St. Thomas Aquinas

Question 1

who is thomas aquinas

5

Answer 1

• Born in Roccasecca to a landed family
• joined order of the Dominicans
• studied in Naples, Cologne and Paris
• outstanding student and recognized later as a teacher of theology and philosophy
• thomism as the synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and Christianity

Question 2

context of aquinas

Answer 2

• Medieval Period
• Feudalism with Vassals and fiefdoms
• Increasing role of the Church

Question 3

what is the essence of law accd to summa theologica of aquinas

Answer 3

• “law is a rule and measure of acts whereby man is induced to act or is
  restrained from acting; for lex (law) is derived from ligare (to bind), because
  it binds one to act.”
• Law is connected to reason, as “law is nothing but a dictate of practical
  reason emanating from the ruler who governs a perfect community”
• “law is given for the purpose of directing human acts as far as human acts
  conduce to virtue, so far does law make men good”
• “every law must be followed by those subjected to it”
• law must need to be promulgated, and even if you are not present when it was promulgated, you are still bound by it (ignorantia juris non excusat)

Question 4

what is eternal law

Answer 4

• “idea of the government of things in God the Ruler of the universe
  has the nature of a law”
• “type of divine wisdom, as directing all actions and movements”
• The source of all laws, and other laws must be derived from it

Question 5

what is the natural law

Answer 5

• Participation of rational creature to the eternal law
• Basis of natural law
  1. Man’s inclination to do good to preserve human life
  2. Man’s inclination to do things shared with irrational beings (“which nature
  has taught to all animals”)
  3. Man’s inclination to do good to know the truth about God and to live in society”
• How does a thing belong to natural law
• Should not do harm to one another
• Nature did not bring in the contrary
• e.g. slavery as it is devised by human reason

Question 6

what is the divine law accd to thomas aquinas

Answer 6

• God’s law (written) for man “to perform his proper acts in view of his last end – eternal happiness”
• Man should know “what he ought to do and what he ought to avoid, it was necessary for man to be directed in his proper acts by a law given by God”
• There is a need for divine law as man’s knowledge is limited; cannot guide interior acts
• “Human law cannot punish or forbid all evil deeds”

Question 7

what is the human law accd to thomas aquinas

Answer 7

• “has the nature of law as it partakes of the right reason”
• Man has aptitude for virtue but needs guidance and training to be
  perfected
• “Purpose of human law is to lead men to virtue, not suddenly but
  gradually”

Question 8

what are unjust laws and sovereign’s exemption from the law

Answer 8

• Laws may be unjust
• By being contrary to human good
• Being opposed to the divine good
• Sovereign are exempted from law but must obey it nevertheless
• Sovereign should implement the laws hence the exemption
• But must follow it nevertheless “obey the law that thou makest thyself.”

Question 9

what is the De Regimine Pricipum: The Need for an
Authority

Answer 9

• Man as an intelligent agent needs to act towards the end
• Man adopts different strategies towards that end
• Needs a principle to guide him towards that
• While man has reason, man is a social and political animal too intended to
  live in a group
• Necessity for man to live in multitude so that each may assist his fellows
• There must be some governing power in multitudes as society might broke
  up if man pursues his own interest
• Aim of the ruler should be directed towards securing the welfare of that he
  undertakes to rule

Question 10

what is the de regimine principum on tyranny

Answer 10

• The worst kind of government
• How to prevent
  1. King should be raised in an environment when it is improbable to be one
  2. Kingdom must remove incentives for monarch to be a tyrant
  3. Power should be tempered for the monarch not to fall into tyranny
  4. Provisions if king must become tyrants

Question 11

what is the de regime principum on the need to tolerate tyranny

Answer 11

• Expedient to tolerate the milder tyrant
• If someone fails to overthrow then that tyrant might become more violent
• If unbearable, then strong men should slay the tyrant and expose themselves to danger to free everyone
• However, it should not be done privately; there should be enough public support for this to be undertaken
• Should there be no human aid, it should be lifted to God.
• He will help in due time in tribulation
• It is in his power to turn the cruel heart to mildness