BOOK REVIEW OF NATURAL LAW THINKERS
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
HELM SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
Book Review of Natural Law Thinkers
Submitted to Dr. Howard Cheek
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
PLCY 701-B02
Natural Law, The State & The Gospel
by
Jervaughn Reid
September 29, 2021.
Author Note
Jervaughn Reid
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jervaughn Reid.
Email: jreid83@liberty.edu.
1
Book Review of Natural Law Thinker
Introduction
Book review is a very important approach into understanding the more about the concept
of natural justice into the society. Book review enables the readers to highlight some weaknesses
and the areas of strengths that the author has laid down in his book. Knowing about the
weaknesses creates room for further improvements that will be very helpful to improve the book
content for future viewers. After the Natural law by Lawrence is a book that tries to explain the
nature of humanity and how it has been affected by how people perceive their existence in
relation to reality. The early philosophers like Luther, Hooker and Aquinas are the pioneers of
discussion about natural law. The theory made some little explanations and ideas on the concept
of Christian kingship, the concept of statesmanship, natural justice and political relationship with
the religious offices. The early philosophers like Luther, Hooker and Aquinas are the pioneers of
discussion about natural law. The theory made some little explanations and ideas on the concept
of Christian kingship, the concept of statesmanship, natural justice and political relationship with
the religious offices. This concept has provided some leeway for the current leaders to borrow
some concept of leadership from the ideas of the three people. However, the ideas of these three
groups of people have some similarities and differences that are very fundamental in
understanding philosophy1. This paper addresses the differences between the ideas of Luther and
hooker to those of Aquinas, at the same time it addresses the similarities that exist in the three
philosophers. This piece of work purposefully aims at awakening humanity on how to
1. Mark Mattes, "The Oxford Encyclopedia of Martin Luther," Lutheran Quarterly 32, no.
3 (2018), 360-365.
2
consolidate their righteous beliefs, thereby questioning certain aspects of freedom, democracy
and laws that dictate their existence.
The author is trying to shift the conversation about human rights from the lens of
autonomous individual independence, to an interconnected community based. In this book, the
author brings in an aspect which related to Marx’s description of human rights. This is a
highlight of the human rights contingency instead of the natural nature which can also be
described as the inherent nature of human rights. This is an issue which accrues another concept,
“egalitarian citizen subjects” These are group of individuals who exhibit a sovereignty which
operate of either very strict basis which are state managed, or an equal and formal democracy,
endowed with utmost freedom. The author gives an insight of this situation being untrue
definition or picture of actual equality or even true freedom2.
Hill's ideas try to come in line with what Levin tries to communicate. However, Hill
admits that Lacan tries to explain inter-subjectivity of the self. In this aspect, Hill explains that
Lacan focuses on describing how humans can protect their identity thereby making it distinct
from that of others and protecting it from suppression. This is in other terms referred to as
Lacanian phallus. Hill however argues in favor of the notion of human identity and integrity, as
coupled by Lacan and Levinas. Hills describes this notion as not implausible, in this aspect, the
two works, that is Levinas' and Lacan's, are complimentary components of each other. This come
in when Lacans reminds disciples of Levinas that it is ideal for an individual to make his own
internal demands, this should be followed by a sublimed urge to offer oneself as sacrifice
towards redirection of the internal energy towards protecting the internal demands.
2. John Lawrence Hill, “After the Natural Law: How the classical worldview supports
our modern moral and political views,” (Ignatius Press, 2016),
3
Eventually, Hill explains that Lacan exhibits a real grasp while Levinas exhibits facial
grasp which are both disruptive of the current human atomism, and at the same time revealing its
cause. In this work, Hill explains that through new post-humanist description of selfhood-in-
community, it is possible to overcome Lacan's pessimism. In Hill’s view, the democracies require
to move a notch higher beyond the liberal humanism and adopt a human freedom concept that
least ignores the deep human interdependence and even how they recognize their own selves.
Hill gives an insightful conclusion that has a bearing to the current global position on
transeconomic capitalism and international globalization. This has a strong and insightful
message on the current fracas the globe is exhibiting3. This is a scenario where the 21st century is
elapsing, and yet the modern democracy continues to be more radical on what is least expected.
This liberal democracy doesn’t exhibit itself in the critical openness expected, instead it has the
audacity to manage, justify and enforce legal and political inequality. Hill’s further explains that
technology and even consumerism have gone a notch higher to widen the social platform for
individuals to exercise autonomous capacities of being, that are promised within liberal
emancipation.
The solution to this mess should be awareness of why people need to be vigilant of the
fact that intra-subjective self threat imagination, has equal magnitude as threat from otherness.
