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- The natural law philosophy dominated in Greece during 5th B.C. This theory suggests that societies must constantly evolve with the social structures.
- Their writings acted as a catalyst for bringing about transformation of the old prevailing legal system.
- Mooted for universal order governing all men and the inalienable rights of the individuals.
- Law is construed as higher moral law order, righteousness and salvation
- The philosophy of morality, justice, ethics, right reason, good conduct, equality, liberty, freedom, social justice, democracy has its derivation from here
- Natural law also developed through Stoic Rome philosophy of Cicero that dealt with personal ethics
Theological Influence of Natural Law
- St Augustine- 4th century AD - His writings state that government became a necessary tool to restrain men from doing evil through the fear of punishment.
- St. Thomas Aquinas wrote and his 13th Century AD writings
Focused on Dominance of church and these writings were moulded to the Church's needs. To him there are only 4 laws - Divine Law, eternal law, law of nature and Human Law.
obligation to conscience
harmonisation of God's enactments with human deeds
God dictates and humans follow
if not, sin.