Cicero | Natural Law, Natural Rights, and American Constitutionalism
Others may already be aware of this site. I found it while looking for some reading around Natural Law. I had not realized that Cicero had discussions around Natural Law and found this to be an interesting site.
Prior to this I had thought John Locke to be the father of the idea of Natural law. It goes back much further.
Hopefully some other people out there will also find it interesting.
Prior to this I had thought John Locke to be the father of the idea of Natural law. It goes back much further.
Hopefully some other people out there will also find it interesting.
SOURCE URL: http://www.nlnrac.org/classical/cicero
To myself, it brings to mind many of the discussions and arguments I've had in the past with those that assumed that we, as humans, are so much more evolved than our ancestors. So much of our thinking, rather than being evolved, IMHO results from the technological developments of the time that result in an increase of leisure time and cultural opportunities of the times we live in. In many ways the concepts of men being born equal reflects that we all start from the beginning of thought when we're each born. Men and writings such as Cicero's remind us that human concepts, thinking, and attempts to apply logic have been with us since the beginnings of our race.
I wonder as much how so many seem to anesthetize rational thinking in their lives.
I would argue that sentience itself is predicated on the logical ability to discern identity and value. To argue that one can "think" without logic to me seems absurd. Now if one wants to argue that knowledge at the beginning was not at a premium and therefore the decisions made based on inferior knowledge, one may have an argument there. Then again, if any one of us had perfect knowledge, we would always make perfect decisions. Tell me when someone reaches that lofty plateau, as I'll ask them for a rope to pull me up!
(Aquinas, ST I-II, Q.90, A.I). On this common view, since human beings are by nature rational beings, it is morally appropriate that they should behave in a way that conforms to their rational nature. Thus, Aquinas derives the moral law from the nature of human beings (thus, "natural law"). http://www.iep.utm.edu/natlaw/
I find it fascinating to see both the contributions over the years to developing the philosophy and the way in with it becomes more concrete and clear as each philosopher adds and builds on the concepts of Natural Rights.
He also thinks morality is something we have inherently "He points quite unambiguously to a divine source for this law and anticipates later developments of the notion of conscience by stressing that all humankind have a sense of the right within them, seeds needing nourishing and guidance to flourish as mature reason." I think history has proven him wrong.
To bad the two never had a discussion between them. I suspect they both would have learned volumes and us with them.
A most worthy and interesting contribution. How little mankind has progressed on whole...
Carpe diem,
O.A.