Culver, the editor of Readings in the Philosophy of Law, provides an introduction to Aquinas and natural law theory generally. The part of that introduction relevant to this assignment appears on pp. 29-33. Initially, Culver will speak also of a recent natural law theorist, John Finnis. A selection from him follows the one from Aquinas; it won't be one of your assignments, but you may be interested in looking at it on your own.

The focus of our discussion on Monday will be on Aquinas's general definition of law (Aquinas doesn't highlight it but Culver will point it out for you) and on his way of understanding the idea of natural law. In preparation for that, think what might be said for and against each of the several features Aquinas puts in his definition. And think also whether you agree that there is something like natural law (in Aquinas's sense). In order to set Aquinas's view in a broader context, ask yourself what is "natural" about his natural law and whether there are other ways in which something like law might be said to be "natural."