Natural Law

Is this the root of breakdowns inside of American Politics?

First of all, as far as liberals go, Washington, D.C., makes Boulder look like Colorado Springs. If you’re from Colorado or know much about the state's politics, I hope you get a laugh out of that one.

I’m sitting in Boulder right now as I write at Panorama Point off of Flagstaff Road. No picture does the view justice, but if you click the link, you’ll see some photo’s from the area that come up via a google search.

The scene here is very different than in Washington.

I can see the entire city. It’s probably 62 degrees on the backside of a perfect afternoon rainstorm. Things dry off out here - unlike the swamp.

But, let’s get down to business because I know you don’t have all night.

My last letter to you left off hereabouts:

“People assume liberals are responding to conservatives when in reality, they are both responding to the limits of natural laws.”

I had to really think about this one... The laws of nature are deep and saturated with thinking that dates as far back as Aristotle (384-322 BC) or Cicero (104 - 43BC.)

Since then, many philosophers have had time to ponder, respond to, or extend their thinking around natural law.

Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy summarizes the views of natural law as:

(1) the natural law is given by God; (2) it is naturally authoritative over all human beings; and (3) it is naturally knowable by all human beings.

There is much more.

Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy goes on to highlight Thomas Hobbes (1588 - 1679) views around natural law as:

the laws of nature are divine law (Leviathan, xv, ¶41), that all humans are bound by them (Leviathan, xv, ¶¶36), and that it is easy to know at least the basics of the natural law (Leviathan, xv, ¶35). He held that the fundamental good is self-preservation (Leviathan, xiii, ¶14) and that the laws of nature direct the way to this good (Leviathan, xiv, ¶3). He offered a catalog of laws of nature that constitute the “true moral philosophy” (Leviathan, xv, ¶40).

Damn…. Still, there is more!

But why do I keep coming back to natural law, you ask?

Well, it’s clear that Thomas Hobbes influenced John Locke even though Locke disagreed with Hobbes on things like the state of nature and the social contract (to be discussed another time.)

And Locke was certainly the single most influential thinker on the framers of the Constitution of the United States of America.

So it is my belief, that no matter how you look at it, natural law, or at least the current day composition of liberals and conservatives response to natural law is the root of breakdowns inside of American Politics.

Which breakdowns? I could poke around and find a few specific examples where the breakdowns are apparent. Take social issues in the vein of civil rights or equality… Or maybe in economics around capitalism. What about with climate and the ways that corporations justify the negative externalities they deal out into the natural world?

Keep in mind, the reason I am fixated on natural law is because it is the backbone of the formation of the United Sates. I don’t see how one can lay the groundwork for an extensive, rigorous critique of American politics, government, and liberalism without first spending time with natural law.

Some questions that plague me currently;

• How do various interpretations of natural law affect one’s pursuit of liberty, justice and equality?

• How do natural laws impact perceptions of institutions across identity groups?

• If natural law is not at the core of breakdowns in American politics, what is?

• Is the tension of natural law in American politics one that seeks resolution?

• Is the resolution of tension within natural law the phenomena that is commonly referred to in liberal democracy, ascending?

• Are the aspirations of the constitution misleading?

• Are all men created equal? If so, then why does a democracy only account for the interests of the majority?

• In the long run, what impact does the aspirational nature of the constitution have on minority groups?

Alright, ya’ll.

Talk soon.

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Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_law

https://iep.utm.edu/lawofnat/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/laws-of-nature/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/natural-law-ethics/