25 September 2019

The Catechism of the Summa - The Second Part: XVII. OF THE NATURAL LAW (C)

(C)
 
Are all other precepts of man's practical reason consequent upon these three first principles and their subordination?

Yes, all other precepts or determinations of the practical reason which affirm that this or that thing is or is not good for this or for that man, and binding him to do or to refrain from doing, are consequent more or less remotely. upon these three first principles and their subordination (XCIV. 2).
 
Are these other precepts or determinations of the practical reason, which are consequent, more or less remotely, upon the three first principles of the natural law, identical for all men?

No, these other precepts or determinations are not the same for all; for according to the degree one recedes from first principles, or from those things, which for all are essential as regards the good of the individual, the good of the species, and the good of reason, one enters the sphere of positive precepts, which can vary almost without end according to the diversity of individual conditions of different human beings (XCIV. 4).
 
Who makes these other precepts which can vary almost without end according to the diversity of the individual conditions of different men?

They are made by the individual reason of each human being or by a competent authority in each of the different groups of human beings that form some society in particular.

Next - The Catechism of the Summa - The Second Part: XVIII. OF HUMAN LAW (A)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.