AQUINAS’

NATURAL
LAW
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
BY THE END OF THIS LESSON, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

1. Explain how natural

law as a reflection
3. Perceive
of eternal law. happiness as
constitutive of
2. Recognize the meaning moral and cardinal
of natural law and its
virtues.
tenets.
 ESSENCE OF LAW

LESSON VARIOUS KINDS OF LAWS

ETERNAL LAW

OUTLINE NATURAL LAW

ITS TENETS

HAPPINESS AS CONSTITUTIVE
OF CARDINAL VIRTUES
S T. T HOMA S AQ UINAS
m as Aq ui na s (1 22 5- 12 74 )w as a
Tho
phi lo sop he r an d th eo lo gi an .

He was born in 1225 in

Roccaseca, a castle in the
Frosinone province.

He prod uc ed a co mp re he ns iv e
si s of Ch ri st ia n th eo logy
synthe
and Aristotelian philosophy
THE ESSENCE OF LAW
ESSENCE OF LAW

ARTICLE. 1 - WHETHER LAW IS SOMETHING

PERTAINING TO REASON?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

Law is not something pertaining to Laws come from our ability to think
reason. and reason.

In reason, there is nothing else but Laws are rules we follow, and these
power, habit, and act. rules come from our ability to reason

Law moves those who are subject to it Our reason plays a big part in making
to act right. laws.
 ESSENCE OF LAW

ARTICLE. 2 - WHETHER THE LAW IS ALWAYS

SOMETHING DIRECTED TO THE COMMON GOOD?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

Law is not always directed to the common laws can include rules to guide us
good as to its end towards the common good.

laws relate to how people act situations

Law directs man in his actions.
to contribute to the common good

"If the law is based on reason, whatever the primary focus of true law is the
is based on reason will be a law." common good
ESSENCE OF LAW

ARTICLE. 3 - WHETHER THE REASON OF ANY

MAN IS COMPETENT TO MAKE LAWS?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

The reason of any man is competent to Individuals can follow what's right
make laws in their hearts

"The intention of the lawgiver is to Private individuals can only offer

lead men to virtue." advice, not enforce rules

“Every father of a family governs his the good of a household is for the
household.” common good of the larger community
 ESSENCE OF LAW

ARTICLE. 4 - WHETHER PROMULGATION IS

ESSENTIAL TO A LAW?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

Natural law doesn't need explicit

Promulgation is not essential to a law.
promulgation because it's naturally known

It belongs properly to a law to bind Laws must be applied to those they govern
one to do or not to do something. to be effective.

"Laws are binding in matters of the Promulgation endures as written laws

future," perpetuate into the future.
SUMMARY

THE ESSENCE OF LAW

1. Law is an ordinance of reason.

2. Law is an ordinance of reason for the common

good of persons in a society.

3. A law is thus an ordinance of reason for the

common good.

4. A law must be promulgated.

 OF THE VARIOUS
KINDS OF LAW
six points of inquiry:

(1) Whether there is an eternal law?

(2) Whether there is a natural law?
-is a fundamental principle
of governance emanating from
the Divine Reason ETERNAL LAW
WHETHER THERE IS AN ETERNAL LAW?

-Immutable and Unchangeable

-Preordained by God, with its

concept existing in God's
foreknowledge.
ETERNAL LAW
points of inquiry:

-What is Eternal Law?

-Is Eterna Law known to all?

-Is every law derived from

the Eternal Law?
NATURAL LAW
Whether there is in us a natural law?
IS NATURAL LAW IS A HABIT? Habit as
Something Held:

Habit in t wo wa y s : Habit can also

mean something we
hold or possess

It can be It's more by habit.

Other times,
something like the these principles
essential reside in our

to our reasoned reason

habitually,
actions guidance for meaning they're
there, ready to
our actions. be used when
needed.
Article 4: Whether the natural law is the same in all men?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

Found both in the Law and

Some things are beyond nature
the Gospel.

Exceptions for some Exception are derived from

individuals universal principles

People have different Inclinitions should be

natural inclinations. accordance with reason
 Article 5: Whether the Natural law can be Change?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

Law of the letter is intended Fill any gaps and correct

to correct the natural law. misunderstanding.

Some God’s command seem to Actions take on different

involve changes to moral moral character when commnaded
principles. by God.

Human laws have changed other Aligns what nature naturally

principles incclines us to do.
Article 6: Whether the Law of Nature can be abolished from the
Heart of Man?
OBJECTIONS RESPONSE

Natural is often equated to Universal aspects of the

the law of righteousness. natural law remains.

Nature is fundamental and

Sin can remove law of Nature
essential to humans.

Flexibility of natural law

Human-made laws
due to circumstances.
AQUINAS’
NATURAL LAW
THEORY HAS THE
FOLLOWING
TENETS:
 BASIC TENETS
1. Eternal law of God is revealed through the Natural Law.
2. Natural Law is revealed to all people through human reason.
3. Natural law has flexibility in its application.
4. The natural laws are universal and unchangeable bases to judge
individual cultures and societies.
5. Everything in the world has its own nature or purpose (natural
law) of being.
6. Humanity has an essential rational nature.
7. Human person can know, through reason, what is in accord with
his own nature, which is good.
HAPPINESS AS
CONSTITUTIVE
OF CARDINAL
VIRTUES
 Happiness is not found
in material world
and created things; it
is only found in God in
who is the source of
everything that is good
and perfect.
 HAPPINESS IS AND WILL BE
THROUGH THE MORAL
VIRTUES
BECAUSE THERE IS NO
HAPPINESS WITHOUT VIRTUE
AND NO VIRTUE WITHOUT
SELF-STRUGGLE.
THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES
1: Prudence
RIGHT REASON IN ACTION
2: Moral Courage
PERSEVERANCE IN ADVERSITY

3: Justice
JUSTICE IS GIVING WHAT FAIRLY
BELONGS TO OTHERS AND TO GOD

4: Temperance
TEMPERANCE IS THE PRACTICE OF
SELF-CONTROL, ABSTENTION AND
MODERATION.
OPEN FORUM
REFERENCE LINK

GE 8 ETHICS MODULE 9 ST. THOMAS

AQUINAS NATURAL LAW AND ITS
TENETS
ASSIGNMENT
IN A 1/2 PAPER, ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN
3-5 SENTENCES. 5 POINTS EACH.

1. THERE ARE 7 BASIC TENET IN AQUINAS'

NATURAL LAW, CHOOSE 1 TENET AND EXPLAIN
ITS IDEA AND GIVE EXAMPLES THAT APPLIES TO
YOUR MORAL DECISION MAKING.

2. HOW IMPORTANT IS HAPPINESS IN MORAL

VIRTUES? SITE EXAMPLES ON HOW WE CAN
ACHIEVE HAPPINESS IN MORAL VIRTUES.