A History of Natural Law: From the Ancient World to the New Aristotelianism

Author: William M.R. Simpson; Justin Buckley Dyer
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9781009506380
Published In: December 2026
Format: Hardback
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

RM631.80

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What is the moral foundation of human rights, justice, and the rule of law? In a time of deep cultural and political division, this volume charts the rich history of one of the most enduring ideas in Western thought: that moral and legal norms are rooted in human nature and accessible to reason. Spanning ancient, medieval, early modern, and contemporary traditions-including Islamic and African-American perspectives-the volume shows how Natural Law has evolved and how it continues to shape debates in ethics, politics, and jurisprudence.

With chapters on Aristotle, Aquinas, Grotius, Locke, and the American Founders, as well as modern voices like Jacques Maritain and Martin Luther King, it offers both historical depth and philosophical clarity. Essential reading for students and scholars in philosophy, law, theology, and political theory, it invites readers to rediscover a tradition that speaks urgently to the moral challenges of our time.

Introduction

William M. R. Simpson and Justin B. Dyer

1. Natural law in Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics

Susan Sauvé Meyer and Brad Inwood

2. Natural law in the Roman world

Jed W. Atkins

3. Natural law in early Islam

Karen Taliaferro

4. Natural law in early scholasticism

Jean Porter

5. Natural law and eternal law in Aquinas

Colleen McCluskey