John Finnis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Finnis
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Finnis on After Dark, 1987
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| Born |
John Mitchell Finnis
28 July 1940 |
| Education | University of Adelaide (LLB) University College, Oxford (DPhil) |
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Notable work
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Natural Law and Natural Rights (1980, 2011) |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Thomism Natural law theory |
| Institutions | University of Oxford |
| Thesis | The Idea of Judicial Power, with Special Reference to Australian Law (1965) |
| Doctoral advisor | H. L. A. Hart |
| Doctoral students | Neil Gorsuch Robert P. George |
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Main interests
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Philosophy of law Political theory Philosophy of religion |
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Notable ideas
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Criticism of legal positivism |
John Mitchell Finnis (born 28 July 1940) is an Australian thinker who studies law and philosophy. He is known for his work in jurisprudence, which is the study of law. He also specializes in the philosophy of law, which explores what law is and why it exists.
Finnis has studied the ideas of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and medieval thinker Thomas Aquinas. He has also been greatly influenced by Germain Grisez. His work includes ideas about how we gain knowledge (epistemology), the nature of reality (metaphysics), and what is right and wrong (moral philosophy).
Contents
Early Life and School
John Finnis grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. He went to St. Peter's College, Adelaide for his early education. Later, he studied at the University of Adelaide. There, he earned his law degree (Bachelor of Laws).
In 1962, he won a special scholarship called a Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at University College, Oxford in England. He earned his PhD there, writing about the power of judges in Australian law. Also in 1962, Finnis became a Roman Catholic.
Finnis was a friend of Aung San Suu Kyi, who also studied at Oxford. In 1989, he suggested her for the Nobel Peace Prize. She won the prize, but received it much later in 2012. She remembered how Finnis had nominated her.
His Career and Work
John Finnis was a Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy at the University of Oxford from 1989 to 2010. He is now a Professor Emeritus, meaning he has retired but still holds the title. He also works at Notre Dame Law School in the United States.
He has advised several Australian state governments. His advice often focused on how states should work with the federal government and the United Kingdom. He also worked as a lawyer in England. He handled cases in important courts like the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.
In 2017, he was given the honorary title of Queen's Counsel. This is a special recognition for experienced lawyers. In 2019, he received Australia's highest civilian honor, the Order of Australia. This was for his important work as a legal expert and scholar. In 2023, he was also honored by the British Empire for his contributions to legal studies.
Finnis has guided many students who were working on their doctoral degrees. Some of his notable students include Neil Gorsuch, who is now a Justice on the US Supreme Court, and Robert P. George, a well-known professor.
Learn More About His Ideas
You can find some of John Finnis's articles and video lectures online. These resources help explain his ideas about law, morality, and philosophy.
- Aquinas' Moral, Political and Legal Philosophy
- The Profound Injustice of Justice Posner on Marriage
- Natural Law: The Classical Tradition (This is an archived PDF document.)
- The Priority of Persons (This is an archived PDF document.)
Video Lectures
- God and Man
- Religious Liberty
See also
- In Spanish: John Finnis para niños