This should therefore be an issue of concern to us, having in mind that new tensions arise with
improper leaders continuing to infiltrate our democracies. Ideally, looking beyond the self or
even Tribe-Alterity has always assured individuals of survival. Even the right of responsibility
3. Dominic R., Mangino, "After the Natural Law: How the Classical Worldview Supports
Our Modern Moral and Political Values by John Lawrence Hill," The National Catholic
Bioethics Quarterly 19, no. 3. (Los Angeles: University of California ,2019), 502-505.
4
has impacted the same effect, opening ways out of violence, horrors, and competition. This has
greatly protected the migrants and prevented genocide cases. Ideally, Hill makes it clear that men
are no freer than slaves, and a corrective measure must be taken to make lasting human rights.
James 4:17, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin4.” So men
have to move in quest for the truth and make it count in action.
Relation to natural Law Thinkers
Luther brings in the idea of Christianity in which human beings need to be guided
under the Christian rules and principles as the sole bedrock of their conduct. In this aspect,
Luther questions the existence of Pope and why he is considered richer than the highest-ranking
political officers, yet still insists on poor believers to labor and pay for erection of church
infrastructural developments. In this case, he triggers the minds of human to examine the aspects
of statesmanship with respect to the characteristics exhibited by the Roman church, and its
leaders. Ideally, statesmanship requires one operate on basis of principles, that can’t be
compromised by nay personal or political gains5. Luther therefore comes in to awaken the people
and ask of them, the urge to fight for their own self, to protect their identity and freedom, thereby
halting their labor and slavery for religion. According to Luther, righteousness in government is
absent and the church leaders who should awaken the people on the same, are continuing to
enslave the common men in the name of serving religion. Ideally, Luther is trying to ask the
people to stand firm on their principles, based on their own conscience, and inform them own
selves of how to stand firm and be sacrificial saints of their righteous belief. The Luther’s
4 James 4:17 (King James Bible).
5. Aaron Garrett, "Hutcheson on the Unity of Virtue and Right," In Kant and the Scottish
Enlightenment, (Routledge, 2017),10.
5
concept fits on Hill’s concept because it is easier for men to define their own environment and
the lifestyle, rather than living under the definition and perception of a few individuals, vividly
gaining from their suppression6.
Luther also brings out the aspect of human beings living a life according to their own
understanding or perception of reality and righteousness. That since why Luther questions the
integrity of the Pope and the Church in general. Ideally, Luther’s perception of natural law is in
contrast with the church7. Luther believes that the church is enslaving Christians, and using
religion as a tool to bond them and deny them freedom to think for themselves. This is some sort
of democracy being denied to common men, through religion, which gives them heavy load of
man made principles to put them under containment. Relating this to Hill’s work, it becomes
ideal that the writings are trying to awaken people from the bondage of ideology. Leaders who
emerge every time as winners, need to put forward laws that secure their power, and make them
more superior than common men. To do this, they tend to expose lots of ideologies about
insecurities that individuals might face, if they do not do certain things. This strategy in turn
makes them more superior and powerful over the common men, to an extent of making decisions
and rules without considering their consent. This is deprivation of democracy on another level.
Just like Luther, Hill calls on individuals to stand firm and protect their identity and consent,
because it is pleasant to live in a world where one’s own description of life prevails.
6. Mavluda Zulkandar kizi Ergasheva, "THE ISSUES OF STATE INDEPENDENCE IN
THE COMMENTS OF THINKERS," Scientific Reports of Bukhara State University 3, no. 4
(2020), 2.
7. Ibid., 253-257.
6
Augustine on the other hand brings in a theory that humans should embrace unique
cognitive capacity or ability. This cognitive capacity comprehends deductive truth and even
logical necessity. Augustine also brings in the aspect of human apprehension of reality, with
respect to time, and explains that time is nothing in reality, if it does not exist in human
conscience. In this aspect, Augustine believes that the soul is superior to the body, and defines
practices of the body8. Therefore, one’s freedom, and practice of democracy is inborn9. It is
possible for people to define and practice democracy based on their own perception and
understanding of reality. Like Luther, hooker believed in the separation and the differences
between the worldly and the spiritual kingdom. Hooker explains that true Christians belong to
the kingdom of God and are knowledgeable about what God wants. They strive to be perfect by
following the requirements of God. In The Law of Ecclesiastical Polities, Hooker believed that
leadership and authority are well documented in the scriptures. People have to stand for their
own selves based on the strength of the soul. Because according to Hooker, the body is incapable
of acting on the soul. This is basically because the soul possesses superior strength over the body,
and therefore rarely acts inferior to the body.
