Discovering Donald Trump's Vision of Leadership Ultimately Rooted in Natural Law

Trump viz Venezuela: This article means to set Trump’s recent international decision in Venezuela in a more humane context while asking -- What outcome best suits our modern, ever evolving globe? John Locke, mastermind of the US Constitution & Natural Rights, speaks for Trump, from beyond the grave on the Golden Rule & popular sovereignty:

Quoth Locke: “In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity…Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions…Men being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.” ― John Locke, Second Treatise of Government

Troika of Tyranny: Trump claims his administration is opposed to tyranny, especially the "Troika of Tyranny" (Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua). Obviously, as the people of Venezuela celebrated in the streets by the hundreds of thousands, smiles and tears flowing, these agreed Trump stands against totalitarianism, pushing to restore freedom and democracy elsewhere.Don’t forget Venezuela turned a shopping mall into a torture prison -- the El Helicoide.

Polling: Consider this IPSOS poll from 2024 about the most important issues for global citizens:

“New polling of more than 22,000 people across 30 countries by Ipsos finds 81%, on average across 30 countries, believe democracy, human rights and the rule of law are universal values that all nations deserve and can aspire to while 19% think these are uniquely Western values that are only possible in those countries.”

What is Natural Law? In The Essential Natural Law) by Samuel Gregg, he points out that Natural Law emanates from both Christian & other religions, as well as pagan philosophers such as Plato & Aristotle, and also Roman writer Cicero. Gregg then describes:

The idea of natural law holds that all people, whatever their ethnicity, culture, or religion, can know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong. The idea, for example, of the Golden Rule—do unto others as you would have them do unto you—is understood as a principle of moral conduct that everyone can know. While such beliefs are applied to different and changing conditions and problems, the core principles always apply. A second feature of natural law is that its proponents have, at least since the time of Aquinas, understood themselves as working within a tradition that traverses the centuries.

Natural Law, 5 Views, which makes an intriguing statement about the New Natural Law (NNLT), most applicable here:

“The New Natural Law, “NNLT’ is essentially eudaimonistic , meaning that it sees morality as fundamentally a matter of respecting and promoting human flourishing, understood as the fulfillment or perfection of human nature.”

The New Natural Law Theory: NNLT writer John Finnis states, like Aristotle before him, his argument by asking this question: “What constitutes a worthwhile, valuable life?” In fact, Finnis is fixated on the New Natural Law. According to Finnis, there are 7 “basic goods” contributing to a fulfilling life. Finnis thinks that these 7 ‘basic goods’ are universal – they apply to all humans --

Life; Knowledge; Play; Aesthetic Experience; Sociability (friendship); Practical Reasonableness; ‘Religion’

This essay focuses on New Natural Law (NNLT) theory, as espoused by thinkers like Finnis, as a proper goal for helping subjugated and suffering people across our globe, regardless of their beliefs or the United Nation’s bureaucracy of meddling.

This New Natural Law (NNLT) theory, which was developed by thinkers like Germain Grisez and John Finnis, is a modern revival of Thomas Aquinas's natural law, focusing on self-evident "basic goods" (like life, knowledge, friendship) that practical reason identifies as inherently valuable, guiding moral action towards human flourishing rather than deriving morality solely from abstract human nature or divine command, though it maintains a theological framework where God is the ultimate source of this nature. It asserts that moral principles are known through practical reason and that certain actions are always wrong because they harm these basic goods, forming moral absolutes.

Christian Humanism: We state, for brevity’s sake, that the kind of Natural Law being espoused here, articulated by John Finnis and others, is a kind of Christian Humanism. And the argument here is much of what is considered good modern values is directly, or indirectly derived from Christianity - including Natural Rights.

Biblical Origin of Natural Rights: The Bible strongly supports the concept of natural law, undergirding natural rights: universal moral code known to all through conscience (Romans 2:14-15) and creation, teaching love for God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Christian thinkers, like John Locke integrated this natural law with biblical teachings, influencing Western thought and founders who saw God as the source of inherent rights like life and liberty, as stated in the Declaration of Independence.

But what about other ways of life? Why not base this argument on all religions? This is impracticable and also lacking in quality. Consider, for example, the book ‘Religion’ and the religions in the English Enlightenment, by Peter Harrison, which describes how religion became a study, instead of a faith seeking. And that caused future generations to make this study clinical and cold. For example, how would Hinduism guide us towards enlightened Western law and rights orientation, with its 330 million gods and 40,000 holy scriptures?

The New Natural Law Theory (NNLT) identifies the foundations of ethics in human flourishing, approached reasonably. Consider the concept of human rights, seen in human flourishing. NNLT offers resources to extol and develop the importance of human rights, and how they play in the overall economy of moral, political, and legal conversation. And how a proper life cannot be achieved without such ideals.

Tomorrow: Part II of Discovering Donald Trump's Vision of Leadership Ultimately Rooted in Natural Law