Aquinas Quote by Knud Haakonsen
““The attempt to understand morality in the legalistic terms of a natural law is ancient but is now mostly associated with the formulation given it by Thomas Aquinas in the late thirteenth century. All earlier natural law is commonly seen as leading up to Aquinas’s paradigmatic version, whereas later natural law is understood as deriving from it.””
About This Quote
Source Book: History of Natural Law, Knud Haakonsen, 1990
The quote traces how natural law theory evolved, highlighting Aquinas’s synthesis as a pivotal medieval formulation that later thinkers built upon.
In simple terms: Natural law shaped by Aquinas, later versions follow his model.
Key Takeaway
Recognize Aquinas’s influence on modern legal theory.
Themes
philosophy
law
history
theology
ethics
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
academic
theoretical
When to use this quote
- legal education
- court arguments
- policy drafting
- academic research
Key Concepts
natural law
medieval synthesis
jurisprudence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does Aquinas’s view affect current legal debates?
- Can natural law be separated from its theological roots?
A Different Perspective
Later interpretations may diverge from Aquinas’s intent, limiting applicability.