For an individual to digest and adopt a new concept or version of freedom, that is not
similar to what their inner soul believes, they must be forced and physically contained. Before
this happens, the soul always pushes the body to resist. The society today goes through the same
8. Bongi D.D.M., Radipati, " The Cambridge Companion to Natural Law
Jurisprudence,” ed. George Duke and Robert P. George, (Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2021),2.
9. Ross, David, “Howarth, Prof. David Ross, (Born 10 Nov. 1958), Professor of Law and
Public Policy, University of Cambridge, since 2015; Fellow, Clare College, Cambridge, since
1987.” Who's Who, (2017): 18-21.
7
process, where people have to adopt things they don’t understand, and because of the social
media, they can give their own views and versions of freedom through the platform. This usually
has some impact, and is a show that however much put under containment, people still
experience the urge of the soul, to live out what really defines freedom according to them10. This
happens regardless of their physical strength to stand for freedom because the soul bears more
strength over the body.
People therefore have to practice what their soul believes, and this insinuates that
democracy is the power of the individual, trying to make it known to the rest that what he
believes is right, and liberates him from bondage or limitation by other individuals. It is possible
for humans to have free will and live by it11. This freedom is what gives birth to democracy.
Humans cannot live well without free will, it is vital for them. This brings in a good relationship
with what Hill communicated about the necessity for humans to liberate themselves from
systematic slavery, through living out their consciousness and standing firm for it.
Aquinas then brings out the theory of natural law and positive law, as the aspect of
objective moral order, which are described in other words as unwritten norms or principles that
define human action for natural law, and statutes of a political community for positive law12.
These are aspects which require individuals need to embrace and practice whatever their inner
conscious believes and tells them in right. Positive law according to Aquinas, is the will of its
maker. Aquinas makes it clear that human beings have the capacity to make laws out of their own
10. George Duke and Robert P. George, “The Cambridge Companion to Natural Law
Jurisprudence,” (Cambridge University Press, 2017), 222.
11. Knut, Alfsvåg,"Natural Theology and Natural Law in Martin Luther," In Oxford
Research Encyclopedia of Religion. (2016), pg. 40.
12. Donald Kelvin, “Natural Moral Law in a Postmodern World,” The Natural Moral
Law, (n.d),3.
8
conscience and make them functional for the attainment of their freedom13. From a basic
definition, positive law can be a customary law, or government laws, making a close relation
between this definition and that of Aquinas, it is clear that human beings are the makers of the
positive law, and it lives to guide their actions for as long as they live. The law suits them,
because it seems from them14.
Relating Aquinas and Hills ideas, human existence and survival is based on their choice
of quality of life they would want to live. Some of it however might require saintly sacrifice. And
that’s why Hill says it is the sole responsibility of men to stand for themselves and defend their
righteous belief. Aquinas therefore backs Hill’s idea of humans making moves that free them
from any bondage of slavery or lifestyle that does not recognize their own perception of reality.
Hookers main ideas revolve around reformation of humanism. This reformation must be
initiated by human beings or men who exist at a particular time, and be channeled towards
retrieving the aspects of freedom, democracy and righteousness that otherwise they would barely
have. According to Hooker, statesmanship should be highly embraces and incase it doesn’t
feature in main operations of the society, it is natural and normal for humanity to seek is
reformation through various mediums available. Just like Hill’s work tries to ask human beings
to sacrificially fight for what’s rightful in their consent, and guarantees them freedom, Hooker
does the same.
Hooker also considers political life as natural part of human existence, and gives it a
credit as the perpetuator of sin. According to Hooker, the civil government makes a greater
13. Radipati, " Natural Law Jurisprudence, 14.
14. Owen Anderson, “Natural Law as the Moral Law.” The Natural Moral Law,
(Cambridge University Press, Accessed 2021),(n.d), 22.
9
purpose why humans depriver each other of freedom, democracy and power to express
themselves. Therefore, the few who understand the concept of sin through quest for world power,
should lead in correcting the society. This is possible when such individuals stand for
reformation and are ready for its prevalence15. This is the same case with Hill, who calls says that
the world is currently in the verge of collapsing ideal democracy, because of the lusty desire of a
few individuals in the civil governments, who want to put everything under their control. The
cure for this is collective bargaining where a few sound minds stand for themselves and fight for
the ideal freedom and democracy.
According to Calvin, the sinful nature of man limits the knowledge of God, he believes
that God gave humans the sane power and capability almost equal to his. However, the fall of
man became the reason why the human personality started to collapse, thereby exhibiting
varying degrees of thinking and perception. In his own idea, the scripture is the sole instrument
that can guide human beings to be vigilant of their freedom, and existence among other people.
