The Moral Implications of Punishment: An Aspect of Thomas Aquinas’ Theory of Social Organization and Common Good

Abstract

By the laws of nature, mankind is inclined to seek life of civilization. But to form and hold together the life of civilization, there is the need to generate an entity to direct the affairs of the society and preserve positive civic qualities in citizens. Thomas Aquinas is of the view that members of a state can therefore lead good life if they meticulously create and implement constructive and common regulations as guidance towards civility. This design for civility according to Thomas Aquinas requires the individual and the society as a whole to develop in themselves high sense of morality, the knowledge of justice and injustice, and a strong sense of responsibility to seek what is good and worthy for peaceful living. A fundamental way to achieve this is based on the way we understand, embrace and respect the legitimate entity called authority, its mechanisms and guiding principles. This paper is a philosophical study on one of the major mechanisms of authority which is punishment. It discusses punishment within the framework of Aquinas’ theory of common good. The paper explains punishment and its features, relevance and effectiveness, and how it can optimize its operational features towards social change and common good. It also discusses the process of the implementation of punishment, including capital punishment, and some contemporary perceptions on Aquinas’ theory on punishment.