The connection between a theory of human nature and normative political theory is a puzzling one. Despite the depredations suffered by naturalistic theories of ethics and politics at the hands of prescriptivist (and other) moral philosophers, the temptation to found a political theory on some allegedly unalterable facts of human name is an abiding one for philosophers of differing political persuasions.
Concept of “Nature” in Liberal Political Thought
![The Journal of Libertarian Studies](https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_650w/s3/static-page/img/jls_750x517_20230818_4.jpg.webp?itok=vxxtyv15 650w,https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_870w/s3/static-page/img/jls_750x517_20230818_4.jpg.webp?itok=p-ULv9M7 870w,https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_1090w/s3/static-page/img/jls_750x517_20230818_4.jpg.webp?itok=O1ijgKVd 1090w,https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_1310w/s3/static-page/img/jls_750x517_20230818_4.jpg.webp?itok=PpCD2kdg 1310w,https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_1530w/s3/static-page/img/jls_750x517_20230818_4.jpg.webp?itok=wvZo7bPH 1530w)
CITE THIS ARTICLE
Barry, Norman. “Concept of “Nature” in Liberal Political Thought.” Journal of Libertarian Studies 8, No. 1 (1986): 1–17.