PPOG 503
How Natural and Revealed Law Affect American Political Philosophy
PPOG 503: Political Philosophy
Natural and Revealed law are two important concepts that affected American
political philosophy. Although they are old concepts mentioned and studied by St.
Augustine, Aquinas, and Maimonides, it still affects people’s worldview and how they
maneuver. The natural law theory is defined as the belief that people, who are created by
God himself, ought to live their lives and operate and organize society on the basis of
rules. This concept originated from the ancient Eastern Greco-Roman civilization in the
formulation of Stoicism.
“The Stoics, Cicero and their jurists successor did not perceive natural law as a
higher law invalidating and justifying disobedience to man-made laws that did not
measure up, but as a standard for making, developing and interpreting law: law
should be made and developed so that it correspond to nature” (Columbia
University, n.d.).
Aquinas believed people had to operate in human affairs. He also believed that human affairs
could be naturally organized around natural law. Furthermore, natural law is embodied
ultimately in scripture, and not nature itself. What I took away from Aquinas’ way of
thinking is that natural law should be common to all people, Christians and non-Christians.
He speaks on peace stating “the common good and the end of political authority is in the first
instance of peace or harmony
of the different parts that combine to make up the city” (Strauss, Cropsey 2012, 253-254).
The only way to achieve peace is when all different parts are able to coexist and function in
its totality. Maimonides shares similar sentiments; “in proportion as Maimonides regards the
How Natural and Revealed Law Affect American Political Philosophy
PPOG 503: Political Philosophy
Natural and Revealed law are two important concepts that affected American
political philosophy. Although they are old concepts mentioned and studied by St.
Augustine, Aquinas, and Maimonides, it still affects people’s worldview and how they
maneuver. The natural law theory is defined as the belief that people, who are created by
God himself, ought to live their lives and operate and organize society on the basis of
rules. This concept originated from the ancient Eastern Greco-Roman civilization in the
formulation of Stoicism.
“The Stoics, Cicero and their jurists successor did not perceive natural law as a
higher law invalidating and justifying disobedience to man-made laws that did not
measure up, but as a standard for making, developing and interpreting law: law
should be made and developed so that it correspond to nature” (Columbia
University, n.d.).
Aquinas believed people had to operate in human affairs. He also believed that human affairs
could be naturally organized around natural law. Furthermore, natural law is embodied
ultimately in scripture, and not nature itself. What I took away from Aquinas’ way of
thinking is that natural law should be common to all people, Christians and non-Christians.
He speaks on peace stating “the common good and the end of political authority is in the first
instance of peace or harmony
of the different parts that combine to make up the city” (Strauss, Cropsey 2012, 253-254).
The only way to achieve peace is when all different parts are able to coexist and function in
its totality. Maimonides shares similar sentiments; “in proportion as Maimonides regards the
