Dissertation I. On the Precepts of the Decalogue

574.

I. The precepts of the Decalogue are:

"I am the Lord your God... You shall not have strange gods before me."¹
"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."²
"Remember that you sanctify the Sabbath day... you shall not do any servile work on it."³
"Honor your father and your mother."⁴
"You shall not kill."⁵
"You shall not commit adultery."⁶
"You shall not steal."⁷
"You shall not speak false testimony against your neighbor."⁸
"You shall not covet your neighbor's wife."⁹
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house, nor his servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his."¹⁰

II. The order or connection of the precepts of the Decalogue is this:

First are placed the precepts which order man to God; then those which order him to other neighbors.

"As the precepts of human law," thus St. Thomas, "order man to a certain human community, so the precepts of divine law order man to a certain community or republic of men under God. But in order that someone may dwell well in any community, two things are required: the first of these is that he be well disposed toward him who presides over the community; but the other is that man be well disposed toward the other associates and co-participants of the community. Therefore it is necessary that in divine law there first be given certain precepts ordering man to God, and then certain other precepts ordering man to other neighbors living together under God" (I-II, q. 100, a. 5).

The precepts which order man to God are distinguished as three, namely of fidelity, reverence, and service, according to the threefold obligation which is owed to the Prince of the community.

"But to a prince," St. Thomas continues thus, "man owes three things: first fidelity, secondly reverence, thirdly service. Fidelity to a lord consists in this, that he not transfer the honor of principality to another; and with respect to this the first precept is taken, when it is said: You shall not have strange gods. But reverence toward a lord requires that nothing injurious be committed against him; and with respect to this the second precept is taken, which is: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. But service is owed to a lord in recompense for the benefits which subjects receive from him; and to this pertains the third precept concerning the sanctification of the Sabbath in memory of the creation of things" (loc. cit.).

The precepts which order man to neighbor are distinguished as seven, according to these words of St. Thomas:

"But toward neighbors someone is well disposed both specially and generally: specially, indeed, with respect to those to whom he is a debtor, so that he may render to them what is owed; and with respect to this the precept concerning honoring parents is taken. But generally, with respect to all, so that harm be inflicted on no one either by deed, or by mouth, or by heart. By deed, indeed, harm is inflicted on a neighbor sometimes in his own person, with respect to the consistency of the person; and this is prohibited by the saying: You shall not kill; but sometimes in the person connected with him, with respect to the propagation of offspring; and this is prohibited when it is said: You shall not commit adultery; but sometimes in the thing possessed, which is ordered to both; and with respect to this it is said: You shall not steal. But harm of the mouth is prohibited when it is said: You shall not speak false testimony against your neighbor. But harm of the heart is prohibited when it is said: You shall not covet" (loc. cit.).

¹ Exod. 20:2-3.

² Exod. 20:7.

³ Exod. 20:8, 10; Lev. 23:3.

⁴ Exod. 20:12.

⁵ Exod. 20:13.

⁶ Exod. 20:14.

⁷ Exod. 20:15.

⁸ Exod. 20:16.

⁹ Exod. 20:17.

¹⁰ Exod. 20:17.

