Kara Sears
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, there are four types of law: eternal, natural, human, and divine. Eternal law is the sum total of all laws that God uses to control His creation. It is the Divine Wisdom of God that oversees the common good and governs everything. It is identical to the mind of God as seen by God himself. Eternal law is God's plan to lead all creation towards God's salvific plan to be holy and blameless before Him through Jesus Christ. It includes both moral laws and the physical laws that govern all of nature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eternal law is God's plan for all creation | God's plan for creation to be holy and blameless before Him through Jesus Christ |
| Eternal law is the Divine Wisdom of God | God's wisdom as the Creator |
| Eternal law oversees the common good | God's law is for the common good |
| Eternal law is unchanging | God's mind is unchanging |
| Eternal law includes moral and physical laws that govern nature | Moral laws include the repugnance of murder |
| Eternal law is the sum total of all laws that God uses to control His creation | God uses laws to control His creation |
| Eternal law is identical to the mind of God | God's mind is eternal |
| Eternal law is an expression of God's reason | God's reason is perfect wisdom |
| Eternal law is above all other laws | Divine law, natural law, and human law are all derived from eternal law |
| Eternal law is universal | Universal moral principles exist independently of human laws or beliefs |
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What You'll Learn
- Eternal law is God's perfect plan for creation, encompassing all things
- Eternal law is God's wisdom, overseeing the common good
- Eternal law is unchanging, eternal, and universal
- Eternal law is reflected in nature, and all things act according to their nature
- Eternal law includes moral and physical laws, governing all of nature
Eternal law is God's perfect plan for creation, encompassing all things
According to Thomas Aquinas, there are four types of law: eternal law, divine law, natural law, and human law. Eternal law is God's perfect plan for creation, encompassing all things. It is the sum total of all laws that God uses to control His creation. It is the law of God that applies to all of creation, including both moral laws and the physical laws that govern nature.
Aquinas states that God, as the Creator, stands to the universe in the same way that a ruler stands to their community. God's reason, in its unchanging and eternal nature, is eternal law. It is the expression of God's perfect wisdom and encompasses all things in nature, which reflect the Eternal Law in their own natures. Things act according to their nature, deriving their proper ends (final cause) from the law written into them.
Natural law is an expression of eternal law, an imprint of eternal law on the hearts of men. It is a participation in the eternal law, and all things partake of it to some extent. It holds that human life should be preserved, and from it are derived human laws, which specify and apply natural laws to a particular society. For example, the repugnance of murder is legislated into punishments.
Divine law is derived from eternal law as it appears to humans through revelation, i.e. when it appears as divine commands. It is divided into the Old Law (the Ten Commandments) and the New Law (the teachings of Jesus). The New Law is expressed through love and gives interior strength to achieve what it teaches.
Thus, eternal law is God's perfect plan for creation, encompassing all things in nature and providing the basis for all other laws. It is the expression of God's wisdom and a reflection of His nature, which all creation reflects and participates in.
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Eternal law is God's wisdom, overseeing the common good
The concept of eternal law is rooted in the belief that there is a higher power, often referred to as God, whose wisdom and plan for the universe transcend human understanding. According to this belief system, eternal law represents God's wisdom and oversees the common good.
Eternal law is seen as the embodiment of divine wisdom, reflecting God's plan for all creation. This law is believed to be unchanging and universal, serving as the foundation for all other laws, including natural and human laws. In the words of St. Thomas Aquinas, "Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community."
Aquinas further describes two ways in which a thing is subject to eternal law: firstly, by understanding and knowledge of the law, and secondly, by action and inward motive, aligning with the natural inclination towards virtue. This understanding of eternal law is not unique to Aquinas, as other philosophers such as Augustine also recognised the significance of divine illumination and the existence of eternal reason.
The idea of eternal law suggests that God, as the Creator, has established an inherent order and purpose for all things in the universe. This law is believed to govern the actions and movements of all creatures, guiding them towards their respective ends. It is seen as a reflection of God's mind, encompassing both moral and physical laws that apply to all creation.
Furthermore, eternal law is viewed as the basis for natural law, which is considered an expression of eternal law imprinted upon all things. Natural law holds that human life should be preserved, and it serves as the foundation for specific human laws that vary across different societies and eras.
In conclusion, the concept of eternal law as God's wisdom overseeing the common good provides a framework for understanding the divine order and plan for the universe. It shapes the natural world and guides human conduct, with the ultimate goal of leading all creation towards holiness and blamelessness before God.
