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“Securing the Rational Foundations of Human Living:” The Pedagogical Nature of Human Law in St. Thomas Aquinas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Brian Jones
Brian Jones*
Affiliation:
University of St. Thomas, Philosophy, 3800 Montrose, Houston Texas, United States, 77006-4626, Houston, Texas
*
bhjones84@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Every form of government, whether by its action or inaction, encourages certain forms of behavior and discourages others. The moral well being of a society necessitates its consideration of civil law's legitimate role in shaping moral character. In this paper, I will attepmt to argue that the Thomistic account of civil law is not merely negative, but entails a positive pedagogy that seeks to nurture the moral virtue of its citizens, for both the viciously inclined and those who are already good. Furthermore, Aquinas’ theory of the common good is such that its role is not merely limited, i.e., through establishing some form of civic tranquility and providing basic goods of the material or economic order with little worry of the moral habits thus cultivated.

The treatment of Thomas’ teaching on human law will not be fully exhausted in this paper. However, from examining the texts from the Summa Theologiae and the De Regno, it will appear evident that St. Thomas has provided a concise and intelligent framework for seeing and actualizing the necessary relationship between human law and moral virtue.

Keywords

Thomas AquinasHuman LawMoral VirtueSumma TheologiaeDe Regno
Type
Original Article
Information
New Blackfriars , Volume 96 , Issue 1065 , September 2015 , pp. 602 - 620
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 The Author. New Blackfriars

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