Philosophy International Journal (PhIJ)

ISSN: 2641-9130

Conceptual Paper

Survival and the Law: Human Life as the Presupposition of Practical Agency

Authors: Maestri E*

DOI: 10.23880/phij-16000123

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to demonstrate that human life, biologically understood what I call the human bios embodies a moral criterion, a reason for action, having a minimum natural content. This criterion is based on the end-value of survival, that is, the need to live biologically and ensure the continuation of the human species. The argument that I put forward implies a rediscovery of the exceptional legal value of survival: a non-instrumental value, related to the forms of living that human beings decide to put into practice. In agreement with Hart, law is practicable if and only if a minimum content of natural law is respected: law is concerned with social rrangements, not with suicide club; no law is given that is, no legal order, relations or intersubjectivity when the rules are designed to bring about death rather than the assurance of living.

Keywords: Biological facts; Human survival; Minimum natural law; Truisms; Positive laws

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