Anna Lukina, a researcher from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), has published work dissecting the concept of "evil law" within the philosophical framework of St. Thomas Aquinas. The research, titled "Evil Law in St. Thomas Aquinas’s Philosophy," suggests a complex engagement with how seemingly negative legal structures might be understood, or perhaps justified, through historical philosophical lenses. Lukina's broader research interests encompass legal theory, history, and public law, with a notable output including an article titled "Making Sense of Evil Law," published in Law and Philosophy in 2026.
Lukina's work touches on a philosophical tradition where evil is understood not as an inherent existence, but rather as a deficiency or absence of good. This aligns with earlier explorations, such as those by Tina Beattie in 2012, who noted that for Aquinas, evil is recognized only in relation to a prior understanding of good. Further underscoring this philosophical nuance, a piece from the Philosophy Institute on February 13, 2026, details Aquinas's dual conception of moral and physical evil, emphasizing that "no one chooses evil as evil." It posits that evil, being a lack of good, can never entirely "win."
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This line of inquiry also intersects with the enduring philosophical quandary known as the 'Problem of Evil,' which questions the coexistence of an all-good, all-powerful deity with the existence of suffering and malevolence. Resources like 'aquinas-online.com' present the logical tension: if a deity is both omnipotent and benevolent, it would presumably act to prevent all evil. Yet, the presence of evil suggests this is not the case, leading to complex theological and philosophical debates. Lukina's research appears to bridge these abstract discussions with the tangible, and often problematic, realities of legal systems. Her past work includes analyzing legal forms within dictatorial regimes, such as "Legal Form in the Soviet Dictatorship: Evgeny Pashukanis and His Interlocutors" (2024), indicating a consistent focus on law's role in various political contexts.
