Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Natural law refers to two things: the physical laws that govern the natural world, and a philosophical theory that suggests moral and legal principles can be derived from universal truths about people and justice. Essentially, natural law is the idea that there are certain fundamental principles that apply to everyone, regardless of culture or society. These principles can guide our understanding of what is right and wrong, and help us create just and fair laws.
Natural law
See Positive law and Moral law.
Natural law can refer to the physical laws that govern the natural world, such as the laws of gravity or thermodynamics. It can also refer to a philosophical theory that suggests there are universal truths about what is right and wrong, and that these truths can be used to create moral and legal principles. For example, the idea that all humans have inherent dignity and worth could be used to argue that certain actions, such as slavery or genocide, are always wrong, regardless of the cultural or historical context. This theory of natural law has been influential in many areas of philosophy and law throughout history.
These examples illustrate the two different meanings of natural law. The law of gravity is an example of a physical law that governs the behavior of the natural world. The idea of inherent human rights is an example of a moral principle that some philosophers have argued is a universal truth that can be used to create legal principles.