Unjust Law

Just laws are necessary because they provide an essential guidance. Aquinas mentions that “Man has a natural aptitude for virtue” (Aquinas in Dimock, ed., 2002, p.18). Virtue confirms the high moral standards to one. It leads to an end of eternal happiness. This is the goal for all, as Aquinas finds. However, no man is perfect in virtue. To achieve precision, there must be assistance. The assistance may devise from training. Aquinas believes that law is obligated to train virtue within mankind. Law leads any type of man to virtue. “Men who are well disposed are led willingly to virtue by being admonished better than by coercion, but men who are evilly disposed are not led to virtue unless they are compelled” (Aquinas in Dimock, ed., 2002,

It is a scaffold that aims to perfect society as a whole. Aquinas defines that law is composed of an end in pursuit of happiness, a common good, created by an official legislator, and promulgation. He articulates that these laws that have the compulsory characteristics that define law, are just. However, laws that do not follow these guidelines are unjust. Aquinas claims that “an unjust law is no law at all” (Aquinas in Dimock, ed., 2002, p.19). A just law is a formulation of natural law, while an unjust law is not. Unjust laws consequently do not aim at eternal happiness, making it detrimental to society. Aquinas also listed the factors that results in the failure of a law. He states that unjust laws aim only at the good of the legislator and exceeds His authority, as well as it imposes unequal benefits and burdens among its followers. Similar to so, the success of law is dependent on it’s binding force. The law must be in favour of human and divine good. As the binding force illuminates, there is also a moral obligation and coercive power. Furthermore, Aquinas finds that law is a basis to acquire a strong virtue. After a critical analysis of Aquinas’s Natural Law Theory, one can presume that unjust laws are unfavourable to society. They create disorder, chaos, and confusion. Not only do just laws organize society, but they also work to allow every individual to grow with society. Ultimately, bringing mankind closer to the