aquinas' natural law

What question about unjust laws does Yves Simon argue leads people to Natural Law?

It raises the question of what objective standards we use to judge unjust/unfair laws

Which two thinkers most strongly influenced Aquinas’ account of Natural Law?

Aristotle and saint Augustine

What example from Greek tragedy is used to show Natural Law overriding human law?

Antigone, where divine or natural justice is upheld against unjust political law.

In which part of the Summa Theologiae does Aquinas discuss Natural Law?

The First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Question 94.

Why does Aquinas’ Natural Law need to be understood alongside his theory of virtue?

Because Natural Law depends on Aquinas’ wider moral psychology and his account of virtues guiding action.

 What is Aquinas’ definition of law?

A law is an ordinance of reason directed to the common good, made by one who has care of the community, and promulgated.

Why does Aquinas reject the idea that law is simply based on will or authority?

Because true law must be grounded in reason, not arbitrary will.

What does Aquinas mean by the common good, and why is it not just self-interest or altruism?

The common good is a shared good that perfects individuals through community and is not diminished by being shared

Why is promulgation essential for a law to be binding?

Without promulgation, people cannot know the law and therefore cannot be bound by it.

How is Natural Law related to Eternal Law?

Natural law is the rational creature's participation in Eternal Law

What is the difference between theoretical reasoning and practical reasoning?

Theoretical reasoning seeks truth, while practical reasoning guides action toward goods.

What is synderesis, and what role does it play in moral reasoning?

Synderesis is the innate habit by which humans know the basic moral principle to do good and avoid evil

What is the first and most fundamental precept of Natural Law?

Good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided.

How do natural inclinations give rise to the precepts of Natural Law?

Each precept corresponds to a natural human inclination ordered by reason

Why does Aquinas believe disagreement about morality does not disprove Natural Law?

Because errors arise from ignorance, culture, or lack of virtue, not from the absence of natural law

exam ready judgement

Overall, Aquinas’ Natural Law remains partially effective: its emphasis on reason and objective moral norms gives it enduring relevance, but its absolutism, cultural limitations, and reliance on disputed assumptions significantly reduce its effectiveness in contemporary society.