The problem of natural law / Douglas Kries.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kries, Douglas, 1958-

Series:

Applications of political theory

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Natural law.

Law--Philosophy.

Law.

Physical Description:

xx, 193 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Lexington Books, [2007]

Summary:

The Problem of Natural Law takes up the issue of how natural law theory might be made a serious contender in modern moral, political, and legal debate. Douglas Kries takes as his starting point the question of how human beings are said to know the natural law, a question that has traditionally been answered by appealing to the notion of "conscience." Since Thomas Aquinas articulated the classic formulation of natural law theory, the book begins with an analysis of his notion of conscience. It then examines both the philosophical and theological objections that have been raised against the Thomistic notion of conscience and argues that this long-standing teaching could and should be bracketed by contemporary natural law theory. On the basis of this reformulation of natural law, Kries then proceeds to show how reviving natural law theory might be possible in the contemporary context, though it will need to be preceded by a reformulation of the natural law theory itself, especially with respect to the doctrine of conscience. If this is accomplished, Thomistic natural law will be better situated to respond to its three most important contemporary critics: the existentialism of Sartre, the deontologism of Kant, and the political hedonism of Hobbes.

Contents:

Conscience in Thomas's understanding of natural law

The objections of the ancient philosophers

The objections of the Calvinist Christians

On the possibility of revising Thomas's teaching on conscience

Those who deny the existence of human nature

Those who deny the moral relevancy of human nature

Those who deny the ancient understanding of human nature.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 181-187) and index.

ISBN:

9780739120361

0739120360

OCLC:

125405627