Exploring Natural Rights and Justice in the Thomistic Tradition

The chapter explores Thomas Aquinas' understanding of natural rights, justice, and the common good, focusing on the role of reason and order in God's will. It discusses the advocacy of natural rights by Dominican friars in the New World, particularly against slavery and exploitation, and highlights key figures like Francisco de Vittoria and Bartolome de Las Casas. The chapter also touches on the evolution of the concept of rights within the Catholic Thomas tradition, emphasizing the connection between law, justice, and the larger order directed towards the good.