Abstract

Veatch's theme in this book is natural law as a basis for rights. He wishes to defend the classical notion that the good and the right, in ethics, politics and the law, can be found by some appeal to nature. In the first chapter of the book he directs arguments against the standard anti-natural law positions in philosophy, and against particular philosophers, like Hobbes and Kant. This is the least effective chapter in the book. The criticisms are not so much wrong as a bit weak and lacking in penetration. Some of the characterizations of philosophical positions are also in parts too simple.