originally published 2/18/2015

Philosopher R. J. Snell explains how new currents in natural law have shifted from beginning with metaphysical assumptions, that answer metaphysical questions, to beginning with plain persons, who inquire (through a process of self-examination) into their reasons and motivations for action. Given the lack of vocabularies for moral discourse in contemporary public life, new natural law philosophers have responded by dispensing with natural law as a theory that accounts for a set of questions made evident through practical reason, in favor of natural law as a “performance,” or “therapy,” that cultivates practical reason and self-examination, and thereby makes possible an arena for argument.

27 minutes

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