whether every law fashioned by humans

is derived from Natural Law”
Some laws are produced by deduction from
principles.
Some laws are produced when common forms
are tailored to specific cases.
 Article 2: Whence come

104 “The prohibition of murder is derived from

the general principle that evil should not be
done.”
But carrying out the sentence against the
murderer is a determination not directly
derived from natural law but from society.
 Article 2: Whence come

When we deduce punishment from principles of

natural law they have the force of natural law.
When we determine the punishment from some
other source, it does not have the force of natural
law.
 Article 3: The meaning
104 “The end of human law is the well-being of
humans… accordingly,… the first condition of
law posits three things:
1. That it accords with religion: inasmuch as it
is proportioned to divine law
2. That it fosters discipline: inasmuch as it is
proportioned to natural law
3. That it advances well-being: inasmuch as it
is proportioned to human needs.”