What is the natural law? What are its principles? How does it relate to positive laws?

In order to understand the concept of natural law and its principles it is important to understand what Aquinas sought to achieve with his political philosophies. Prior to Aquinas, the mainstream of Christian political thought had been rooted in faith. Faith, by its very definition is the belief in something for which there is no logical or rational justification for. Since the very concept of religion was based on faith, reason was thought to be …

…very principle in which Aquinas sought to put forward in his political theory. The marrying of faith and reason can only be achieved through compromise, and through the concept of Human law which is externally validated by Natural Law, Aquinas has arrived at a compromise between what can be realistically achieved and what Aquinas perceived as the Holy Grail. The full understanding of the Natural Law and a State which abides by Natural Law alone.