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Eternal law is unchanging, eternal, and universal
The concept of eternal law is rooted in the belief that it is God's plan to lead all creation towards His eternal salvific plan to be holy and blameless before Him through Jesus Christ. This law is derived from the Divine Wisdom of God, who oversees the common good and governs everything.
Natural law, as a participation in the eternal law, holds that human life should be preserved and that steps should be taken to achieve this preservation. For instance, the repugnance of murder is legislated into punishments. This reflects the eternal law principle that it is wrong to kill another person without a justifiable reason, a principle recognised across different cultures and societies.
The unchanging nature of eternal law is further emphasised by its association with God's wisdom and perfect reason. God, as the Creator, promulgates this law, and all things in nature reflect it in their own natures. This inherent connection between God's creation and the eternal law reinforces its permanence and universality.
The universality of eternal law is also evident in its application to all creation. It governs the actions and movements of all creatures, directing them towards their due end. This universal reach of eternal law ensures that all beings, regardless of their rational or irrational nature, are subject to it in some form. Furthermore, the good are perfectly subject to the eternal law, as they always act according to it.
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Eternal law is reflected in nature, and all things act according to their nature
The concept of eternal law is rooted in the belief that there is a divine power or God who created the universe and everything in it. According to this belief system, God's wisdom, or the divine plan, is reflected in the inherent nature of all things. This reflection of the divine plan in the nature of all things is what is referred to as the eternal law.
Eternal law, as a concept, asserts that everything in nature acts according to its nature, and by doing so, fulfils its purpose or final cause. This belief is summed up by St Thomas Aquinas, who said, "Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community". Aquinas further explains that "Things act according to their nature, so they derive their proper ends (final cause) according to the law written into their nature".
Aquinas also describes four kinds of law: eternal law, divine law, natural law, and human law. He explains that human laws are derived from natural laws, which are, in turn, a reflection of the eternal law. Natural laws are an expression of the eternal law, imprinted upon all things, guiding their actions and inclinations. This is why, despite individual variations in human law, the underlying principles remain the same across different cultures and societies. For example, the principle of not killing another person without just cause is recognised universally, independent of human laws or beliefs.
The concept of eternal law provides a framework for understanding the world and our place in it. It suggests that our actions should be guided by reason and a respect for the natural order. By understanding and following the eternal law, we can align ourselves with the divine plan and strive towards a common good. This belief in a universal order can bring comfort and guidance to those who follow it.
In conclusion, the idea that eternal law is reflected in nature and that all things act according to their nature provides a basis for understanding the world and our role within it. This belief in a universal order, as guided by a divine power, can offer a sense of purpose and direction, encouraging actions that are in harmony with the natural world and each other.
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Eternal law includes moral and physical laws, governing all of nature
Aquinas describes four kinds of law: eternal, divine, natural, and positive. Eternal law is the sum total of all laws that God uses to control His creation. It includes moral laws and the physical laws that govern all of nature.
Eternal law is the Divine Wisdom of God, overseeing the common good and governing everything. It is God's plan to lead all creation towards His salvific plan to be holy and blameless before Him through Jesus Christ. God, as "Being-itself", is able to promulgate such a law as God the Creator's reason is also perfect wisdom. Everything in nature reflects the Eternal Law in their own natures. Things act according to their nature, so they derive their proper ends (final cause) according to the law written into their nature.
Divine law is derived from eternal law as it appears historically to humans, especially through revelation, i.e., when it appears to human beings as divine commands. Divine law is divided into the Old Law and the New Law, which correspond to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The Old Law, revealed by God to Moses, “is the first stage of revealed Law. Its moral prescriptions are summed up in the Ten Commandments”. The New Law, through the teachings of Jesus, commands internal conduct and reaches humans by divine love, promising love and heavenly reward.
Natural law is the way that human beings participate in the eternal law. It dictates that certain principles are morally inherent and universal rather than being designed by the norms of society. It is a theory in ethics and philosophy that says intrinsic values govern human behavior. These rules of right and wrong are inherent in people and are not created by society or court judges. As such, these rules aren't governed by human authority. Rather, they are universally accepted.
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Frequently asked questions
Eternal Law is the law of God that applies to all of creation. It includes both moral laws and the physical laws that govern all of nature.
Eternal Law is good because it is God's perfect plan, which governs everything and oversees the common good. It is directed by its nature to the good, especially the universal or common good.
According to Aquinas, there are four kinds of law: Eternal Law, Natural Law, Human Law, and Divine Law. The last three depend on Eternal Law, which sits at the top of the hierarchy. Every other form of law flows from Eternal Law.
Humans have a natural inclination to act in harmony with Eternal Law. They have a natural knowledge of good and evil, and they are naturally adapted to the recipients of virtue.
