Changes

== Political Philosophy ==

== Political Philosophy ==

Unlike many [[conservative]]s, Thomas Aquinas did not strenuously uphold the intrinsic merit of property rights and the Biblical prohibition on theft. Of theft, he wrote that "It is not theft, properly speaking, to take secretly and use another's property in a case of extreme need: Because that which he takes for the support of his life becomes his own property by reason of that need."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=6IocPeCoVFgC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=It+is+not+theft,+properly+speaking,+to+take+secretly+and+use+another%27s+property+in+a+case+of+extreme+need:+Because+that+which+he+takes+for+the+support+of+his+life+becomes+his+own+property+by+reason+of+that+need&source=bl&ots=E_BgCJN47l&sig=VbAU1bJaaGVd9-61oRcm4q_eMBg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7g92OpfPWAhVL9IMKHWvSA0kQ6AEIOTAD#v=onepage&q=It%20is%20not%20theft%2C%20properly%20speaking%2C%20to%20take%20secretly%20and%20use%20another's%20property%20in%20a%20case%20of%20extreme%20need%3A%20Because%20that%20which%20he%20takes%20for%20the%20support%20of%20his%20life%20becomes%20his%20own%20property%20by%20reason%20of%20that%20need&f=false</ref> In another statement foreshadowing later [[socialist]] arguments, Aquinas claimed that "In cases of need all things are common property, so that there would seem to be no sin in taking another's property, for need has made it common."<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3066.htm</ref>

Unlike many [[conservative]]s, Thomas Aquinas did not strenuously uphold the intrinsic merit of property rights and the Biblical prohibition on theft. Of theft, he wrote that "It is not theft, properly speaking, to take secretly and use another's property in a case of extreme need: Because that which he takes for the support of his life becomes his own property by reason of that need."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6IocPeCoVFgC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=It+is+not+theft,+properly+speaking,+to+take+secretly+and+use+another%27s+property+in+a+case+of+extreme+need:+Because+that+which+he+takes+for+the+support+of+his+life+becomes+his+own+property+by+reason+of+that+need&source=bl&ots=E_BgCJN47l&sig=VbAU1bJaaGVd9-61oRcm4q_eMBg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7g92OpfPWAhVL9IMKHWvSA0kQ6AEIOTAD#v=onepage&q=It%20is%20not%20theft%2C%20properly%20speaking%2C%20to%20take%20secretly%20and%20use%20another's%20property%20in%20a%20case%20of%20extreme%20need%3A%20Because%20that%20which%20he%20takes%20for%20the%20support%20of%20his%20life%20becomes%20his%20own%20property%20by%20reason%20of%20that%20need&f=false Faith and Liberty: The Economic Thought of the Late Scholastics]</ref> In another statement foreshadowing later [[socialist]] arguments, Aquinas claimed that "In cases of need all things are common property, so that there would seem to be no sin in taking another's property, for need has made it common."<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3066.htm</ref>

    

    

However,  Thomas Aquinas did uphold conservative views on other issues, he supported the use of [[capital punishment]]. He wrote, "Therefore if a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good" . . . . ST IIa-IIae, q. 64, a. 2.

However,  Thomas Aquinas did uphold conservative views on other issues, he supported the use of [[capital punishment]]. He wrote, "Therefore if a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good" . . . . ST IIa-IIae, q. 64, a. 2.

== See also ==

== See also ==

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.amconmag.com/11_17_03/review.html Culture's Bell Curve] - a review of [[Charles Murray]]'s ''Human Accomplishment''

*[http://www.amconmag.com/11_17_03/review.html Culture's Bell Curve] - a review of [[Charles Murray]]'s ''Human Accomplishment''

*[http://www.qfrases.com/english/thomas_aquinas.php Thomas Aquinas quotes]

*[http://www.qfrases.com/english/thomas_aquinas.php Thomas Aquinas quotes]

 

* [https://librivox.org/author/1199 Works by St. Thomas Aquinas - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aquinas, St. Thomas}}

[[Category:Saints]]

[[Category:Saints]]