Thomistic Ethics and Political Philosophy Principles

Thomistic Ethics

Saint Thomas Aquinas adopts the Aristotelian conception of nature and the analysis of human movement towards an end.

However, he moves away from the Aristotelian concept by considering that man is not exhausted by his natural state but is oriented toward the supernatural.

As a rational being, man can discover the rules that allow development according to his nature; all these rules are called Natural Law:

• Substance: Human beings tend to preserve their own existence.
• Animal Nature: The human animal tends to propagate its species.
• Rationality: As rational beings, humans tend to seek the truth.
• Social Nature: Human beings tend to live in society, which provides a set of rules governing coexistence; these rules are called positive law.

This positive law acts as an extension of natural law and can never go against it.

Natural law and positive law are subject to the eternal law, the order to which God has subjected the universe.

This law subjects physical beings (animals and plants) to a different order than men, since humans are governed by a moral law that respects their freedom.

The Limits of Thomism

In the Thomistic synthesis, which offers a range of reason, the conditions of its own crisis are found:

• Mysticism: Characterized by the rejection of philosophy as a pollution of faith.
• Nominalism: Claiming that the value of experience will eventually exclude theology completely.

Thomistic Politics

Both ethics and politics are based philosophically on Aristotle, but with a theological supplement.

For St. Thomas, man has a supernatural end that the State cannot meet; hence, the necessity of Church-State relations.

The Nature of the State

As with Aristotle, the State is a natural institution based on the nature of man.

Man is a social being, and this is demonstrated in three points:

• Nature provides animals with food and clothing, whereas men are provided for by society.
• The necessity of the division of labor.
• Man communicates through language, a sign that he is born for society.

Government and Society

If society is natural, there should be a principle that directs the activities of citizens for the common good.

God governs the world through His eternal law; people participate in the eternal law and moral law.

The State has the means to achieve its goal: the common good of citizens. The government must ensure these means.

The Role of the Church

The end of the Church is supernatural and higher than that of the State; therefore, the State should be subject to it.

The Individual and the State

In relations between the individual and the State, St. Thomas maintains that the part is directed to the whole. Since the individual is part of the State, laws are to be ordered toward the common good.

Sovereignty and Justice

State sovereignty is not absolute. The sovereign must apply just natural law without going against God, who is its author. If a law is unfair, it should be flouted for going against God.