Moral Reasoning

Terms Aquinas Uses for the Hierarchy of God’s Laws The “Eternal Law”

(The supreme wisdom, or God’s wise plan, that governs the universe, which exists within the mind of God himself.)

Laws* of Nature (The fixed order by which God commands all of

nature.)

Examples: ○ Laws of physics ○ Laws of chemistry ○ Laws of biology ○ Laws of thermodynamics ○ Laws of gravitation

The “Moral Law” (The divine rules of right and wrong governing Man’s free choice.)

“Divine Law” (also called “God’s Law,” which is given to Man by God himself and recorded

in Holy Scripture)

Includes the Ten Commandments

* However, these are nonetheless not “laws” in the strictest sense, but only by analogy, because there is no freedom to disobey.

“Human Law” and other social norms** (The rules of right and wrong Man imposes on himself.)

“Natural Law” (also called “the law in us

by nature,” which is written on the hearts of

all Human Beings)

Made “self-evident” through proper

reasoning

Designed by God to

be identical

** If Man is conforming to God’s order, human law and norms should reflect the Natural and Divine Law.