On the Characteristics of Classical Natural Law

Abstract

Classical natural law still retains its deep transcendental roots, i.e. ancient Greek cosmology, although it is no longer based on theodicy. The oldest meaning of the universe (kosmos) is not nature, but order. Therefore, the universe is larger than nature. Cosmology, which takes a holistic approach to everything, is superior to reason or ontology, which underlies modern natural law and is essentially a mechanistic worldview. Classical natural law does not regard reason as the ultimate cause to avoid the disconnection of “form” from “substance,” which is a disadvantage of modern thought resulting in a loss of regulative capacity. The eternal recurrence (ewige Wiederkehr) of natural law requires us to constantly revisit the idea of classical natural law in order to find a real footing for the salvation of reality

Keywords

• natural law
• divine law
• cosmology
• reason