Society for Aristotelian Studies Holds Annual Meeting
Examines Natural Law and Human Rights
(Fall 2007 Newsletter)
Americans speak often of "their rights" and are taught
from a young age that they have basic, inalienable rights. Noting
that the language of rights is a relatively modern development of
political thought, and that it varies in marked ways from ancient
and medieval thought, the Society for Aristotelian Studies (SAS)
devoted its annual West Coast meeting this past June to an investigation
of natural law and rights.
The meeting was held in the Board Room of St. Bernardine of Siena
Library on the College's campus. Under the heading of "Natural
Law and Human Rights in the Aristotelian Tradition," four speakers
addressed the topic from different vantage points.
Graduate of the College, Rev. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem. ('94),
opened the meeting by examining the modern phenomenon of human cloning
in the light of Aristotelian principles of natural law and the common
good. A member of the teaching faculty, Dr. John Nieto ('89), then
gave a more philosophic talk concerning the axiomatic character
of the principle that the common good is preferable to the private
good.
The following day, Dr. Warren J. Murray, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
at Université Laval in Québec, argued in his paper
for the need to subordinate individual goods to the common good.
President Emeritus of Thomas Aquinas College, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur,
wrapped up the meeting with an argument that because the language
of rights tends to neglect the concept of duty, it should be used
only guardedly and with the understanding that rights are, in fact,
the results of duties; for example, one has a right to religious
freedom because one has a duty to seek the truth in matters of religion.
The SAS describes itself as "an international organization,
founded in 1974 for the purpose of promoting friendship in the pursuit
of wisdom. Its foundation is the work of Aristotle, along with those
who preceded and prepared him, and those faithful disciples who
followed him throughout the centuries. Principal among the former
were the great Pre-Socratic thinkers and Plato, and among the latter,
Aristotle's greatest and most faithful disciple, St. Thomas Aquinas."
For more information, visit www.aristotle-aquinas.org.
-- Qtrly Newsletter, Fall 2007
|
