Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law - (Catholic Ideas for a Secular World) by Melissa Moschella (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A rigorous but accessible overview of the new natural law account of ethics and political philosophy.

The foundational principles of ethics and politics are principles that guide us to respect and promote human flourishing. In Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law Melissa Moschella provides an accessible explanation and development of the new natural law account of these principles while clarifying common misconceptions.

As a commonsense ethical theory, natural law grounds ethics in the fundamental dimensions of human flourishing. Moschella lays out the basic principles of natural law, their relationship to the virtues, and their social and political implications. Highlighting the importance of communities for flourishing, Moschella explains how this should shape our understanding of justice and the common good, and shows how natural law principles support limited government and civil liberties. She also considers the relationship between morality and God, and how natural law relates to Christian revelation. This fresh and compelling account of new natural law is the go-to resource to understand this important and influential theory.

Review Quotes

"Moschella's timely new summary and defense of the NNL approach to ethics, law, and public policy has the potential, therefore, to help recall the liberal tradition to its best self." --Law & Liberty

"Moschella's book...is a short, accessible articulation and defense of contemporary natural law theory, featuring chapters on first principles, moral principles, the social and political dimensions of human flourishing, and human flourishing as it relates to morality and God." --Religion & Liberty

"This is a great book. . . . I hope this book finds a wide readership outside of the circle of aficionados." --The Heythrop Journal

"[Moschella] shows how [New Natural Law Theory] is also positively transformative for individuals and political communities who have not given up on the idea that there is moral truth and that we can know it. That is no small thing in a world seemingly paralyzed by perpetual doubt." --Civitas Outlook

"Natural law has gone without serious treatment in universities, law schools, and courts. The first step toward recovering it has to be introducing it plainly to new audiences. Prof. Moschella's book does that." --Reading Wheel Review

"The ability to achieve this combination of philosophical rigor and clear, accessible presentation is rare. . . . It will be appreciated across the spectrum of intellectual sophistication, schools of thought, and political ideology." --Daniel Philpott, author of Religious Freedom in Islam

"Is it the case, and, if so, how is it the case, that the human intellect can grasp reasons--including moral reasons--for choice and action? In Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law, Melissa Moschella provides persuasive answers to these questions as well as a cogent account of those reasons. Her book represents the clearest, most readable exposition and defense of contemporary natural law theory yet to appear." --Robert P. George, author of Conscience and Its Enemies

"Melissa Moschella's Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law is the most readable and accessible articulation of 'New' Natural Law Theory I have read in the field. I recommend the volume to ethics enthusiasts everywhere, but especially to Protestant audiences that tend to produce a voluntarist and divine command account of ethics to the neglect of articulating how and why God's moral decrees are also eminently reasonable." --Andrew T. Walker, author of Faithful Reason

About the Author

Melissa Moschella is a professor of the practice in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life. She is the author of To Whom Do Children Belong? Parental Rights, Civic Education, and Children's Autonomy.

Russell Hittinger, the recipient of the 2025 Religious Liberty Scholarship Award, is the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Ecology and co-founder of the Program on Catholic Political Thought at the Catholic University of America.