Natural Law and Natural Right in Post-Aristotelian Philosophy. The Stoics and Their Critics

A Treatise of Legal Philosophy and General Jurisprudence

“…Contrast the viewsof Striker 1996b;Mitsis 1993;Mitsis 1994, who have argued with great vigor for a conception of natural law that is markedly at variance with that advanced byVander Waerdt 1994c and Inwood 1999. For the purposes of this chapter it is reasonable to maintain a rather minimalist view about early Stoicism.12 In the dialogue On the Orator, a no less Platonic work composed at this period, Cicero shows enormous respect for the intellectual resources and integrity of Roman law and jurisconsults-this forms an important contrast to the relative dismissal of it in Leg.…”

“…The "minimalist" tradition, represented by Vander Waerdt 1994aand Inwood 2003, argues that natural law has very little to say about substantive social or political matters ;Striker 1996b defend the more traditional view that Stoic natural law consists of substantive moral and social norms. Recent discussions of whether the Stoics recognized "human rights" include Banateanu 2001, Long 2006, Mitsis 2011, and Bett 2012. Recent discussions of whether the Stoics recognized "human rights" include Banateanu 2001, Long 2006, Mitsis 2011, and Bett 2012.…”

The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Greek Political Thought

“…I also agree with Strauss 1953: 163-64, that the Thomistic conception of natural right is another thing altogether, although it is deeply influenced by the ancients. 40 For the Stoic conception of natural law, see Watson 1971;Striker 1986 and1991: 248-61;Vander Waerdt 1989Schofield 1991;andMitsis 1994 and My account in this section draws heavily on ideas that I develop more fully in Brown forthcoming. 41 Although the renegade Stoic Ariston of Chios used this example to argue that there is no general preference for health and no general distinctions of value to be drawn among conditions other than virtue, such as health, the example was not unwelcome to Chrysippus and orthodox Stoics as it makes the perfectly orthodox point I am describing.…”

Ulpian, Natural law and Stoic influence

“…If people avoid acting contrary to nature and respect others they and the others are left free to develop their capacities. This serves to explain why natural law is closely related to restraint and respect for others 68 . People cannot develop their natural ends unless others leave them free from oppression and ill-treatment.…”