The Commandments of God

Within this part

Part I. On the First Precept of the Decaloguenn. 575–631
- Section I. On the Prescribed Actsnn. 577–588
  - Chapter I. On Devotionnn. 577–579
  - Chapter II. On Prayernn. 580–587
    Article I. On Meditative Prayern. 581
    Article II. On Deprecative Prayernn. 582–587
  - Chapter III. On Adorationn. 588
- Section II. On Opposed Vicesnn. 589–631
  - Chapter I. On Superstitionnn. 590–605
    Article I. On Vicious Worship of Godn. 591
    Article II. On Vicious Worship of a Creaturenn. 592–605
    § I. On Idolatrynn. 592–594
    § II. On Superstitious Observancenn. 595–605
    Point I. On Superstitious Observance in Generalnn. 595–598
    Point II. On Superstitious Observances in Particularnn. 599–605
    Scholion I. On Hypnotismnn. 602–603
    Scholion II. On Spiritismnn. 604–605
  - Chapter II. On Irreligiositynn. 606–631
    Article I. On the Temptation of Godnn. 607–609
    Article II. On Sacrilegenn. 610–619
    § I. On Sacrilege in Generalnn. 610–612
    § II. On Sacrileges in Particularnn. 613–619
    Point I. On Personal Sacrilegenn. 613–614
    Point II. On Local Sacrilegenn. 615–616
    Point III. On Real Sacrilegenn. 617–619
    Scholion. On Penalties Against Sacrilegious Personsn. 619
    Article III. On Simonynn. 620–631
    Scholion. On the Worship of the Heavenly Citizens, Images, and Relicsnn. 629–631
Part II. On the Second Precept of the Decaloguenn. 632–700
- Section I. On Praisenn. 632–638
  - Chapter I. On the Usefulness and Modes of Praising Godn. 633
  - Chapter II. On the Sin Chiefly Opposed to Praise, or on Blasphemynn. 634–638
- Section II. On the Vownn. 639–681
  - Chapter I. On the Notion, Division, and Morality of a Vownn. 639–641
  - Chapter II. On the Requisites for a Vownn. 642–643
  - Chapter III. On the Obligation of a Vownn. 644–650
  - Chapter IV. On the Cessation of a Vownn. 651–681
    Article I. On Simple Cessationnn. 652–655
    Article II. On Irritationnn. 656–662
    Article III. On Suspensionnn. 663–667
    Article IV. On Dispensationnn. 668–672
    Article V. On Commutationnn. 673–681
    Scholion. On Reserved Vowsnn. 678–681
- Section III. On the Oathnn. 682–694
  - Chapter 1. On the Oath Generallynn. 682–685
  - Chapter II. On the Promissory Oath Specificallynn. 686–694
    Scholion. On the Fictitious Oathnn. 691–694
- Section IV. On Adjurationnn. 695–700
Part III. On the Third Precept of the Decaloguenn. 701–707
- Section I. On Hearing Massnn. 702–704
- Section II. On Cessation from Servile Worksnn. 705–707
Part IV. On the Fourth Precept of the Decaloguenn. 708–729
- Section I. On the Duties of Children Toward Parentsnn. 709–711
- Section II. On the Duties of Parents Toward Childrennn. 712–715
  - Scholion I. On Non-Catholic Schoolsn. 714
  - Scholion II. On Coeducationn. 715
- Section III. On the Mutual Duties Both of Other Blood-Relatives and of Spousesnn. 716–718
  - Scholion. On the Emancipation of Womenn. 718
- Section IV. On the Duties of Household Masters and Domestic Servantsnn. 719–720
- Section V. On the Duties of Employers and Non-Domestic Servants, or Workersnn. 721–723
- Section VI. On the Duties of Teachers and Pupilsnn. 724–725
- Section VII. On the Duties of Civil Rulers and Subjectsnn. 726–727
- Section VIII. On the Duties of Electors and Deputiesnn. 728–729
Part V. On the Fifth Precept of the Decaloguenn. 730–751
- Section I. On the Killing of an Innocent Personnn. 731–740
  - Chapter I. On the Killing of an Innocent Person in Generaln. 731
  - Chapter II. On the Killing of a Fetus in Particularnn. 732–740
    Article I. On Abortionnn. 732–736
    Article II. On Embryotomy, Etcnn. 737–740
    Scholion. On Mutilation, Imprisonment, and Beating of an Innocent Personn. 740
- Section II. On the Killing of a Criminalnn. 741–742
  - Scholion. On Mutilation and Beating of a Criminaln. 742
- Section III. On the Killing of an Unjust Aggressornn. 743–751
  - Scholion I. On Duelingnn. 747–750
  - Scholion II. On Warn. 751
Part VI. On the Sixth and Ninth Precepts of the Decaloguen. 752
Part VII. On the Seventh and Tenth Precepts of the Decaloguenn. 753–1045
- Section I. On Commutative Justice Itselfnn. 758–974
  - Chapter I. On Commutative Justice Generallynn. 758–827
