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Thomas Aquinas 1225–1274 Naples and Paris
"Human law is law only by virtue of its accordance with right
reason, and by this means it is clear that it flows from Eternal law. In so far as it deviates
from right reason it is called an Unjust law; and in such a case, it is no law at all, but rather
an assertion of violence." Thomas Aquinas [Summa Theologica]
Aquinas Snapshot
Encyclopedia entries
Readings
Treatise on Law: Summa Theologica
On the Nature of Law (Summa
Theologica)
adapted from Medieval Sourcebook The sections is reproduced here in streamlined form, with only
the responsio sections included and with some articles omitted entirely.
From newadvent.org
Treatise on Law
GENERAL: The essence
(90), various kinds (91), and effects (92) of law.
ETERNAL LAW: The eternal law (93).
NATURAL LAW: The natural law (94).
HUMAN LAW: Human law (95) and its power (96) and mutability (97).
OLD LAW: The old law (98) and its precepts (99): moral (100), ceremonial (101) and judicial (104). The causes (102) and duration (103) of the ceremonial precepts.
The reason (105) for the judicial
precepts.
NEW LAW: The law of the Gospel (106)
or new law and its comparison with the old
(107). What (108) the new law
contains.
Other Thomistic Readings on Ehics
From newadvent.org
MAN'S LAST END
GENERAL: Man's last end (1). Those
things in which man's happiness (2)
consists. What (3) is happiness, what is required (4) for it, and its attainment (5).
HUMAN ACTS
GENERAL: The voluntary and the
involuntary (6) acts, and their circumstances
(7).
WILL: Its object (8), mover (9) and manner of movement (10). Its other acts with
regard to the ends: enjoyment (11) and intention (12). Its acts with regard to the
means: choice (13), counsel (14), consent (15) and use (16). The acts (17) commanded by the will.
GOOD AND EVIL: The goodness and malice of human
acts in general (18), of the interior act of
the will (19), and in external human actions
(20). The consequences (21) of human
actions by reason of their goodness and malice.
PASSIONS
GENERAL: The subject (22) of the
soul's passions. Their differences (23), goodness and malice (24) and relations (25).
CONCUPISCIBLE: Love (26), its cause (27) and effects (28). Hatred (29). Concupiscence (30). Delight (31) and its cause (32), effects (33), and goodness or malice (34). Pain or sorrow (35) and its causes (36), effects (37), remedies (38), and goodness or malice (39).
IRASCIBLE: Hope and despair (40). Fear (41) and its object (42), cause (43) and effects (44). Daring (45). Anger (46) and its cause (47) and effects (48).
HABITS
GENERAL: Habits in general (49), and
their subject (50), cause (51), increase (52), decrease (53), and distinction (54).
VIRTUES: The essence (55) and subject (56) of virtues. The intellectual (57) virtues and their difference (58) with the moral virtues. The
moral virtues in relation to the passions (59)
and to one another (60). The cardinal (61) and theological (62) virtues. The cause (63) and mean (64) of virtue. The connection (65) of and equality (66) among the virtues. Their duration (67) after this life.
RELATED TO VIRTUES: The gifts (68), beatitudes (69) and fruits of the Holy Ghost (70).
VICE AND SIN
GENERAL: Vice and sin in themselves (71).
Their distinction (72), comparison (73) and subject (74).
CAUSE: Their general cause (75).
Their internal causes such as ignorance (76),
passion (77) and malice (78). Their external causes (79) such as the devil (80) and man himself (81). Original sin: its essence (82) and subject (83). Sin caused by other sins (84).
EFFECTS: The effects of sin: The corruption
of nature (85), the stain of sin (86),
and the debt of punishment (87) due to venial and mortal sin (88) in general, and venial sin (89) in particular.
Recommended Print Editions:
Treatise on Law: Summa Theologica, Questions 90-97 Ralph McInerny (Introduction), Thomas Aquinas
Regnery Publishing, Inc.; ISBN: 0895267055; Reprint edition 2001
Commentaries
Aquinas Snapshot
Hardon: Meaning of Virtue
in Thomas Aquinas from "Great
Catholic Books Newsletter" Volume II, Number 1.
Joseph Magee's
Thomistic Philosophy Page
Joseph Magee's
Thomistic Questions Page
Basic ethical theory
Excerpts from Vernon Bourke's chapter on Aquinas in Ethics in the History of Western Philosophy
Ed. Cavalier, Gouinlock and Sterba (MacMillan/St. Martin's Press, 1990).
G. J.
Mattey's: Medieval Ethics
Joseph Kenny's Wisdom words of Thomas Aquinas Independent column, 1999-2000. Thomas is known for his systematic
thorough analysis of a question. His punch-packed aphorisms or logia buried in his presentation
often go unnoticed. Here a few are brought out in free translation.
Lux Veritas from the Catholic Forum
Excellent site
about Aquinas from Thomas Instituut Utrecht
Quotes
"Human law is law only by virtue of its accordance with right
reason, and by this means it is clear that it flows from Eternal law. In so far as it deviates
from right reason it is called an Unjust law; and in such a case, it is no law at all, but rather
an assertion of violence." Thomas Aquinas [Summa Theologica]
"Even in the lost the natural inclination to virtue remains, else
they would have no remorse of conscience."
[Summa Theologica]
'Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands,
prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain.'' [Summa Theologica]
''Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a prime mover, put in motion by
no other; and this everyone understands to be God.'' [Summa Theologica]
Geographical and Historical Situation