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Research Paper On Thomas Aquinas

1399 Words6 Pages

Thomas Aquinas is today considered one of the best philosophers and theologians due to his ability to mesh the ideas of differing important philosophers and advancing those ideas. Many today are still influenced by his philosophy. In his book, Summa Theologiae, Aquinas explains natural law and how it deals with the precepts set forth by God. The natural law can be used to solve current moral issues with which society continues to struggle, such as euthanasia. Aquinas introduces the idea of natural law by providing a question regarding the effects of the law. He argues in Article 1 whether or not the law makes men good. In this article, he defines law as “nothing else than a dictate of reason in the ruler by whom his subjects are governed” …show more content…

Humans are naturally inclined to preserve life, making it a part of the natural law. Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, has been a controversial debate that has yet to see a resolution. This controversy was ignited in the 1900s by Doctor Jack Kevorkian who spent his entire life on the topic of assisted suicide. Aquinas would conclude that assisted suicide does not adhere to the precepts of the natural law. These precepts include the preservation of life, procreation, education of children, living in a well-ordered community, and seeking God and worshipping Him. All of these precepts stem from seeking good and avoiding …show more content…

It is not only the inclination but also the responsibility of man to reproduce and educate the future generation in order to contribute to society. Aquinas affirms this by writing, Secondly, there is in man an inclination to things that pertain to him more specially, according to that nature which he has in common with other animals: and in virtue of this inclination, those things are said to belong to the natural law… such as sexual intercourse, education of offspring and so forth (Art 2). Whoever involves themselves in euthanasia is potentially robbing a person’s opportunity to experience life and receive an education. This ties into the earlier mentioned precept of preservation of life where all life is sacred and should be treated as such. Aquinas would argue that another contradiction of the natural law of assisted suicide is the fact that the offspring that could have been born will never be able to worship God here on earth. It is the responsibility of humankind to repopulate the world and to nurture and educate our offspring. The last precepts of natural law include living in a well-ordered society and seeking God. Euthanasia does not provide people or their potential offspring the opportunity to live in society or most importantly to know God. Aquinas

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