Book I. On the General Principles of the Christian Life

In the first book, which will present general moral theology, we shall speak first of the final end of man; then of motion in order to the final end, or of the human act considered according to its moral being; then of those things which dispose toward a human act, or of habits, especially good habits.¹

¹ Cf. John of St. Thomas, Cursus theologicus, on St. Thomas I-II; Cajetan, on II-II, qq. 1-5; Billuart, I-II, De ultimo fine; the Salmanticenses, Cursus theologicus, tract 8, De ultimo fine, tract 9, De Beatitudine; Pesch, Praelectiones dogmaticae, t. III, tr. II, De Deo fine ultimo, section I, De ultimo fine hominis; Lehu, Philosophia moralis et socialis, t. I; Sertillanges, La philosophie morale de St. Thomas d'Aquin; Cathrein, Moralphilosophie, vol. 1; Pegues, literal French commentary on the Summa of St. Thomas, tract VI; Meyer, Institutiones Iuris naturalis seu Philosophia moralis universa, part I, general natural law; Potters, Compendium Ethicae generalis; Sweens, Theologia moralis fundamentalis.

Fundamental Moral Theology

Within this book

Treatise I. On the Final End of Mannn. 1–14
- Dissertation I. On the End in Generalnn. 1–2
- Dissertation II. On the Final End of Mannn. 3–14
  - Scholion. On the Necessity of Acting for the Sake of an Endnn. 10–14
Treatise II. On Motion in Order to the Final End, or on the Human Act, Considered according to Moral Beingnn. 15–332
- Dissertation I (Preliminary). On the Human Act, Considered according to Physical Beingnn. 15–60
  - Part I. Summary Doctrine of the Human Actnn. 15–17
  - Part II. The Elements of the Human Act Considered Separatelynn. 18–60
    Section I. On the Voluntarynn. 18–19
    Section II. On the Freenn. 20–60
    Chapter I. On Liberty Considered in Itselfnn. 20–26
    Scholion I. On the Acts which Concur to Constitute a Deliberate Act of the Willn. 25
    Scholion II. On the Distinction of Acts of the Will, Considered with Respect to the Defect or Degree of Deliberationn. 26
    Chapter II. On Those Things which Influence Libertynn. 27–56
    Article I. On Physical Violencenn. 27–29
    Article II. On Ignorancenn. 30–32
    Article III. On the Passionsnn. 33–43
    Section I. On the Passions in Generalnn. 33–36
    Section II. On Concupiscence in Particularnn. 37–39
    Section III. On Fear in Particularnn. 40–43
    Article IV. On Habitnn. 44–47
    Article V. On Temperament, Disposition, and Characternn. 48–50
    Article VI. On the Principal Psychic Abnormalitiesnn. 51–56
    Section I. Psychic Abnormalities which Arise from Defective Evolution of the Psychic Facultiesn. 51
    Section II. Abnormalities which Arise from Morbid Disturbance of the Psychic Facultiesnn. 52–56
    Point I. Amentia Properly So Callednn. 53–54
    Point II. Abnormal Psycho-Somatic Dispositionsn. 55
    Point III. Psychogenic Reactionsn. 56
    Chapter III. On the Consequence of Liberty, or on Imputabilitynn. 57–60
- Dissertation II. On Human Acts Considered according to Moral Beingnn. 61–332
  - Part I. On Morality in Generalnn. 61–240
    Section I. On the Notion and Division of Moralitynn. 61–63
    Scholion. On Morality Founded in the Nature of the Actn. 63
    Section II. On the Sources of Moralitynn. 64–71
    Chapter I. On the Objectnn. 65–66
    Chapter II. On Circumstancesnn. 67–69
    Chapter III. On the Endnn. 70–71
    Section III. On the Rules of Moralitynn. 72–240
    Chapter I. On Lawnn. 73–213
    Article I. On the Nature of Law in Generalnn. 73–76
    Article II. On the Nature of Laws in Speciesnn. 77–95
    Section I. On Eternal Lawnn. 79–81
    Section II. On Natural Lawnn. 82–88
    Section III. On Positive Lawnn. 89–95
    Scholion I. On the Law of Nationsn. 93
    Scholion II. On Ecclesiastical Lawn. 94
    Scholion III. On Civil Lawn. 95
    Article III. On the Power of Making Lawsnn. 96–116
    Section I. On the Power of Jurisdiction in Generalnn. 96–104
    Scholion. On Supplied Jurisdictionnn. 102–104
