Saint Thomas Aquinas Theory of Natural Rights

St. Thomas Aquinas, by Fra Angelico, O.P

Natural Law and Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas (122512!" returns to the #ie$ that natural la$ is an
in%e&en%ent reality $ithin a system o' human reason a&&roaching (but
ne#er 'ully com&rehen%ing" (o%)s eternal la$ (an% thus nee%ing
su&&lementation by (o%)s %i#ine la$".
Natural Law in Summa Theologica]
*n Summa Theologica, Aquinas i%enti+es 'our ty&es o' la$, (1" eternal- (2"
natural- (." human- an% (!" %i#ine.
The eternal law is the i%eal ty&e an% or%er o' the uni#erse (kosmos" &re/
e0isting in the min% o' (o% (Logos".
The natural law is 1the rational creature)s &artici&ation in the eternal
la$.2
"It is evident that all things partake somewhat of the eternal law, in
so far as, namely, from its being imprinted on them... Wherefore it
human nature! has a share of the "ternal #eason, whereby it has a
natural inclination to its proper act and end$ and this participation of
the eternal law in the rational creature is called the natural law."
The human law re'ers to 1the more particular determinations of certain
matters devised by human reason.2
The divine law re'ers to S&ecial 3e#elation // the $ill o' (o% as re#eale%
in the Scri&tures o' the Ol% an% 4e$ Testaments. This la$ $as necessary
'or 'our reasons, (1" humans nee% e0&licit %i#ine gui%ance on ho$ to
&er'orm &ro&er acts- (2" uncertainty o' human 5u%gment nee%s a chec6-
(." humans nee% %i#ine insight on issues on $hich they are not
com&etent to 5u%ge- an% (!" it &ro#es that (o% $ill &unish some %ee%s
that e#en go beyon% the ability o' human la$ to &unish.