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<div style="padding-left:40px;">&mdash; From [[95 Theses against Evolution]]<ref>{{cite web |title=95 Theses against Evolution: 76-83 Information theory |url=http://www.0095.info/en/index_thesesen_informationtheory.html |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref> </div>

<div style="padding-left:40px;">&mdash; From [[95 Theses against Evolution]]<ref>{{cite web |title=95 Theses against Evolution: 76-83 Information theory |url=http://www.0095.info/en/index_thesesen_informationtheory.html |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref> </div>

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'''Natural Law''' is the concept that there is inherent in human nature a set of universal laws necessary to a just community. Some, not all, consider natural law to be one of the gifts of [[God]] to man at his creation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.libertyfund.org/pll/quotes/215.html|last1=Blackstone|first1=William|title=Sir William Blackstone differentiates between “absolute rights” of individuals (natural rights which exist prior to the state) and social rights (contractural rights which evolve later) (1753)|date=May 5, 2009|quote=The absolute rights of man, considered as a free agent, endowed with [[discernment]] to know good from evil, and with power of choosing those measures which appear to him to be most desirable, are usually summed up in one general appellation, and denominated the natural liberty of mankind. This natural liberty consists properly in a power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, unless by the law of nature; being a right inherent in us by birth, and one of the gifts of God to man at his creation, when he endued him with the faculty of free will.}}</ref> to which humans must adhere. These laws are considered to be self-evident, in that they are able to be observed by everyone. Some, including [[atheist]]s, dispute that natural law actually exists; some others argue that it conflicts with [[sola scriptura]].<ref>[http://www.mun.ca/animus/1998vol3/kirby3.htm Richard Hooker's Discourse on Natural Law in the Context of the Magisterial Reformation]</ref> [[Inalienable rights]] flow from the fountain of natural law.

'''Natural Law''' is the concept that there is inherent in human nature a set of universal laws necessary to a just community. Some, not all, consider natural law to be one of the gifts of [[God]] to man at his creation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.libertyfund.org/pll/quotes/215.html|last1=Blackstone|first1=William|title=Sir William Blackstone differentiates between “absolute rights” of individuals (natural rights which exist prior to the state) and social rights (contractual rights which evolve later) (1753)|date=May 5, 2009|quote=The absolute rights of man, considered as a free agent, endowed with [[discernment]] to know good from evil, and with power of choosing those measures which appear to him to be most desirable, are usually summed up in one general appellation, and denominated the natural liberty of mankind. This natural liberty consists properly in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, unless by the law of nature; being a right inherent in us by birth, and one of the gifts of God to man at his creation, when he endued him with the faculty of free will.}}</ref> to which humans must adhere. These laws are considered to be self-evident, in that they are able to be observed by everyone. Some, including [[atheist]]s, dispute that natural law actually exists; some others argue that it conflicts with [[sola scriptura]].<ref>[http://www.mun.ca/animus/1998vol3/kirby3.htm Richard Hooker's Discourse on Natural Law in the Context of the Magisterial Reformation]</ref> [[Inalienable rights]] flow from the fountain of natural law.

Natural law was adopted by many state constitutions, similar to the [[Declaration of Independence]] but not expressly included in the [[U.S. Constitution]]. [[U.S. Supreme Court]] Justices have relied on natural law for some of their opinions.

Natural law was adopted by many state constitutions, similar to the [[Declaration of Independence]] but not expressly included in the [[U.S. Constitution]]. [[U.S. Supreme Court]] Justices have relied on natural law for some of their opinions.

{{cquote|To properly understand political power and trace its origins, we must consider the state that all people are in naturally. That is a state of perfect freedom of acting and disposing of their own possessions and persons as they think fit within the bounds of the law of nature. People in this state do not have to ask permission to act or depend on the will of others to arrange matters on their behalf. The natural state is also one of equality in which all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal and no one has more than another. It is evident that all human beings - as creatures belonging to the same species and rank and born indiscriminately with all the same natural advantages and faculties - are equal amongst themselves. They have no relationship of subordination or subjection unless God (the lord and master of them all) had clearly set one person above another and conferred on him an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K5UIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA189|last1=Locke|first1=John|title=Two Treatises On Government|date=1821|pages=189–191}}</ref>}}

{{cquote|To properly understand political power and trace its origins, we must consider the state that all people are in naturally. That is a state of perfect freedom of acting and disposing of their own possessions and persons as they think fit within the bounds of the law of nature. People in this state do not have to ask permission to act or depend on the will of others to arrange matters on their behalf. The natural state is also one of equality in which all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal and no one has more than another. It is evident that all human beings - as creatures belonging to the same species and rank and born indiscriminately with all the same natural advantages and faculties - are equal amongst themselves. They have no relationship of subordination or subjection unless God (the lord and master of them all) had clearly set one person above another and conferred on him an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K5UIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA189|last1=Locke|first1=John|title=Two Treatises On Government|date=1821|pages=189–191}}</ref>}}

The formula is simple.  If humans have rights, and these rights exist prior to the existence of government, then government cannot be the source of rights.  Rights must come from some place else.

The formula is simple.  If humans have rights, and these rights exist prior to the existence of government, then government cannot be the source of rights.  Rights must come from someplace else.

However, this basic state of nature never existed historically and is unnecessary to explain the origin of government, even if the thought experiment indicates a lack of natural fixity to political hierarchy.

However, this basic state of nature never existed historically and is unnecessary to explain the origin of government, even if the thought experiment indicates a lack of natural fixity to political hierarchy.

==Man's Law==

==Man's Law==

The laws of man are subject to higher law, the law of God.  If they are not in accordance with the laws of the Creator, they are not well made.  Locke made this point very clear:

The laws of man are subject to a higher law, the law of God.  If they are not in accordance with the laws of the Creator, they are not well made.  Locke made this point very clear:

<blockquote>Human Laws are measures in respect of Men, whose actions they must direct, howbeit such measures they are as have also their higher rules to be measured by, which rules are two, the Law of God, and the Law of Nature; so that laws human must be made according to the general Laws of Nature, and without contradiction to any positive Law of Scripture, otherwise they are ill made.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zEIqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA262 Two Treatises on Civil Government]</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>Human Laws are measures in respect of Men, whose actions they must direct, howbeit such measures they are as have also their higher rules to be measured by, which rules are two, the Law of God, and the Law of Nature; so that laws human must be made according to the general Laws of Nature, and without contradiction to any positive Law of Scripture, otherwise they are ill made.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zEIqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA262 Two Treatises on Civil Government]</ref></blockquote>