What is perhaps most astonishing concerning St. Thomas Aquinas’ treatment of the Natural Law in the section of the Prima Secundae of his Summa Theologiae entitled De Legibus (On Law), is the fact that St. Thomas understands the precepts of the Natural Law to be immediately evident to any rational mind which possesses the normal faculties of man. ¹ This system of law, “written into the hearts of men” as St. Paul would have it, is both universal and immediately evident. This law is universally acceptable to all men due to the fact that they all share in the exact same nature which provides them with certain capabilities and inclines them towards certain ends or goals. According to St. Thomas, any rational agent can recognize the law “written in his heart,” as soon as he understands himself to be oriented to certain goods which are fitting objects of pursuit by a rational being. Man recognizes in these experiences of “goal orientedness,” that there are laws inherent in his nature which cannot be overlooked if he is to realize a successful human life.

Originally published in Integrity Magazine. Read original article

Original Tags: Catholic Social Teaching, Church History, Divine Law, Natural Law, Philosophy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Theology