    Section II. On Jurisdiction Insofar as It Imports Legislative Powernn. 105–116
    Point I. On the Legislative Power of the Churchnn. 106–112
    Scholion. On the Roman Curiann. 109–112
    Point II. On the Legislative Power of the Civil Statenn. 113–116
    Article IV. On the Object (Matter) of Lawn. 117
    Article V. On the Subject (Subject-Person) of Lawnn. 118–136
    § I. On Preliminary Notionsnn. 119–123
    § II. On the Subjects of Law Generallynn. 124–126
    § III. On Some Subjects of Law Specificallynn. 127–135
    Scholion. On the Subjects of Civil Lawnn. 133–135
    § IV. On Placing a Cause Exempting from Subjectionn. 136
    Article VI. On the Interpretation of Lawnn. 137–144
    § I. On Interpretation Properly So Callednn. 137–141
    § II. On Interpretation Improperly So Called, or Epikeiann. 142–144
    Article VII. On the Effect, or on the Obligation, of Lawnn. 145–171
    § I. On the Obligation of Law Generallynn. 145–149
    § II. On the Obligation of Some Laws in Particularnn. 150–166
    Point I. On Affirmative and Negative Lawn. 150
    Point II. On Law Founded on Common Dangernn. 151–152
    Point III. On Law Founded on Presumptionnn. 153–154
    Point IV. On Invalidating Lawnn. 155–159
    Point V. On Penal Lawnn. 160–164
    Point VI. On Dishonest Lawnn. 165–166
    § III. On Fulfilling the Obligation of Lawn. 167
    § IV. On Causes Excusing from Obligationnn. 168–170
    § V. On Placing a Cause Excusing from Obligationn. 171
    Article VIII. On the Cessation of Lawnn. 172–190
    § I. On the Cessation of the End of Lawn. 173
    § II. On Abrogation, Derogation, and Annulment of Lawnn. 174–177
    § III. On Dispensationnn. 178–190
    Point I. On Dispensation Considered in Itselfnn. 178–180
    Point II. On the Power of Dispensingnn. 181–184
    Point III. On the Causes of Dispensingnn. 185–187
    Point IV. On the Granting of Dispensationn. 188
    Point V. On the Interpretation and Cessation of Dispensationnn. 189–190
    Article IX. On Those Things which Complete the Doctrine of Lawsnn. 191–213
    § I. On Customnn. 191–195
    § II. On Privilegesnn. 196–202
    § III. On Rescriptsnn. 203–210
    § IV. On Counselsnn. 211–213
    Chapter II. On Consciencenn. 214–240
    Article I. On Conscience Properly So Callednn. 215–237
    § I. On Preliminary Notionsn. 215
    § II. On the Notion, Division, and Directive Force of Conscience Properly So Callednn. 216–219
    § III. On the Conscience Required for Acting Licitlyn. 220
    § IV. On the Comparison of the Required Consciencenn. 221–237
    Point I. Notion of the System, State of the Question, Diverse Systemsnn. 223–225
    Point II. Proof of the True System, That Is, Equiprobabilismnn. 226–234
    Thesis Inn. 226–228
    Thesis IInn. 229–231
    Thesis IIIn. 232
    Thesis III. (Continued)n. 233
    Scholion. On the Code of Canon Law and the Moral Systemn. 234
    Point III. On Those Things which Complete the Doctrine of the Systemnn. 235–237
    I. On Certain Sayings Annexed to the Moral Systemn. 235
    II. On the Practical Importance of the Controversy Between Equiprobabilists and Probabilistsn. 236
    III. On the Use of the Moral Systemn. 237
    Article II. On Conscience Improperly So Callednn. 238–240
    § I. On Strict and Lax Consciencenn. 238–239
    § II. On Scrupulous Consciencen. 240
  - Part II. On Morality in Particularnn. 241–332
    Section I. On the Good Actnn. 241–245
    Scholion. On the Conformity of the Human Will with the Divine Willn. 245
    Section II. On the Indifferent Actn. 246
    Section III. On the Evil Act, or on Sinnn. 247–332
    Chapter I. On Sins in Generalnn. 247–272
    Article I. On the Nature and Conditions of Sinnn. 247–248
    Article II. On the Distinction of Sinsnn. 249–257
    § I. On Specific Distinctionnn. 249–251
    § II. On Numerical Distinctionnn. 252–255
    § III. On the Unequal Gravity of Sinsnn. 256–257
    Article III. On the Causes of Sinsnn. 258–264
    § I. On External Causesnn. 259–260
    § II. On Internal Causesnn. 261–264
