Avant-propos - Studia Moralia

196 TODD A. SALZMAN
principles. Man’s conscience itself gives ever more emphatic
voice to these principles.” 76
In response to GRISEZ’S point, revisionism has recourse to
AQUINAS’ Summa Theologiae. RICHARD MCCORMICK and JOHN MA-
HONEY note that AQUINAS distinguishes between the first principles
of natural law and secondary precepts or certain detailed
proximate conclusions that flow from those principles. 77 Whereas
the first principles of natural law cannot change and are,
therefore, absolute, the characteristics of the secondary precepts
or application of the first principles are, in the words of MC-
CORMICK, “provisionality, flexibility and contingency.” 78 In contemporary
theological terminology, we could say that these secondary
precepts are material norms that relate to rightness and
wrongness and are subject to change, clarification, and evolution
in light of their ongoing dialogue with the signs of the times
(e.g., history, culture, and tradition).
The BGT recognizes AQUINAS’ distinction between principles
and their application as well. It further recognizes that revisionism
cites this article from AQUINAS “to support their view that one
must decide in each case whether a received moral norm must
be fulfilled or is overridden by other considerations.” 79 In response
to revisionism’s use of AQUINAS, GRISEZ notes the following.
First, while it may be the case that AQUINAS’ statement may
be true “with respect to most specific norms,” he does teach,
“that there are norms that do not admit of exception.” 80 Second,
he posits that THOMAS’ assertion, drawn from ARISTOTLE’S physics
distinguishing between what is universal and absolute versus
what is contingent and changing, is fallacious. It is based on a
misperception of the existential, moral domain and the natural
world.
76 Documents 292, par. 79. See GRISEZ, “Infallibility and Specific Moral
Norms” 274.
77
AQUINAS, S.T., I-II, q. 94, aa. 4-5. MCCORMICK, Critical Calling 150-51;
and JOHN MAHONEY, Making of Moral Theology 189-90.
78
MCCORMICK, Critical Calling 151.
79
GRISEZ, Christian Moral Principles 268.
80 Ibid. 269.