FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   856   857   858   859   860   861   862   863   864   865   866   867   868   869   870   871   872   873   874   875   876   877   878   879   880  
881   882   883   884   885   886   887   888   889   890   891   892   893   894   895   896   897   898   899   900   901   902   903   904   905   >>   >|  
2) Its origin. (3) Its quality. (4) Its division. ________________________ FIRST ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 95, Art. 1] Whether It Was Useful for Laws to Be Framed by Men? Objection 1: It would seem that it was not useful for laws to be framed by men. Because the purpose of every law is that man be made good thereby, as stated above (Q. 92, A. 1). But men are more to be induced to be good willingly by means of admonitions, than against their will, by means of laws. Therefore there was no need to frame laws. Obj. 2: Further, As the Philosopher says (Ethic. v, 4), "men have recourse to a judge as to animate justice." But animate justice is better than inanimate justice, which contained in laws. Therefore it would have been better for the execution of justice to be entrusted to the decision of judges, than to frame laws in addition. Obj. 3: Further, every law is framed for the direction of human actions, as is evident from what has been stated above (Q. 90, AA. 1, 2). But since human actions are about singulars, which are infinite in number, matter pertaining to the direction of human actions cannot be taken into sufficient consideration except by a wise man, who looks into each one of them. Therefore it would have been better for human acts to be directed by the judgment of wise men, than by the framing of laws. Therefore there was no need of human laws. _On the contrary,_ Isidore says (Etym. v, 20): "Laws were made that in fear thereof human audacity might be held in check, that innocence might be safeguarded in the midst of wickedness, and that the dread of punishment might prevent the wicked from doing harm." But these things are most necessary to mankind. Therefore it was necessary that human laws should be made. _I answer that,_ As stated above (Q. 63, A. 1; Q. 94, A. 3), man has a natural aptitude for virtue; but the perfection of virtue must be acquired by man by means of some kind of training. Thus we observe that man is helped by industry in his necessities, for instance, in food and clothing. Certain beginnings of these he has from nature, viz. his reason and his hands; but he has not the full complement, as other animals have, to whom nature has given sufficiency of clothing and food. Now it is difficult to see how man could suffice for himself in the matter of this training: since the perfection of virtue consists chiefly in withdrawing man from undue pleasures, to which above all man is inclined,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   856   857   858   859   860   861   862   863   864   865   866   867   868   869   870   871   872   873   874   875   876   877   878   879   880  
881   882   883   884   885   886   887   888   889   890   891   892   893   894   895   896   897   898   899   900   901   902   903   904   905   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Therefore

 

justice

 
stated
 

virtue

 

actions

 

Further

 

perfection

 
training
 

direction

 

clothing


animate

 

matter

 

framed

 

nature

 
answer
 

pleasures

 

mankind

 

chiefly

 

aptitude

 

withdrawing


natural

 

wickedness

 
safeguarded
 
innocence
 
inclined
 

consists

 
wicked
 

punishment

 
prevent
 
things

instance
 

necessities

 
sufficiency
 
animals
 

reason

 

Certain

 
complement
 
difficult
 

beginnings

 
suffice

acquired

 

helped

 

industry

 

observe

 

induced

 

willingly

 
admonitions
 

purpose

 
inanimate
 

contained