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Natural law [1] (Latin: ius naturale, lex naturalis) is a philosophical and legal theory that posits the existence of a set of inherent laws derived from nature and universal moral principles, which are discoverable through reason.
It states that an action can only be moral if it is motivated by a sense of duty, and its maxim may be rationally willed a universal, objective law. Central to Kant's theory of the moral law is the categorical imperative. Kant formulated the categorical imperative in various ways.
Natural morality refers to morality that is based on human nature, rather than acquired from societal norms or religious teachings. Charles Darwin 's theory of evolution is central to many modern conceptions of natural morality, but the concept goes back at least to naturalism .
This leads to the first formulation of the categorical imperative, sometimes called the principle of universalizability: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." [1] Closely connected with this formulation is the law of nature formulation.
In virtue of these principles of legality, the law has an inner morality that imposes a minimal morality of fairness. Some laws, he admits, may be so wicked or unjust that they should not be obeyed. But even in these cases, he argues, there are positive features of the law that impose a defensible moral duty to obey them.
Christian philosophers interpreted moral principles as divine commands originating from God. [208] Thomas Aquinas (1224–1274 CE) [209] developed natural law ethics by claiming that ethical behavior consists in following the laws and order of nature, which he believed were created by God. [210]
Natural law is the law of natural rights. Legal rights are those bestowed onto a person by a given legal system (they can be modified, repealed, and restrained by human laws). The concept of positive law is related to the concept of legal rights. Natural law first appeared in ancient Greek philosophy, [2] and was referred to by Roman ...
Kant begins from common-sense moral reason and shows by analysis the supreme moral law that must be its principle. He then argues that the supreme moral law in fact obligates us. The book is famously difficult, [citation needed] and it is partly because of this that Kant later, in 1788, decided to publish the Critique of Practical Reason.