James V. Schall, Reflections on the Natural Law

Reflections on the Natural Law
James V. Schall, S.J. - 05/08/08

Almost every mention of “natural rights” unfortunately requires careful and subtle qualification or caution to protect this very slippery notion from being taken to mean just the opposite of what it appears to affirm. The terms “rights” and “values” are modern terms originating in and solidly grounded in modern political philosophy. They do not mean what the old Latin word justum or jus (words sometimes translated as “right”) meant in their original context. . . .