“ The general principles of the natural law cannot be applied to all men in the same way on account of the great variety of human affairs ”
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1274). copy citation
| Author | Thomas Aquinas |
|---|---|
| Source | Summa Theologica |
| Topic | law variety |
| Date | 1274 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17897/pg17897-images.html |
Context
“The Philosopher is speaking of those enactments which are by way of determination or specification of the precepts of the natural law.
Reply Obj. 2: This argument avails for those things that are derived from the natural law, by way of conclusions.
Reply Obj. 3: The general principles of the natural law cannot be applied to all men in the same way on account of the great variety of human affairs: and hence arises the diversity of positive laws among various people.
Reply Obj. 4: These words of the Jurist are to be understood as referring to decisions of rulers in determining particular points of the natural law:”
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