Law new is the quarterly newsletter of the Section on International Law, featuring articles on international law topics and developments, news about activities of the Section, and other information of professional interest to the Section’s members. The newsletter is distributed as a PDF to the Section’s members.
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The New Natural Law (NNL) theory is a revival and development of Thomistic natural law thought, most notably in the work of Germain Grisez. Generally speaking, NNL is an interpretative interpretation of St Thomas Aquinas on natural law which emphasizes free choice and moral absolutes. It is a philosophy of law that was popularized in the 1960s, and which was later developed by the likes of John Finnis and Joseph Boyle.
The NNL theory has found a home among some of the leading thinkers in American Catholicism and beyond, and is now considered one of the principal interpretative approaches to Thomistic natural law philosophy. The NNL theory has been widely adopted in Catholic intellectual circles, and is used to explain a variety of issues, from abortion to euthanasia and from religious freedom to economic liberties.
NNL is also an important part of a more general revival and development of Thomistic natural law theory, which began in the 1950s with an interpretative article by Germain Grisez on the natural law tradition, and continues to this day, with the work of many scholars who have studied and expanded upon Aquinas’ original interpretation.
Local Laws and Rules
Several new laws and rules were recently passed by City agencies. To learn more about these laws, please visit the Laws of the City of New York (Public Access Portal), NYC Council Legislation website, or NYS Rules.
A bill would require City agencies to provide employees and job applicants with notice regarding student loan forgiveness programs. This bill would also require City agencies to promptly disclose information regarding data breaches that may have affected persons’ private identifying information. The Committee on Open Government may promulgate guidelines regarding deletion of identifying details or withholding of records otherwise made available under this article to prevent unwarranted invasions of personal privacy, and in doing so shall comply with State law.