22 September 2004

Aquinas in the Courtroom

Just finished Aquinas in the Courtroom: Lawyers, Judges, and Judicial Conduct.

It's actually more like a series of essays rather than a coherent book and therefore it is somewhat repetitive. The general idea that is behind Aquinas' teachings on the law is:
Human law is law only by virtue of its accordance with right reason, and by this means it is clear that it flows from Eternal Law.

In so far as it deviates from right reason it is called an unjust law; and in such a case, it is no law at all, but rather an assertion of violence.
Summa Theologica, Pt I-II,Question 93, Article 3
This point is repeated over and over with depth and nuances. The post which follow are portions I found interesting.

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