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)

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, writes co-editor Peter Schroder. "While Heineccius was influenced by Pufendorf, and to a lesser extent by Thomasius, his natural law theory differs in various crucial aspects. Most importantly, Heineccius did not derive the law of nature from human qualities or human nature, as Pufendorf attempted with his concept of sociability. Heineccius thought that the law of nature was entirely derived from the will of God." Heineccius's "Methodical System" was first printed in 1737. George Turnbull's translation of 1742 was one of the first to be made and was issued twice. Turnbull (1698-1748) was a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. His extensive commentaries on the text present a comprehensive overview of the sophisticated and wide-ranging European discourse on natural law, while his appended "Discourse" is a work of independent importance in moral thought. 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. 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'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. v. 1. Of the law of nature v. 2. Of the law of nations.