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Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law: Principles for Human Flourishing
A rigorous but accessible overview of the new natural law account of ethics and political philosophy.
The foundational principles of ethics and politics are principles that guide us to respect and promote human flourishing. In Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law Melissa Moschella provides an accessible introduction for the new natural law account of these principles while clarifying common misconceptions.
As a commonsense ethical theory, natural law grounds ethics in the fundamental dimensions of human flourishing. Taking into account social and political aspects, Moschella lays out the basic principles of natural law and their relationship to the virtues. She considers the importance of communities for flourishing, explaining how they should shape our understanding of justice and the common good, and showing how natural law principles support limited government and civil liberties. She also discusses the relationship between morality and God, and how the natural law account relates to Christian revelation. This fresh and compelling exploration of new natural law is the go-to resource to understand this important and influential theory.
The foundational principles of ethics and politics are principles that guide us to respect and promote human flourishing. In Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law Melissa Moschella provides an accessible introduction for the new natural law account of these principles while clarifying common misconceptions.
As a commonsense ethical theory, natural law grounds ethics in the fundamental dimensions of human flourishing. Taking into account social and political aspects, Moschella lays out the basic principles of natural law and their relationship to the virtues. She considers the importance of communities for flourishing, explaining how they should shape our understanding of justice and the common good, and showing how natural law principles support limited government and civil liberties. She also discusses the relationship between morality and God, and how the natural law account relates to Christian revelation. This fresh and compelling exploration of new natural law is the go-to resource to understand this important and influential theory.
- GenresPhilosophy
232 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2025
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 4, 2025
Review: Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law: Principles for Human Flourishing
As a feminist and a public health practitioner, I approached Melissa Moschella’s Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law with cautious curiosity. The book’s natural law framework—grounded in principles of human flourishing and limited government—initially felt at odds with my work addressing structural inequities in health. Yet, by the end, I found myself wrestling with unexpected points of convergence and tension, particularly around agency, dignity, and the role of institutions in shaping well-being.
Emotional Reactions: Between Skepticism and Surprise
Reading this book was an exercise in intellectual humility. Moschella’s defense of natural law as a foundation for ethical and political life challenged my assumptions about individualism versus systemic change. Her critique of utilitarian approaches to policy resonated with my frustrations about public health’s tendency to reduce marginalized communities to statistics. However, sections on “limited government” stirred discomfort—while I appreciated the emphasis on personal agency, I couldn’t ignore how historical appeals to “natural law” have sometimes justified excluding women and marginalized groups from full participation in societal flourishing. The foreword by Russell Hittinger added depth but also underscored the tradition’s patriarchal roots, leaving me torn between the theory’s potential and its historical baggage.
Constructive Criticism: A Feminist Lens on Human Flourishing
Moschella’s analysis is rigorous, but I longed for engagement with feminist critiques of natural law (e.g., how “human nature” has been weaponized to restrict reproductive rights). The book’s principles could be strengthened by addressing intersectional realities—for instance, how “flourishing” is mediated by race, gender, and class in healthcare access. While the text isn’t designed to tackle public health inequities head-on, a nod to these tensions would have bridged the gap between theory and the lived experiences I witness in maternal health, disability justice, and LGBTQ+ care. That said, the book’s clarity on ethical foundations offers a provocative starting point for debates about health as a human right—even if I’d argue for a more structurally interventionist approach than natural law typically permits.
Gratitude & Final Thoughts
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy. Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law is a compelling, if occasionally frustrating, read. It pushed me to articulate why I believe health justice requires both respect for individual dignity and bold systemic reforms—a tension the book illuminates without resolving. For public health practitioners, it’s a valuable prompt to examine the philosophical underpinnings of our work, even when we disagree.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — A thought-provoking contribution that invites dialogue across ideological divides, if not always on feminist terms.
Note: My critique reflects my commitment to addressing power imbalances in health, but Moschella’s work challenged me to interrogate the ethical foundations of that commitment—a discomfort I value.
As a feminist and a public health practitioner, I approached Melissa Moschella’s Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law with cautious curiosity. The book’s natural law framework—grounded in principles of human flourishing and limited government—initially felt at odds with my work addressing structural inequities in health. Yet, by the end, I found myself wrestling with unexpected points of convergence and tension, particularly around agency, dignity, and the role of institutions in shaping well-being.
Emotional Reactions: Between Skepticism and Surprise
Reading this book was an exercise in intellectual humility. Moschella’s defense of natural law as a foundation for ethical and political life challenged my assumptions about individualism versus systemic change. Her critique of utilitarian approaches to policy resonated with my frustrations about public health’s tendency to reduce marginalized communities to statistics. However, sections on “limited government” stirred discomfort—while I appreciated the emphasis on personal agency, I couldn’t ignore how historical appeals to “natural law” have sometimes justified excluding women and marginalized groups from full participation in societal flourishing. The foreword by Russell Hittinger added depth but also underscored the tradition’s patriarchal roots, leaving me torn between the theory’s potential and its historical baggage.
Constructive Criticism: A Feminist Lens on Human Flourishing
Moschella’s analysis is rigorous, but I longed for engagement with feminist critiques of natural law (e.g., how “human nature” has been weaponized to restrict reproductive rights). The book’s principles could be strengthened by addressing intersectional realities—for instance, how “flourishing” is mediated by race, gender, and class in healthcare access. While the text isn’t designed to tackle public health inequities head-on, a nod to these tensions would have bridged the gap between theory and the lived experiences I witness in maternal health, disability justice, and LGBTQ+ care. That said, the book’s clarity on ethical foundations offers a provocative starting point for debates about health as a human right—even if I’d argue for a more structurally interventionist approach than natural law typically permits.
Gratitude & Final Thoughts
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy. Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law is a compelling, if occasionally frustrating, read. It pushed me to articulate why I believe health justice requires both respect for individual dignity and bold systemic reforms—a tension the book illuminates without resolving. For public health practitioners, it’s a valuable prompt to examine the philosophical underpinnings of our work, even when we disagree.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — A thought-provoking contribution that invites dialogue across ideological divides, if not always on feminist terms.
Note: My critique reflects my commitment to addressing power imbalances in health, but Moschella’s work challenged me to interrogate the ethical foundations of that commitment—a discomfort I value.
March 19, 2025
A brilliant, accessible introduction to natural law.
April 29, 2025
Interesante, compila y agrega cosas a los argumentos de Finnis, Boyle y Grisez. También salen al baile MacIntyre (bien interesante esto) y Raz. Buen manual.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews