V. OF THE EXTERIOR PRINCIPLE WHICH DIRECTS MAN'S ACTIONS; OR OF LAW
What is meant by law?
By law is meant an order of reason, for the common good, made and promulgated by one in authority
An order then contrary to reason could not be a law?
No, an order or a commandment contrary to reason can never be a law; it is an act of despotism or of tyranny
What is meant by saying that law is an order of reason ordained to the common good?
This means that a law provides first of all for the good of the whole community, and does not concern itself with a part thereof or of the individual, except in so far as a part or an individual concurs in the general good
From what authority does law emanate?
It emanates from him upon whom it is incumbent to be mindful of the common good as if it were his own private good
For a law to bind, is it necessary that it be promulgated and known?
Yes, for a law to bind it is necessary that it be promulgated in such a way that it come to the knowledge of those whom it concerns
And if, through one's own fault, one is ignorant of the law, is one excused for not obeying the law?
No; if, through one's own fault, one is ignorant of the law, one is not excused from obeying the law.
It is then very important to learn fully the laws that concern us?
Yes, it is very important to study the laws that concern us.
XVI. OF DIVERS LAWS; AND FIRST, OF THE ETERNAL LAW
Are there several kinds of law that concern us?
Yes.
What are these different kinds of law?
They are the eternal law, the natural law, human law, and the divine law
What is the eternal law?
The eternal law is the supreme law which rules all things, and on which all other laws depend, for these latter are only derivations or particular manifestations thereof
Where is the eternal law?
The eternal law is in God
How is this law manifested in things?
It is manifested by the very order of things such as is found in the world
XVII. OF THE NATURAL LAW
Is the eternal law to be found in man by participation?
Yes
What is this participation or manifestation of the eternal law in man called?
It is called the natural law
What is meant by the natural law?
By the natural law is meant that inborn light of man's practical reason by which he is able to direct himself and to act with knowledge consciously in such wise that his acts execute the eternal law, just as the natural actions of things produced by virtue of their natural inclination execute this same law unconsciously
Is there a first principle of this practical reason, or a first precept of the natural law in man?
Yes, it is that which is founded upon the very nature of good in the metaphysical sense of the word, just as the first principle of the speculative reason is founded upon the nature of being
In what does the first principle of the practical reason or the first precept of the natural law in man consist?
It consists in this, that man must seek what is good and avoid what is evil
Does this first principle or first precept embrace all others?
Yes; for the rest are only applications thereof more or less immediate
What are the first applications thereof in man?
The first applications thereof in man are the proclamation by man's reason of the threefold good touching his nature
What is this proclamation of man's reason concerning the threefold good touching his nature?
It is this: whatever is beneficial for or perfects his physical life is good; also, whatever helps towards the conservation of the human species; and also whatever conduces to the welfare of his life as a rational being
What follows from this threefold proclamation of man's practical reason?
There follows from this that whatever is essential for the conservation of this threefold life, or that can help towards its perfection, is proclaimed a good thing by the practical reason of every man, in such a way, however, that among the three goods there is a certain subordination, so that by way of dignity the good of the reason comes first, then the good of the species, and then the good of the individual
As regards the good of the individual, what does the first principle of the natural law proclaim as essential?
This principle proclaims that man must eat for the sustenance of his body, and that he may never attempt his life .
As regards the good of the species, what does the first principle of the natural law proclaim as essential?
This principle proclaims that there must be human beings who concern themselves with the conservation of the species by taking upon themselves the burden as well as the joys of fatherhood and motherhood; and that it is never lawful to do anything which tends to frustrate the object of fatherhood and motherhood
As regards the good of reason, what does the first principle of the natural law proclaim as essential?
This principle proclaims that man, who is the work of God from whom he has received his all, and who was made to live in the society of other men, should honour God as his Sovereign Lord and Master, and should act towards his fellow-beings according as the nature of his relations with them demands(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
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
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.
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