Understanding the Connection Between Pleasure, Punishment, and Justice in Thomistic Natural Law Theory

The chapter explores the intricate relationship between pleasure and pain in the context of achieving or deviating from the natural ends prescribed for humans. It delves into the concept of punishment as a mechanism to restore equilibrium when individuals act contrary to their natural inclinations, emphasizing how punishments are essential for justice and maintaining the proper order of society. The chapter also highlights Aquinas's principle of proportionality in punishment and the role of retribution in justifying corrective and deterrent measures within the framework of Thomistic natural law theory.