Key and Controversial Parts in Aquinas's lex naturalis Conception

The article deals with the basic features of the natural law theory according to Thomas Aquinas and the open questions that follow from this conception. The most important features of the natural law theory according to Thomas are the participation of natural law in eternal law, the natural law grasped as the law of reason and natural inclinations. His conception also contains many issues that are always open and controversial. This article presents three issues: a complete list of common precepts of the natural law, the meaning of the eternal law for the natural law, and the problem of the good - how we shall understand the good within the context of natural law.

Keywords: Natural law; Eternal law; Theoretical reason; Practical reason; Natural inclinations; Ethics