Natural Law Theory

In Section 1, I outline the history of natural law theory, covering Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics and Aquinas. In Section 2, I explore two alternative traditions of natural law, and explain why these constitute rivals to the Aristotelian tradition. In Section 3, I go on to elaborate a via negativa along which natural law norms can be discovered. On this basis, I unpack what I call three ‘experiments in being’, each of which illustrates the cogency of this method. In Section 4, I investigate and rebut two seminal challenges to natural law methodology, namely, the fact/value distinction in metaethics and Darwinian evolutionary biology. In Section 5, I then outline and criticise the ‘new’ natural law theory, which is an attempt to revise natural law thought in light of the two challenges above. I conclude, in Section 6, with a summary and some reflections on the prospects for natural law theory.

Table of Contents

1 Historical Introduction

2 ‘Natural Law’ – Other Idioms

3 Some Experiments in Being

4 Two Core Challenges

5 ‘New’ Natural Law

6 Prospective Conclusion

Review

‘In this admirably crisp and clear-headed essay, Tom Angier deftly charts a path forward for a form of natural law theory that reclaims species essences and natural teleology, issuing a bold challenge to reductive empiricist naturalisms. Keeping the normative grounded in the natural remains a live option, and one compatible with evolutionary biology. Highly recommended reading for natural law’s defenders and detractors alike!’ Jennifer A. Herdt, Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian Ethics, Yale Divinity School

‘This work, while admirably concise, is extremely rich. It is both cautious and bold – cautious in its rigor and attention to careful argument, and bold in its claims. Its overall aim is to rehabilitate traditional natural law theory, especially in ethics, by countering the main challenges and alternatives to it. Angier wants to overcome the ‘metaphysicophobia’ of Anglophone ethics and point a way forward to reclaiming a tradition committed to essences, teleology, natural normativity, and human flourishing based on human ends. His arguments are sure to be controversial and will provoke strong reactions in his readers. But he succeeds in persuading them to take a fresh look at an ancient tradition.’ Alan Mittleman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy, The Jewish Theological Seminary

‘In this extremely helpful and enlightening introduction to the natural law tradition in ethics, Angier explains clearly how the tradition developed, sets out its key claims, and defends it against some central criticisms – while also showing how the so-called ’new’ natural law theory has gone wrong. As a result, he makes a very useful contribution to the current revival of interest in this key way of understanding the relation between nature, value, and norms.’ Robert Stern, University of Sheffield, UK