Routledge American Interpretations of Natural Law Book

Explore the deep roots of natural law doctrines within American political culture through this scholarly study. Originally published in 1931, this volume from the Library of Liberal Thought examines how natural law sits at the philosophical heart of the American regime. Benjamin Wright uses the Declaration of Independence as the primary example of natural law in American political thought, treating it as the self-evident truth of American society. The text provides a historical look at how these doctrines shaped the nation. Wright also examines the transition of American democracy, proposing that the decline of natural law as a guiding factor in political behavior is an inevitable result of the maturation and broadening of the American democratic system. This work is a significant resource for those studying the history of political thought and the legal foundations of the United States.