2.1.2

St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts

Test yourself

The Precepts

The overriding principle of Aquinas natural law is “do good and avoid evil”. This is the synderesis rule.

Illustrative background for Natural human desire to do goodIllustrative background for Natural human desire to do good ?? "content

Natural human desire to do good

  • Aquinas believed that humans naturally want to do good and, through their ability to reason, can work out the correct course of action.
Illustrative background for What are the primary precepts?Illustrative background for What are the primary precepts? ?? "content

What are the primary precepts?

  • Aquinas proposed five primary precepts. These are the five fundamental rules that guide human behaviour.
  • Our actions must uphold these precepts at all times. If they do, our action is right. If they do not, the action is wrong.
Illustrative background for The five preceptsIllustrative background for The five precepts ?? "content

The five precepts

  • Preservation of Life - to defend and protect human life.
  • Ordered Society - to live in a lawful society following the primary precepts.
  • Worship God - to pray to God who gives the eternal law.
  • Education - to learn and teach others about God and his law.
  • Reproduce - to continue God's creation.
Illustrative background for Secondary preceptsIllustrative background for Secondary precepts ?? "content

Secondary precepts

  • When humans are faced with a moral choice, they must use reasoning to work out whether or not their action will uphold the primary precept.
  • In doing this, they create a secondary precept. This is an application of the Natural Law to a specific situation.
  • The secondary precepts vary depending on the situation. But they will always uphold the primary precepts.
Illustrative background for Absolute wrongs in CatholicismIllustrative background for Absolute wrongs in Catholicism ?? "content

Absolute wrongs in Catholicism

  • For example, 'killing' of any kind (murder, euthanasia, abortion) is always wrong because any type of killing breaks the primary precept of preservation of life.
  • This continues to influence the Catholic Church today, which teaches that homosexual activity is a sin because it cannot lead to reproduction.
  • The same reasoning applies to the use of artificial contraception.

Jump to other topics

1Philosophy of Religion

1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato

1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle

1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body

1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation

1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason

1.6Religious Experience

1.7The Problem of Evil

1.8The Nature & Attributes of God

1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic

1.10Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective

2Religion & Ethics

3Developments in Christian Thought

3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings

3.2Death & the Afterlife

3.3Knowledge of God's Existence

3.4The Person of Jesus Christ

3.5Christian Moral Principles

3.6Christian Moral Action

3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology

3.8Development - Pluralism & Society

3.9Gender & Society

3.10Gender & Theology

3.11Challenges

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson