JOHN FINNIS' IDEA OF LAW AND MORALITY: AN EVALUATION
This paper explores John Finnis' conception of the intrinsic connection between law and morality as articulated in his seminal work, Natural Law and Natural Rights. Finnis, a major proponent of the New Natural Law Theory, reinvigorates the classical Thomistic understanding of natural law by framing it within a modern, rational, and secular context. He argues that the legitimacy of law is not grounded merely in social conventions or institutional authority but in moral reasoning derived from basic human goods and the requirements of practical reasonableness. For Finnis, law is a moral enterprise directed toward the realization of the common good and human flourishing. His identification of seven basic goods life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, friendship, practical reasonableness, and religion provides the moral foundation for legal norms and obligations. The paper further examines Finnis' rejection of legal positivism, emphasizing that law divorced from morality lacks full binding authority. In evaluating his theory, the paper highlights its enduring relevance for contemporary issues in human rights, justice, and governance while addressing criticisms concerning its universality and application in pluralistic societies. Ultimately, Finnis' synthesis of moral philosophy and jurisprudence offers a robust framework for understanding law not as mere coercion, but as a rational and moral order oriented toward the common good.
Keywords: evaluation, finnis, idea, john, law, morality