From Heavenly Principle to Human Feeling ——
On the Evolution of the Nature of Natural Law
Abstract
Natural law has affected legal thought of west for thousands of years as the classical philosophy of law, the development and change have been deducted by Natural law from ancient to now.Natural law played different role in different periods ,and it was respectively natural principle in ancient Greece and Rome ,the manifesation of the will of God in the Middle Ages,the rationality of people in the period of Bourgeois Revolution,and it becomes a standard of judgement of man-made law in the Mordern Society.The development of Natural law reveals the variability of the contents ,but it has always been rationality,which was deducted to desire of people,played as the core essence of Natural law ,and was close to the real needs of modern people.At the same time ,Natural law which provides a reference for setting up the rule of law is the guidance and criticism for development of statute.
In addition,positive and practical significance of Natural law implements the strategy according to law to govern the country for China's, strengthening the mechanism of power and supervision, vigorously carrying forward socialist democracy and full respecting for civil liberties, and earnestly safeguarding Civil rights, efforts to improve the building of spiritual civilization to provide a theoretical basis.
Keywords: Natural law;rationality;natural rights