Thomas Aquinas & Martin Luther Essay

Laws are important in the sense that it prescribes the proper action or decision geared to what is acceptable and beneficial to the majority. It is likewise a means through which behavior is regulated through punishment and certain actions are rewarded. Natural law is a highest form of law because it is grounded on universality, its provisions seek to preserve life, protect human rights and uphold the truth. More importantly, as per the philosophies of St. Aquinas and King, natural law is just.

What makes natural law questionable is when some human laws claim that they are based on natural law. Inspired by natural law, human laws are quite interpretative and its interpretation is heavily depended on the cultural context and socio-economic dimension through which the human law was anchored on. Along these lines, the premises of natural law are reconfigured in a different way. This is the fallibility of human laws and the concept of what is just is reinterpreted.Human law is thus determined by what the majority deemed is proper, the majority's rational action and decision is considered as just. The rationality of laws in addition fluctuates as this is open to another reinterpretation of when the ruling majority is replaced by another majority. What is just for a given society may not be so if one would consider another society. This constant reinterpretation of natural law and human law is seen in social classes in their struggle for hegemony. Thus, human law and natural law are reflective on our continuous redefinition of justice and what is good for the community.

References

Ebenstein, W. (2000) Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the present. United States: Thomas Wadsworth

Donnelly, J. (1980) "Natural Law and Rights on Aquinas Political Thought" Western Political Quarterly. Volume 33….....