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Thomist Natural Law The Catholic Lawyer Volume 8 Number 1 Volume 8, Winter 1962, Number 1 Article 5 Thomist Natural Law Joaquin F. Garcia, C.M. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/tcl Part of the Catholic Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Catholic Lawyer by an authorized editor of St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THOMIST NATURAL LAW JOAQUIN F. GARCIA, C.M.* N THE Summer 1960 edition of The Catholic Lawyer, Dr. R. D. Lumb, a Lecturer in Law at the University of Queensland, had an article entitled "Natural Law - An Unchanging Standard?", in which he con- sidered the doctrines of two thinkers, St. Thomas and Suarez. It is the opinion of this writer that as far as Thomist Natural Law is concerned, Dr. Lumb could have omitted the question mark. It is an unchanging standard. Dr. Lumb set himself the task of ascertaining whether the traditional Thomist system takes into account the variables to be found in any system of rules or institutions. The Thomist system of law does take account of the variables but through positive law, through the application of the universal Natural Law principles to particular changing conditions. By no means does it replace positive law. Unlike 18th century rationalis- tic Natural Law which often ignored experience, which often contained personal, social and political programs, and which often was not Natural Law at all but positive law under a Natural Law label, Thomist Natural Law offers the widest scope for positive law and stresses the importance of experience. St. Thomas says, "The general principles of the natural law cannot be applied to all men in the same way because of the great variety of human affairs - hence arises the diversity of positive laws.",, He says: "The [positive] law .can be rightly changed because of the changed condition of man, to whom different things are expedient accord- '2 ing to the difference of his condition." Some positive laws are merely "Conclusions," as St. Thomas called them, necessary conclusions from Natural Law principles and so are still part of the Natural Law, as would a law requiring parents to arrange that their infant children be fed be a conclusion from the Natural Law precept against taking human life. Other laws are what St. Thomas calls * A.B., St. John's University; M.A., Ph.D., Fordham University; former president of the American Catholic Philosophical Association; presently chairman of the philo- sophy department of Niagara University. 1 SUMMA THEOLOGICA, I-I1, q. 92, art. 2. 2 Id., I-1, q. 97, art. 1. 8 CATHOLIc LAWYER, WINTER 1962 "Determinations" or "Specifications" of and it determines a whole series of acts the Natural Law and are the determining brought into existence as means for the of precepts left undetermined by the Natu- attaining of that end or goal. So to attain ral Law. The Natural Law demands the certain goals, legislators make laws which protection of human life. When a city es- are the means for obtaining those ends. tablishes green and red traffic lights and Since the means-end relation belongs to gives a mandate on them, the ordinance is reason, law is an act of reason. As St. partly Natural Law and partly positive law. Thomas stated it: "The end is the first The colors could have been reversed. Other principle in all matters of action but it colors could have been used. belongs to the reason to direct to the end. In the opinion of the present writer, Dr. Since directing to an end is the function of Lumb also could have removed the ques- law - law is an act of reason."5 tion mark as far as Suarez is concerned, The intellect-will relation poses a diffi- since his Natural Law is also an "Unchang- cult problem. St. Thomas is an intellectu- ing Standard." His doctrine allows of no alist, not a voluntarist, and maintains that change since his Natural Law concerns acts a final judgment, called the last practical which are intrinsically good or intrinsically judgment, must be made by the reason evil and which must be ordered or forbid- which determines the will to a specific act den by God. Suarez says: "God cannot re- and so renders the will-act reasonable frain from prohibiting those evils which though the free will plays a part in the human reason shows to be evil." 3 He dis- formulation of that final practical judg- agrees with Scotus and William of Ockham ment. In the case of voluntarists the intel- on the possibility of a dispensation from lect proposes a number of means or courses the Ten Commandments. of action as good for a particular end, but it makes no final practical judgment. The Law in General final reason for the decision is the will's To understand Thomist Natural Law determination of itself. No reason can be and particularly these conclusions on its given why one means was chosen over the immutability it may be useful to consider others except the will itself. In St. Thomas first the teaching of St. Thomas on law in will inclines a man to what is agreeable general. He defines law as "an ordination what is an end or goal, and so a good, and or command of reason for the common moves the faculties of man to that goal good made by one who has charge of the The will necessarily seeks and consents to community and promulgated."'4 St. Thomas the final goal of man, and, as indicated used this one definition to cover various freedom is had regarding the means. types of law, though strictly this definition In intellectualism the reason why one pertains to civil law. means is selected rather than the others is In St. Thomas the end or goal is the first the last practical judgment of the intellect principle or cause in all matters of action which determines the will-act. If in a part ticular town for instance, a number of per. 3 DE LEGIBUS, Liber I, Cap. XV, 4. See especially sons had been killed in auto accidents and Liber II, Cap. VI for the natural law doctrine of Suarez. 4 SUMMA THEOLOGICA, I-I1, q. 90, art. 4. Id., I-1i, q. 90, art. 1. NATURAL LAW if lawmakers decided to protect human life, ordering of a subject to do something by the decision to attain that end would be an declaring something to him - and to order 6 act of the will. The will would move the this by declaring is an act of the reason." reason to consider various means for at- This is also the work of law so that it fol- taining this end. Perhaps red and green lows that law is essentially a thing of rea- lights or stop signs or the stationing of a son. "Ordering of actions to an end is policeman at that place or more severe precisely the chief work of the law. We penalties for reckless driving might be con- have a perfect parallel between the work sidered and all would be declared means. of reason and of law, so that it follows that Still working under the impetus of the will, law is essentially a thing of reason."'7 So the reason continues to compare the means in St. Thomas there are two commands of and in intellectualism presents a final prac- reason in lawmaking, one prior to the act tical judgment or command to the will. It of the will, which determines what the will- is: "Establish red and green lights." This act will be and a second command after the then becomes the act of the will. The will will-act which orders the subject to do cannot refuse this precept, yet the free will something. plays a part in its formulation. The will Eternal Law then decides on the establishment of "stop St. Thomas lists four kinds of law: on red and go on green lights" as the solu- Eternal Law, Natural Law, Human Law tion of that problem. A law is enacted, (which can be state or ecclesiastical), and which, in Thomist doctrines, is an act or Divine (revealed) Law. When God brought command of the reason following that elec- into existence the various creatures of the tion of the will, and it says "stop on red universe He had to have an end for each and go on green under such and such penal- of them and had to direct them to their ties." However, in voluntarism the intellect ends. The name given to the law by which would present the four means, indicating God directs all His creatures to their ends the advantages and disadvantages of each, is the Eternal Law. As St. Thomas stated and the decision would be made by the will it, God "governs all the acts and movements itself. It is true that in Thomism reason in each single creature." The divine wisdom moves - moves people and faculties to an as directing all actions and movements is end - and that moving is a will-act - yet the Eternal Law.8 Inanimates, plants and St. Thomas explains this by stating that animals God directs through their natures will and reason work together and that the which lead them to acts suitable to their moving feature of the will-act continues in natures and through these acts to their the command of the reason.
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