    Article IV. On the Effects of Sinsnn. 265–267
    Article V. On the Remedies of Sinsnn. 268–272
    Chapter II. On Some Classes of Sins in Particularnn. 273–332
    Article I. On Sin of Commission and Omissionnn. 275–276
    Article II. On Mortal and Venial Sinnn. 277–292
    § I. On Mortal Sinnn. 277–283
    Scholion. On Mortal Sin by Accidentn. 283
    § II. On Venial Sinnn. 284–292
    Scholion I. On Venial Sin by Accidentn. 289
    Scholion II. On Multiplied Venial Sinsnn. 290–292
    Article III. On Internal Sinsnn. 293–298
    § I. On Morose Delectationnn. 293–295
    § II. On Desire and Joynn. 296–298
    Article IV. On Capital Sinsnn. 299–332
    § I. On Pridenn. 300–304
    § II. On Avaricenn. 305–308
    § III. On Lustnn. 309–312
    § IV. On Envynn. 313–316
    § V. On Gluttonynn. 317–322
    § VI. On Angernn. 323–326
    § VII. On Slothnn. 327–332
    Scholion. On Imperfectionsnn. 331–332
Treatise III. On Those Things which Dispose Toward Human Acts, or on Habitsnn. 333–483
- Dissertation I. On Virtuesnn. 334–468
  - Part I. On Virtues in Generalnn. 334–351
    Section I. On the Notion, Object, Division, and Specific Distinction of Virtuesnn. 334–337
    Section II. On the Subject of Inherence of Virtuesn. 338
    Section III. On the Origin of Virtuesnn. 339–340
    Section IV. On the Increase of Virtues and on their Diminution and Destructionnn. 341–343
    Section V. On the Permanence of Virtues After This Lifenn. 344–346
    Section VI. On the Properties of Virtuesnn. 347–351
    Scholion. On the Relation Between Natural or Acquired Virtues and Supernatural Virtuesnn. 350–351
  - Part II. On Virtues in Particularnn. 352–468
    Section I. On Theological Virtuesnn. 352–366
    Chapter I. On Theological Virtues in Generalnn. 352–353
    Chapter II. On Theological Virtues in Particularnn. 354–366
    Article I. On the Theological Virtue of Faithnn. 354–358
    Article II. On the Theological Virtue of Hopenn. 359–362
    Article III. On the Theological Virtue of Charitynn. 363–366
    Section II. On Supernatural Moral Virtuesnn. 367–468
    Chapter I. On Supernatural Moral Virtues in Generalnn. 367–370
    Chapter II. On Supernatural Moral Virtues in Particularnn. 371–468
    Article I. On Prudencenn. 371–376
    Article II. On Justicenn. 377–415
    § I. On Justice in Generalnn. 377–379
    § II. On the Subjective and Integral Parts of Justicenn. 380–383
    § III. On the Potential Parts of Justicenn. 384–415
    Point I. On Religionnn. 385–388
    Point II. On Penancenn. 389–393
    Point III. On Pietynn. 394–396
    Point IV. On Observancenn. 397–400
    Point V. On Truthnn. 401–403
    Point VI. On Gratitudenn. 404–406
    Point VII. On Vindicationnn. 407–409
    Point VIII. On Liberalitynn. 410–412
    Point IX. On Affabilitynn. 413–415
    Article III. On Fortitudenn. 416–431
    § I. On Fortitude Itselfnn. 416–418
    § II. On the Parts of Fortitudenn. 419–431
    Point I. On Magnanimitynn. 420–422
    Point II. On Magnificencenn. 423–425
    Point III. On Patiencenn. 426–428
    Point IV. On Perseverancenn. 429–431
    Article IV. On Temperancenn. 432–468
    § I. On Temperance in Generalnn. 432–434
    § II. On the Subjective Parts of Temperancenn. 435–444
    Point I. On Abstinencenn. 435–437
    Point II. On Sobrietynn. 438–440
    Point III. On Chastitynn. 441–444
    § III. On the Integral Parts of Temperancen. 445
    § IV. On the Potential Parts of Temperancenn. 446–468
    Point I. On Meeknessnn. 447–449
    Point II. On Clemencynn. 450–452
    Point III. On Modestynn. 453–468
    I. On Humilitynn. 454–456
    II. On Studiositynn. 457–459
    III. On Modesty of Conductnn. 460–462
    IV. On Eutrapelynn. 463–465
    V. On Modesty of Attirenn. 466–468
- Dissertation II. On the Gifts of the Holy Spiritnn. 469–483
  - Part I. On the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Generalnn. 469–474
  - Part II. On the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Particularnn. 475–483
    Scholion. On the Beatitudes and Fruitsnn. 482–483