The Tradition of Natural Law: A Philosopher's Reflections - Softcover

Kuic, Vukan; Simon, Yves R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0823206416 ISBN 13: 9780823206414

Publisher: Fordham University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Available in a new digital edition with reflowable text suitable for e-readers

The tradition of natural law is one of the foundations of Western civilization. At its heart is the conviction that there is an objective and universal justice which transcends humanity’s particular expressions of justice. It asserts that there are certain ways of behaving which are appropriate to humanity simply by virtue of the fact that we are all human beings. Recent political debates indicate that it is not a tradition that has gone unchallenged: in fact, the opposition is as old as the tradition itself.

By distinguishing between philosophy and ideology, by recalling the historical adventures of natural law, and by reviewing the theoretical problems involved in the doctrine, Simon clarifies much of the confusion surrounding this perennial debate. He tackles the questions raised by the application of natural law with skill and honesty as he faces the difficulties of the subject.

Simon warns against undue optimism in a revival of interest in natural law and insists that the study of natural law beings with the analysis of “the law of the land.” He writes not as a polemicist but as a philosopher, and he writes of natural law with the same force, conciseness, lucidity and simplicity which have distinguished all his other works.

About this title

About the Author

Yves R. Simon was a French Catholic political philosopher. He was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, and was a member of the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. His work was in the realm of Thomism or scholastic philosophy, as well as moral and political philosophy. He had ten publications including A General Theory of Authority, Philosophy of Democratic Government, and Freedom and Community.

From the Back Cover

The tradition of natural law is one of the foundations of Western civilization. At its heart is the conviction that there is an objective and universal justice which transcends humanity's particular expressions of justice. It asserts that there are certain ways of behaving which are appropriate to humanity simply by virtue of the fact that we are all human beings.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fordham University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0823206416
• ISBN 13: 9780823206414
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 194