Aquinas

Aquinas

1. Developed Aristotle's writings to provide for religion.

   • He treated the obvious fact that European men were Christians as part of man's purpose.
     • Man is supposed to live in a Christian polis.

2. Existence of different laws in different states lead to Aquinas distinguishing natural law from human law

   • Natural law is based on reason, and can be understood by reflecting on the nature of man and God's purpose in creating him.
   • Rules of different principalities can all still be law, provided they further the common good.
   • 'Law is the rational ordering of things which concern the common good'