The term 'natural law' is ambiguous in meaning, but it can essentially be defined as the principles of human conduct. Natural law derives from the nature of man and the world, just as physical law derives from the nature of space, time, and matter. According to natural law ethical theory, the moral standards that govern human behavior are, in some sense, objectively derived from the nature of human beings. The idea of a natural right order to which all things, including human beings, should conform is one of the most ancient and universal notions. …
