St. Thomas Aquinas On God And The Laws Of Nature - 964 Words

The world does not function in absolutes, therefore, I find myself aligning with St. Thomas Aquinas over Immanuel Kant. Aquinas’ Natural Law is based on God and the laws of nature. Aquinas identifies five primary precepts: reproduction, life, education, justice and worship. The primary precepts, then break down into secondary precepts that are flexible and realistic. Aquinas views the laws that affect man as coming from one of four areas. Eternal law is the mind of God and what he was thinking when he made us. Divine law is found in the Bible and acts as a guide for life. Natural law is our conscience and helps guide our daily actions. The final law is the human law which incorporates the laws written by man. Secondly, Aquinas allows for flexibility and the reality of the world which in turn makes his Natural Law easier to follow. An example is the primary precept of reproduction, which at its core says any action that prevents the increase of our population is wrong . This is the basis for the Catholic Church’s stance against homosexuality, abortions, and contraception. However, if a woman with cancer is pregnant and opts to take chemotherapy and the result is the death of the fetus that is acceptable. Aquinas reasons it is acceptable because the death of the fetus was an unintended consequence of saving the life of the mother. Aquinas says that first the action must be good, in this case saving the life of the mother. The next part is the evil must beShow MoreRelatedThe Natural Law Theory Essay examples1037 Words   |  5 Pagesthe natural law theory is the only true and moral way to live life; especially a life lived in God’s image. God’s presence is a guiding factor to obtaining a moral and virtuous life, which can only be obtained by following the natural law theory. God created a set of laws as a supreme guide for humans to live life, like any law these laws were created to ensure wellbeing for everyone. 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The â€Å"five ways† of proofing the existence of God, which is Article three, of Question 2, of part I, of his â€Å"Summa Theologià ¦Ã¢â‚¬ , gives five differentRead MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas And The Theological Principles Of Faith1831 Words   |  8 Pagesthan merely to contemplate† is a famous quote by St. Thomas Aquinas. It mentions how giving others the full truth about what they believe in is the best way for others to be willing members of a particular group. St. Thomas Aquinas always believed that there is nothing more sincere than the truth. It was always important to him to make sure everything he said was hon est, especially speaking about the Lord so it wouldn’t be considered heresy. As Aquinas grew older and older, he started to learn moreRead MoreThomas Aquinas And The King Of The City Of God1520 Words   |  7 PagesThomas Aquinas, much like Aristotle, composed that nature is sorted out for good purposes. Not at all like Aristotle, then again, Aquinas happened to say that God made nature and standards the world by perfect reason. Aquinas portrayed four sorts of law. Endless law was God s ideal arrangement, not completely comprehensible to people. It decided the way things, for example, creatures and planets carried on and how individuals ought to carry on. Divine law, fundamentally from the Bible, guidedRead MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesOwen Zimmermann 11-20-11 Mrs.Donofree Rel. Pd. B St. Thomas Aquinas Saint Thomas Aquinas was a philosopher, theologian, Doctor of the Catholic Church, and is the patron saint of Catholic Universities, colleges, and schools. He was born in Rocca Secca, Italy, in 1225 and was born into a wealthy family. He even was related to the kings of Aragon, Castile, and France. His journey into Catholic beliefs seemed predestined, for he was told when he was a young child that he would become