Classical Natural Law
- Theory
- Classical Natural Law
- Jurist
- Thomas Aquinas
- Description
Aquinas holds that all law derives from a hierarchy — eternal, divine, natural, and human law — where natural law is the rational creature's participation in God's eternal law, knowable through reason. Building on Aristotle, he argues human (positive) law is valid only when it conforms to natural law; an unjust law is a corruption of law (lex iniusta non est lex).