- "Natural law (Latin: ius naturale, lex naturalis) is a system of law based on a close observation of human nature, and based on values intrinsic to human nature that can be deduced and applied independently of positive law."
The idea that all humans have inherent rights and freedoms that are not granted by any legal system or government.
Ancient Philosophy and Law: Study of classical Greek and Roman thinkers, including Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, and the Stoic philosophers, whose ideas on justice and natural law had a profound impact on Western thought.
Medieval Philosophers and Theologians: Study of Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, and other medieval thinkers who sought to harmonize classical philosophy with Christian theology.
Modern Natural Law Theorists: Study of modern natural law theorists such as Hugo Grotius, John Locke, and Samuel von Pufendorf, who developed a more secular, individualistic conception of natural law.
Natural Law and Constitutional Theory: Study of how natural law theory has informed constitutional law, including the U.S. Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and international law.
Natural Law and Human Dignity: Study of how natural law theory relates to concepts of human dignity, including the rights of individuals, the common good, and the role of the state.
Natural Law and Political Theory: Study of how natural law theory relates to political theory, including the question of the proper role of government, the nature of society, and the relationship between ethics and political philosophy.
Natural Law and Ethics: Study of ethical theories that are grounded in natural law, including virtue ethics, deontological ethics, and consequentialism.
Natural Law and Catholic Theology: Study of the Catholic Church's teachings on natural law and how it has influenced Western thought and legal systems.
Natural Law and International Human Rights: Study of how natural law theory has been applied to international human rights law, including the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Criticisms of Natural Law Theory: Study of the criticisms of natural law theory, including the argument that it is too vague and abstract, that it fails to account for cultural differences, and that it is too dependent on a particular religious or philosophical worldview.
Greek Stoicism: The Stoics believed that nature and reason were intertwined and that people should follow natural laws to live virtuous lives.
Roman Law: The Romans believed that natural law was a set of principles that were found in the natural world and that governed human behavior.
Christian Natural Law: Christian natural law holds that God created the universe and established moral laws that reflect his nature, and human beings must abide by these laws to live in harmony with the natural world.
Natural Rights Theory: Natural Rights Theory holds that every individual has certain inalienable rights that are derived from natural law.
Enlightenment Natural Law: Enlightenment natural law focused on reason and rationality, and thought that people could create a better society by applying natural laws to their actions.
Modern Natural Law: Modern natural law is based on the idea that individuals have certain moral rights which are inalienable and that are derived from the nature of humanity.
Contemporary Natural Law: Contemporary natural law is a combination of several strands of thought, including ideas from Aristotle, Aquinas, the Enlightenment, and other sources. It emphasizes the importance of reason and rationality in human decision-making and action, and it seeks to promote justice and the common good.
- "Natural law theory can also refer to 'theories of ethics, theories of politics, theories of civil law, and theories of religious morality.'"
- "In Western tradition, it was anticipated by the pre-Socratics, for example in their search for principles that governed the cosmos and human beings."
- "The concept of natural law was documented in ancient Greek philosophy, including Aristotle, and was referred to in ancient Roman philosophy by Cicero."
- "References to it are also to be found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible."
- "The School of Salamanca made notable contributions during the Renaissance."
- "Aquinas argues that because human beings have reason, and because reason is a spark of the divine, all human lives are sacred and of infinite value compared to any other created object, meaning all humans are fundamentally equal and bestowed with an intrinsic basic set of rights that no human can remove."
- "Modern natural law theories took shape in the Age of Enlightenment."
- "Combining inspiration from Roman law, Christian scholastic philosophy, and contemporary concepts such as social contract theory."
- "It was used in challenging the theory of the divine right of kings, and became an alternative justification for the establishment of a social contract, positive law, and government."
- "In the early decades of the 21st century, the concept of natural law is closely related to the concept of natural rights."
- "Indeed, many philosophers, jurists, and scholars use natural law synonymously with natural rights (Latin: ius naturale), or natural justice."
- "Because of the intersection between natural law and natural rights, natural law has been claimed or attributed as a key component in the Act of Abjuration (1581) of the Netherlands, the Declaration of Independence (1776) of the United States, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) of France."
- "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) of the United Nations, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights (1953) of the Council of Europe."
- "Based on values intrinsic to human nature that can be deduced and applied independently of positive law."
- "All people have inherent rights, conferred not by act of legislation but by 'God, nature, or reason.'"
- "All humans are fundamentally equal and bestowed with an intrinsic basic set of rights that no human can remove."
- "The School of Salamanca made notable contributions during the Renaissance."
- "Natural law theory can also refer to 'theories of ethics, theories of politics, theories of civil law, and theories of religious morality.'"
- "All human lives are sacred and of infinite value compared to any other created object."