Natural law theories
Classical, scholastic, and contemporary traditions
They seek to explain practical norms through human goods, reason, and nature.
Historical context
Natural law theories have classical and scholastic antecedents and contemporary formulations in ethics and law.
Overview
A norm can be assessed by asking which human goods it protects and what reasons it gives for action. In law, a further question concerns how that assessment relates to the authority of an enacted rule.
Main claims
Human goods and practical reason provide standards for explaining and evaluating norms.
Debates and nuances
Ethical and legal approaches raise different questions about obligation and authority.
This entry provides educational context.