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Moral theology

Natural law

Natural law is the rational creature's participation in eternal law, ordered by the first principle that good is to be pursued and evil avoided.

Guiding question

How does practical reason discern human goods and public moral norms?

Why it matters

Natural law is central to Aquinas's ethics, political thought, conscience, and account of human legislation.

The argumentative movement

  1. 1Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by legitimate authority and promulgated.
  2. 2Human beings naturally apprehend basic goods fitting to rational nature.
  3. 3Practical reason draws principles and applications from these goods under the light of eternal law.