(1225-1274 CE)
handout j
Section A: ETERNAL LAW
(God’s regulative reason; i.e., each thing to its proper end – as designed by God)
DIVINE LAW NATURAL LAW
(Revealed laws – some of which (Man’s participation in Eternal
cannot be known by “the natural Law by means of “the natural light
light of reason” – e.g., the rules of reason” – allowing man to
governing the sacraments) discern the fundamental moral
principles or “rules of right reason”)
HUMAN LAWS
(Positive laws designed by humans
to give temporal sanctions for
Natural Law, and to serve the
common good by reasonable
arrangements)
Section B:
THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES:
1) CHARITY = sharing Divine love with others infused by grace,
2) HOPE = persistence in right action no excess possible
3) FAITH = right belief in God’s revelation
INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES:
4) WISDOM = judging and ordering all truths known by reason,
5) SCIENCE = valid deductive reasoning no excess possible
6) UNDERSTANDING = habit of discerning general rules (principles) from particulars
MORAL VIRTUES: known by reason,
7) JUSTICE = control of actions through reason’s vision of fairness ruled by Golden Mean, excess and defect possible
8) PRUDENCE = control of reason by reason
9) FORTITUDE = control of fear by reason
10) TEMPERANCE = control of passions by reason
Section C:
All men are designed so as to share in a common human nature.
Their essences are the same. Thus:
1) In so far as man is a CREATURE PER SE, man has an inclination to self-preservation.
2) In so far as man is a LIVING BEING, man has an inclination to propagate the species and raise children.
3) In so far as man is a RATIONAL BEING, man has an inclination “to know the truth about God” and to live in society”.
Thus, man can give a MORAL LAW to himself through reason.
(although this law is ultimately rooted in God’s ETERNAL LAW)
| Last Updated: 10/19/22 |