John Finnis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Finnis
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Finnis on the TV show After Dark in 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 legal philosopher, which means he studies the ideas and principles behind laws. He is known for his work on jurisprudence (the theory of law) and the philosophy of law.
Finnis is an expert on the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and the medieval philosopher Aquinas. He is a leading thinker in the area of natural law theory. This is the idea that there are universal moral rules that are a natural part of the world, which human laws should follow.
He was a Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy at the University of Oxford for over 20 years, from 1989 to 2010. He also taught at Notre Dame Law School in the United States. As a lawyer, he has advised Australian state governments and argued cases in high-level English courts.
For his important work as a legal scholar, Finnis has received some of the highest honors from both Australia and the United Kingdom. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Finnis was born in Adelaide, Australia. He went to school at St Peter's College and later studied law at the University of Adelaide. He was a brilliant student and won a famous Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of College, Oxford in England in 1962.
At Oxford, he earned his doctorate (a DPhil) by writing about the power of judges. During this time, in 1962, Finnis also converted to Roman Catholicism.
Finnis is also known for his friendship with Aung San Suu Kyi, a famous leader from Myanmar who also studied at Oxford. In 1989, he nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize, which she later won.
What is Natural Law?
A big part of Finnis's work is about natural law. This is an old idea, but Finnis explained it in a new way. The theory of natural law says that there are certain basic goods that are important for all humans to live a good and happy life.
These aren't just things you can buy. They are fundamental parts of being human. Finnis believed that our laws and moral choices should be based on protecting and promoting these goods.
The Seven Basic Goods
According to Finnis, there are seven basic goods that are equally important for everyone. These are things that people naturally see as valuable.
- Life: This includes health, safety, and everything that helps us live.
- Knowledge: Learning and understanding the world around us just for the sake of knowing.
- Play: Having fun and enjoying activities for their own sake.
- Aesthetic experience: Appreciating beauty, whether in art or in nature.
- Sociability (Friendship): Building relationships and being part of a community.
- Practical reasonableness: The ability to use our intelligence to make good decisions and shape our own lives.
- Religion: Thinking about the big questions of life, the universe, and our place in it.
Finnis argued that these goods are "self-evident," meaning you don't need to prove they are good. People just know they are. He believed that a good person, and a good society, tries to respect all of these goods and not act directly against any of them.
Finnis's Ideas on Law and Morality
Finnis believed that law and morality are closely connected. He disagreed with a view called legal positivism, which says that a law is a law simply because a government or ruler made it.
Instead, Finnis argued that the main purpose of law is to help create a community where people can flourish. This means laws should help people achieve the basic goods.
Just and Unjust Laws
For Finnis, a law gets its authority from being morally good and fair. If a law helps the community and respects the basic goods, people have a good reason to obey it.
But what about an unjust law? Finnis would say that a law that is truly unjust—one that goes against the basic goods—is not a "law" in the fullest sense of the word. While you might still have to follow it to avoid chaos, it lacks true moral authority.
He believed that when making laws, we should always be guided by what is fair and what helps everyone in society live a better life. This is more important than just following a set of rules without thinking.
A Lasting Influence
John Finnis is one of the most important legal philosophers of the last 50 years. His book, Natural Law and Natural Rights, is a classic text studied by law students and philosophers all over the world.
He has taught many successful students who went on to become judges and professors themselves. One of his most famous students is Neil Gorsuch, who is now a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.
His work continues to be discussed and debated. He has shown how ancient ideas from thinkers like Aristotle and Aquinas can still help us understand and improve our laws and society today.
A selection of articles and video lectures
- Aquinas' Moral, Political and Legal Philosophy
- Natural Law: The Classical Tradition PDF (Internet Archive)
- The Priority of Persons PDF
Video lectures
- God and Man
- Religious Liberty
See also
In Spanish: John Finnis para niños
