Aquinas' Four Levels of Law

Question 1

What are the four levels of law?

Answer 1

Laws that can guide the moral agent to their telos

Question 2

List the four levels of law

Answer 2

Eternal, Divine, Natural, Human

Question 3

Why did Aquinas set out these four laws?

Answer 3

Natural Law alone cannot guide people to the deontological rules that will help them achieve their highest good

Question 4

Eternal Law

Answer 4

God created, set, and governs all rules/laws that control the whole universe. Only God can know these Eternal Laws because human brains do not have the capacity to hold all this knowledge

Question 5

How can humans see a reflection of God’s Eternal Laws?

Answer 5

Through Divine and Natural Law

Question 6

Divine Law (1st Reflection of God’s Eternal Law)

Answer 6

Revealed through the bible e.g. The Ten Commandments. As it is stated in the Bible, we know it is God’s word, therefore we follow them, so the moral agent will partly achieve their telos

Question 7

Natural Law (2nd Reflection of God’s Eternal Law)

Answer 7

As everyone may not have the opportunity to read the Bible, moral agents can see a reflection of God through Natural Law. God’s deontological Eternal Law is revealed through our God given innate human reason

Question 8

Human Law

Answer 8

Human Law should be 100% influenced by the two reflections of God’s Eternal Law. A Human Law not influenced by Natural/Divine Law is no law at all