Monday, March 09, 2009

Aquinas on Unjust Laws

But laws are unjust in two ways. In one way, through opposition to human good, from opposition to the aforesaid things, either from the end, as when some magistrate imposes on subjects burdensome laws not pertaining to common utility, but rather to cupidity and vainglory; or else from the source, as when someone makes law beyond the power committed to him; or else from the form, as when unequal burdens are dispensed to the multitude, even if ordered to common good.


ST 1-2.96.4