Open AccessNatural law as a way to achieve the common good: an interpretation of Thomas Aquinas and John Finnis arguments
Author(s) -
А. Б. Дидикин
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
shole
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.191
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 1995-4336
pISSN - 1995-4328
DOI - 10.25205/1995-4328-2020-14-2-609-617
Subject(s) - reinterpretation , natural law , interpretation (philosophy) , epistemology , natural (archaeology) , philosophy , law , sociology , law and economics , political science , history , linguistics , archaeology , aesthetics
The paper interprets the arguments of Thomas Aquinas on natural law as a way to achieve the common good, which had a significant impact on John Finnis’ natural law theory. The author reveals the conceptual foundations of J. Finnis’ understanding the morally justified actions of people in the community aimed at the obtaining of basic benefits, and the debatable issues of his theory in modern philosophical and legal research. The author arrives to the conclusion that the reinterpretation of J. Finnis analysis of the grounds for ethically significant actions leads him to formulate an instrumental approach to natural law as a rational way to implement a decent life.