John Finnis' Natural Law Theory

Background to Finnis' Natural Law Theory

• Aristotle argued that there was a natural justice, which was valid to everyone
• Natural Law theory was fundamentally developed by Aquinas, who claimed that Natural Law was an aspect of God's eternal law, accessed through human, God-given rationality
• Finnis accepts the idea that there is a natural justice that is applicable to all humanity
• Unlike Aquinas, Finnis argues that Natural Law's purpose is to ensure that a person is able to…