A Methodical System of Universal Law: Or, the Laws of Nature and Nations: With Supplements and a Discourse by George Turnbull (Natural Law and Enlightenment Classics) (Natural Law Paper)

George Turnbull's eighteenth-century translation of A Methodical System of Universal Law was his major effort to convey continental natural law to Britain, thus making Heineccius's natural jurisprudence more accessible to English-speaking audiences. Turnbull includes extensive comments on Heineccius's text and also presents his own philosophical work, A Discourse upon the Nature and Origin of Moral and Civil Laws. Johann Gottlieb Heineccius (1681–1741) studied theology at Leipzig and later law at the newly founded (1694) University of Halle, where he became a pupil of Christian Thomasius. Thomas Ahnert is a Lecturer in History at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Peter Schröder is Senior Lecturer in the History Department at University College, London. Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes. Heineccius, A Methodical System of Universal Law: Or, The Laws of Nature and Nations, with Supplements and a Discourse Front Matter Half Title Page, p. i Frontispieces, p. iii Full Title Page, p. v Copyright Page, p. vi Contents, p. vii Introduction, p. ix A Note on the Text, p. xix Acknowledgements, p. xxi BOOK I: Of the Law of Nature, p. xxiii Original Title Page, p. 1 Dedication, p. 3 Preface, p. 5 Contents, p. 7 CHAPTER I: Concerning the origine and foundation of the Law of Nature and Nations., p. 11 CHAPTER II: Concerning the nature and distinguishing qualities or characteristics of human actions., p. 30 CHAPTER III: Of the rule of human actions, and the true principle of the law of nature., p. 51 CHAPTER IV: Of the application of this rule to actions, and the differences of actions proceeding from thence., p. 75 CHAPTER V: Of the duties of man to God., p. 93 CHAPTER VI: Of the duties of man to himself., p. 107 CHAPTER VII: Concerning our absolute and perfect duties towards (others in general), and of not hurting or injuring others (in particular)., p. 131 CHAPTER VIII: Concerning our imperfect duties towards others., p. 159 CHAPTER IX: Concerning our hypothetical duties towards others, and the original acquisition of dominion or property., p. 175 CHAPTER X: Of derivative acquisitions of dominion or property made during the life of the first proprietor., p. 206 CHAPTER XI: Of derivative acquisitions by succession to last-will and to intestates., p. 219 CHAPTER XII: Concerning the rights and duties which arise from property or dominion., p. 232 CHAPTER XIII: Concerning things belonging to commerce., p. 252 CHAPTER XIV: Concerning pacts., p. 296 CHAPTER XV: By what means obligations arising from pacts and contracts are dissolved., p. 309 BOOK II Of the Law of Nations, p. 319 Original Title Page, p. 321 CHAPTER I: Concerning the natural and social state of man., p. 323 CHAPTER II: Of the duties belonging to the matrimonial state, or society., p. 346 CHAPTER III: Of the duties that ought to be observed in a society of parents and children., p. 366 CHAPTER IV: Concerning the duties belonging to masters and servants, and that despotical society., p. 383 CHAPTER V: Of the complex society called a family, and the duties to be observed in it., p. 393 CHAPTER VI: Of the origine of civil society, its constitution and qualities, or properties., p. 405 CHAPTER VII: Of sovereignty, and the ways of acquiring it., p. 439 CHAPTER VIII: Concerning the immanent rights of majesty, and the just exercise of them., p. 468 CHAPTER IX: Concerning the transeunt rights of Sovereignty., p. 498 CHAPTER X: Of the duties of subjects., p. 523 A Supplement Concerning the Duties of Subjects and Magistrates., p. 531 A Discourse upon the Nature and Origine of Moral and Civil Laws., p. 551 Bibliography, p. 619 Index, p. 653 Colophon, p. 688 The natural law theory of Johann Gottlieb Heineccius was one of the most influential to emerge from the early German Enlightenment. Heineccius continued and, in important respects, modified the ideas of his predecessors, Samuel Pufendorf and Christian Thomasius. He developed distinctive views on central questions such as the freedom of the human will and the natural foundation of moral obligation, which also sharply distinguished him from his contemporary Christian Wolff. Heinecciuss work saw five Latin editions in thirty years as well as several French, Italian, and Spanish editions; and it had a long life in Latin America. The English edition presented by Liberty Fund is based on the translation by the Scottish moral philosopher George Turnbull (16981748). It includes Turnbulls extensive comments on Heinecciuss text, as well as his substantial Discourse upon the Nature and Origin of Moral and Civil Laws . These elements make the work into one of the most extraordinary encounters between Protestant natural law theory and neo-republican civic humanism. Johann Gottlieb Heineccius (16811741) studied theology at Leipzig and later law at the newly founded (1694) University at Halle, where he became a pupil of Christian Thomasius. Thomas Ahnert is a Lecturer in History, at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Peter Schrder is Senior Lecturer in the History Department at University College London. Knud Haakonssen is Professor of Intellectual History and Director of the Centre for Intellectual History at the University of Sussex, England. Heineccius's theory of natural law was in many ways an independent development situated both temporally and philosophically between the earlier natural law tradition of Samuel Pufendorf and Christian Thomasius, and the later theories of Christian Wolff. This book presents an overview of the wide-ranging European discourse on natural law.