LAW IN POLITICS. 365 



of blind and irrational legislation which has not 

 been the fruit of some part or another of Man's 

 nature. I dwell on this only because it is impor- 

 tant here as in other cases to attach a definite 

 meaning to the words we use, and especially to a 

 word which plays so important a part in the lan- 

 guage both of Philosophy and of Politics. 



It appears, then, that as applied to human con- 

 duct, we mean by " natural " conduct that which 

 men are prompted to pursue rather by instinct and 

 impulse than by calculation of consequences and by 

 reason. Human Laws, or Positive Institutions, as 

 being the result of deliberation, stand contrasted 

 with Natural Law in this sense, and in this sense 

 alone. For as Reason and Reflection are natural 

 to Man, and are as important parts of his nature 

 as the highest of his instincts, so Laws founded on 

 a right exercise of that Reason are Natural Laws in 

 the best and highest sense of all. Laws, however, 

 whether in this sense natural or not, that is, whether 

 founded on a right or a wrong exercise of reason, 

 are always intended to act as restraints on the 

 actions of individuals, and to interfere with the 

 motives by which their conduct would be otherwise 



