Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law

A rigorous but accessible overview of the new natural law account of ethics and political philosophy.

The foundational principles of ethics and politics are principles that guide us to respect and promote human flourishing. In Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law Melissa Moschella provides an accessible introduction for the new natural law account of these principles while clarifying common misconceptions.

As a commonsense ethical theory, natural law grounds ethics in the fundamental dimensions of human flourishing. Taking into account social and political aspects, Moschella lays out the basic principles of natural law and their relationship to the virtues. She considers the importance of communities for flourishing, explaining how they should shape our understanding of justice and the common good, and showing how natural law principles support limited government and civil liberties. She also discusses the relationship between morality and God, and how the natural law account relates to Christian revelation. This fresh and compelling exploration of new natural law is the go-to resource to understand this important and influential theory.