    Article I. On the Nature and Division of Commutative Justicenn. 758–759
    Article II. On the Objects of Commutative Justice, or on Strict Rightsnn. 760–827
    § I. On Strict Rights Considered in Themselvesnn. 760–777
    Point I. On Ownership Generallynn. 760–766
    I. On the Notion, Division, Legitimacy, and Necessity of Ownershipnn. 760–763
    Scholion. On High or Eminent Ownershipn. 764
    II. On the Objects of Ownershipnn. 765–766
    Point II. On Limited Ownershipsnn. 767–777
    I. On Usufructnn. 767–770
    II. On Usen. 771
    III. On Servitudenn. 772–774
    IV. On Possessionnn. 775–777
    § II. On the Different Subjects of Strict Rightsnn. 778–787
    Point I. On the Ownership of Children of the Familyn. 778
    Point II. On the Ownership of Spousesn. 779
    Point III. On the Ownership of Clericsnn. 780–781
    Point IV. On the Ownership of Religiousnn. 782–784
    Point V. On the Ownership of Moral Personsnn. 785–787
    § III. On the Modes of Acquiring Strict Rightsnn. 788–827
    Point I. On Occupationnn. 789–798
    I. On the Occupation of Animalsnn. 791–794
    II. On the Occupation of Treasurenn. 795–796
    III. On the Occupation of Lost Thingsnn. 797–798
    Point II. On Production and Specificationnn. 799–802
    Point III. On Accessionnn. 803–804
    Point IV. On Prescriptionnn. 805–811
    I. On Prescription Generallynn. 805–807
    II. On Acquisitive Prescriptionn. 808
    III. On Liberative Prescriptionnn. 809–810
    Scholion. On Prescription for Ecclesiastical Goodsn. 811
    Point V. On Hereditary Successionnn. 812–827
    I. On Hereditary Succession Generallynn. 812–817
    II. On Testamentary Successionnn. 818–822
    Scholion. On Legaciesnn. 823–824
    III. On Legal Succession or Succession Ab Intestaton. 825
    Scholion I. On a Testament and Legacy for Pious Causesn. 826
    Scholion II. Practical Warningsn. 827
  - Chapter II. On Commutative Justice in Contractsnn. 828–974
    Article I. On Contracts Generallynn. 828–861
    § I. On the Notion and Division of Contractnn. 828–829
    § II. On the Subject of Contractnn. 830–831
    § III. On the Object of Contractnn. 832–833
    § IV. On the Intrinsic Form of Contract, or on Consentnn. 834–842
    Point I. On the Qualities of Consentn. 834
    Point II. On the Obstacles of Consentnn. 835–842
    I. Errornn. 836–837
    II. Fearnn. 838–840
    Scholion. Lesionnn. 841–842
    § V. On the Extrinsic Form of Contractnn. 843–844
    § VI. On the Effects of Contractnn. 845–861
    Point I. On the Effects of a Contract under a Conditionnn. 847–849
    Point II. On the Effects of a Contract under a Modenn. 850–851
    Point III. On the Effects of a Contract for a Causenn. 852–853
    Point IV. On the Effects of a Contract for a Dayn. 854
    Point V. On the Effects of an Alternative Contractn. 855
    Point VI. On the Effects of a Contract under a Penaltynn. 856–857
    Point VII. On the Effects of a Contract Confirmed by Oathnn. 858–861
    Scholion. On a Contract Void by Civil Lawnn. 859–861
    Article II. On Contracts in Speciesnn. 862–974
    § I. On Promisenn. 862–865
    § II. On Donationnn. 866–876
    Scholion. On Donation for a Pious Causenn. 873–876
    § III. On Deposit and Sequestrationnn. 877–880
    § IV. On Commodatum and Precariumnn. 881–883
    § V. On Mutuumnn. 884–891
    Scholion. On Monts-De-Piete and Savings Banksnn. 890–891
    § VI. On Buying and Sellingnn. 892–905
    Point I. On Buying and Selling Generallynn. 892–899
    Point II. On Some Buyings and Sellings in Speciesnn. 900–905
    Scholion. On the Sale of Ecclesiastical Goodsn. 905
    § VII. On Letting-Hiringnn. 906–924
    Point I. On the Letting-Hiring of Thingsnn. 907–911
    Scholion. On the Letting-Hiring of Ecclesiastical Thingsn. 911
    Point II. On the Letting of Work, or on the Contract of Rendering Worknn. 912–919
    Scholion. On the Contract of Rendering Certain Servicesn. 919
    Point III. On the Letting of a Work, or on the Contract of Rendering a Worknn. 920–924
    Scholion. On Labornn. 922–924
    § VIII. On Censusnn. 925–927
    § IX. On the Partnership Contractnn. 928–931
    § X. On Mandate and the Management of Affairsnn. 932–937
