Should Political Societies Be Democratic? An approach from the Natural Law Tradition
Publisher: Brooking Institution Press
ISBN: 978-1-5381-8890-3, 978-1-5381-8891-0
Year of publication: 2024
Pages: 221-244
Type: Book chapter
Abstract
What does the natural law tradition have to say about democracy? Before replying to this question, an introductory caveat is in order, because the “natural law tradition” admits a broad or a restricted reading depending on whether we give more weight to the part concerning natural law or to the part concerning tradition.After all, it could be argued that, if natural law exists, it works independently of whatever natural law theory one defends. As John Finnis rightly observes, “Anyone who considers that there are principles of natural law … ought to see the importance of maintaining a distinction between...