Word: souter
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...Souter does criticize several natural lawtheorists. For instance, he contends that oneinterpretation of a natural law of morality--adefinition which says that a moral law is one"which advances man's true nature"--is too vague...
...natural law writer already quoted admitsas much when he says that he will 'have to rest onthe assertion of a belief which he realizes mayseem naive," Souter wrote, defending hisskepticism...
...Souter is critical of a few theorists,he says he recognizes that some other natural lawtheories do hold. Specifically, he says the theorythat a moral law is one for which a "numericalmajority" of the population feels "advances man'strue nature" is internally consistent and at leastproviding some testability...
...this point, Souter notes, the two theoriescontradict other, although on much narrowergrounds than other critics had thought. UnderHolmes' conception, a law need only further theinterests of the strongest group, not themajority. Natural law theorists, meanwhile,maintain that a law will necessarily cater to themajority...
Ultimately, Souter raises doubts about naturallaw theory. Near the end of his paper, he wonderswhether every existing law really passes the testof majority morality, as natural law would...