    § XI. On Exchangenn. 938–940
    § XII. On Aleatory Contractsnn. 941–958
    Point I. On Insurancenn. 941–946
    Point II. On Gamingnn. 947–949
    Point III. On Wageringnn. 950–951
    Point IV. On Drawing Lotsnn. 952–953
    Point V. On Stock-Exchange Gamesnn. 954–956
    Point VI. On Settlement and Arbitrationnn. 957–958
    § XIII. On Subsidiary Contractsnn. 959–974
    Point I. On Suretyshipnn. 959–963
    Point II. On Pledgenn. 964–967
    Point III. On Hypothecnn. 968–974
    Scholion. On the Alienation of Ecclesiastical Thingsnn. 973–974
- Section II. On Injustice and on Restitutionnn. 975–1045
  - Chapter I. On Injustice in Commonnn. 976–978
  - Chapter II. On Restitution in Commonnn. 979–1025
    Article I. Notion, Obligation, and Titles of Restitutionnn. 979–981
    Article II. The Subject and Object of Restitutionnn. 982–1009
    § I. On Unjust Possessorsnn. 982–992
    Point I. On the Possessor in Good Faithnn. 983–985
    Point II. On the Possessor in Bad Faithnn. 986–990
    Point III. On the Possessor in Doubtful Faithnn. 991–992
    § II. On Those who Merely Inflicted Damagenn. 993–995
    § III. On Those who Impede Another from Obtaining a Goodn. 996
    § IV. On Those who Cooperate in Injusticenn. 997–1009
    Point I. On Positive Cooperatorsnn. 998–1004
    I. On the One Commandingn. 999
    II. On the One Counselingn. 1000
    III. On the One Consentingn. 1001
    IV. On the Flatterern. 1002
    V. On the Receivern. 1003
    VI. On the Participantn. 1004
    Point II. On Negative Cooperatorsn. 1005
    Point III. On the Measure and Order by which Cooperators Are Held to Restitutionnn. 1006–1009
    Scholion I. On the Doubtful Damagern. 1008
    Scholion II. On Juridical Fault; Likewise on a Contract or Law Interveningn. 1009
    Article III. The Person to whom Restitution Is to Be Madenn. 1010–1013
    Scholion. On the Case in which Someone Cannot Satisfy All Creditorsnn. 1012–1013
    Article IV. The Time of Restitutionn. 1014
    Article V. The Place of Restitutionn. 1015
    Article VI. The Mode of Restitutionn. 1016
    Article VII. Causes Extinguishing or Suspending the Obligation of Restitutionnn. 1017–1025
    § I. Causes Extinguishing the Obligationnn. 1017–1020
    § II. Causes Suspending the Obligationnn. 1021–1025
    Scholion. On Juridical Delay of Payment, on Voluntary Cession of Goods, and on Cession in Courtnn. 1023–1025
  - Chapter III. On Injustice and Restitution in Particular Casesnn. 1026–1045
    Article I. On Goods of Fortunenn. 1026–1034
    § I. On Theftnn. 1026–1034
    Point I. On Theft in Generalnn. 1026–1028
    Point II. On Minor Thefts in Particularnn. 1029–1031
    Point III. On Causes Excusing the Taking Away of Another's Thingnn. 1032–1033
    Point IV. On Mere Damaging in Goods of Fortunen. 1034
    Article II. On Goods of the Bodynn. 1035–1037
    Article III. On Goods of the Soulnn. 1038–1039
    Article IV. On the Good of Chastity and Modestynn. 1040–1045
    § I. On Stuprumnn. 1040–1041
    Scholion. On the Obligation of the Man Committing Stuprum and of the Woman Subjected to It with Respect to Offspringn. 1041
    § II. On Adulterynn. 1042–1045
    Article V. On the Good of Reputation, Honor, Secrecy, and Truth
Appendix I. On Distributive Justice in Particularnn. 1046–1048
Appendix II. On Legal Justicenn. 1049–1061
- I. On Taxesnn. 1051–1055
- II. On Succession Taxnn. 1056–1058
- III. On Military Servicenn. 1059–1060
- IV. On the Observance of Other Social Lawsn. 1061
Part VIII. On the Eighth Precept of the Decaloguenn. 1062–1091
- Section I. On the Injury of Truth, or on Lyingnn. 1062–1065
- Section II. On the Injury of Reputationnn. 1066–1079
  - Chapter I. On Detractionnn. 1066–1075
    Article I. On the Notion, Division, and Morality of Detractionnn. 1066–1069
    Article II. On Causes Excusing Detractionn. 1070
    Article III. On Restitution on Account of Detractionnn. 1071–1074
    Article IV. On the One Hearing Detractionn. 1075
  - Chapter II. On Rash Judgment, Opinion, and Doubtnn. 1076–1079
    Scholion. On Whisperingnn. 1078–1079
- Section III. On the Injury of Honor, or on Insultnn. 1080–1086
  - Scholion. On Derisionnn. 1084–1086
- Section IV. On Injury of a Secretnn. 1087–1091