He interprets this as equal power and authority given to all men. This therefore means that no
man should he above another. Believing in the principles of religion therefore can act as the
cornerstone that frees people from their worries and fears. Ideally, Calvin, was trying to bring in
the aspect of Protestant Reformation, in which people have to identify lies that are hidden in the
existence of Justice and truth16. It is the call of human beings to live by the truth of religion
according to their own understanding, rather than beliefs created by fellow men, for their own
gain. This is absolutely in line with what Hill brings in about the society in which we live.
15. Cambridge University Press,” Take on Natural Thinkers,” (Cambridge University
Press ,2021), 13.
16. Radipati, " Natural Law Jurisprudence,271.
10
Public Policy Applications
In this case, it is ideal for a people to have collective power, which gives them the
authority to question the existence of certain policies or laws and how they are relevant within
the contexts in which they are placed. This could be a moral behavior that is constitutionally
viable of reforming the structure of principles that exist within a society, but do not suit the
general population of that society. According to Luther’s actions against the Roman church and
the Pope, questioning what is not right according to our own consent, is ideal for a healthy
existence. This is what men should do in order to reform the society and to make democratic
what it is defined by Abraham Lincoln to be; a rule of the people, by the people and for the
people.
Hill brings the aspect of emerging leaders who continue to suppress democracy just to
maintain economic standards as well as political power. This makes it critical especially for a
generation which can not identify the truth for themselves. They are born and instructed to obey
the already existing systems. A good example is North Korea, a country which dictates almost
everything that their citizens do. It means they are deprived of the power to think, to ask and
question the government and existing powers. The law should be defined by the people. Making
political laws that protect the economy, the territory of even the originality of a country can
sometimes be compelling to the common men, and they should be given power to question
whatever is going on, and to give their own suggestions.
Effective public policy application is one which gives support to democratic institutions
which aim at serving justice and giving freedom to those not found within the ruling category17.
17. Cambridge University Press, Take on Natural Thinkers,12.
11
Whenever people seek reformation, it is ideal to allow them air their views, perceptions and
beliefs, because that is what public policy application entails. Political laws must be defined by
the public and must be reformed by the public in order to count a society as that which prevails
in righteousness.
Biblical Integration
From the biblical analysis, the Bible urges the Christians to be observant of the laws,
doing what the law requires for whoever does so will be blessed. Those who have altered what
the law requires should not forget the requirements for it can lead them into very big problem.
The book of James 1:25 has that proper illustration, “But the one who looks into the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be
blessed in his doing 18.” From the biblical analysis, the bible highlights concept about natural law
and justice. The bible urges people to do what the law requires them to do. The bible defines
humans as the law themselves even if they do not do what the law wants them to do. They are the
representation of what God wants. The book of Romans 2:14 states that “For when Gentiles, who
do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even
though they do not have the law19.”
Conclusion
The book after the natural law tries to inform humanity of some key components that it
needs to count in as a democratic society, a free society and a society that lives based on natural
law. On most occasions, individuals are born into societies where they do not have to questions
18. James 1:25.
19. Romans 2:14.
12
certain things. They are made to believe that these things exist and should not be terminated or
questioned. However, Hill and other natural thinkers like Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin and Luther
bring in the concept of natural law. This concept urges humanity to question certain laws and to
try defining laws according to their own understanding. When this happens, a society with
common beliefs and perceptions is created. This society is driven by doing what is right
according to their own consent.
Bibliography
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Anderson, Owen. Natural Law as the Moral Law: The Natural Moral Law. Cambridge
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Policy, University of Cambridge, since 2015; Fellow, Clare College, Cambridge, since
1987.” Who's Who, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u45506.
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Enlightenment. Routledge, 2017.
Hill, John Lawrence. After the natural law: How the classical worldview supports our modern
moral and political views. Ignatius Press, 2016.
Kelvin Donald “Natural Moral Law in a Postmodern World.” The Natural Moral Law, n.d.
https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139030649.012.
13
Zulkandar, Mavluda Ergasheva Kizi. "THE ISSUES OF STATE INDEPENDENCE IN THE
COMMENTS OF THINKERS." Scientific reports of Bukhara State University 3, no. 4
2020.
Mangino, Dominic. "After the Natural Law: How the Classical Worldview Supports Our Modern
Moral and Political Values by John Lawrence Hill." The National Catholic Bioethics
Quarterly 19, no. 3 2019.
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(2018): 360-365.
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George Duke and Robert P George.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017.
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