Natural Law & Government: After The COVID-19 Revolution

Description

Since the dawn of civilisation philosophers and sages alike have been concerned about the potential for government to become a Leviathan-like monster. In this book Professor Drew shows how a careful application of natural law principles can mitigate this threat of Leviathan and also contribute to the flourishing of people. To do so Natural Law and Government examines the trade-off between human dignity and the common good during the public policy response to COVID-19. Specifically, Professor Drew details his concerns regarding the emergence of concentrations of power and competence in government – changes that have sadly given rise to the repression of the vitality of citizens. This ground-breaking work explains the changes to thinking, institutions and public management that are necessary for people to reclaim their right to thrive as humans. In sum, this is a handbook for what needs to be done after the COVID-19 revolution. Contents Chapter 1: Natural Law and Government, or, After the COVID Revolution? 1.1 A Short Introduction to Human Flourishing 1.2 Some Extant Responses to the Threat of Leviathan 1.3 How I Will Convince You That Reforms to Government Are Essential for Human Flourishing 1.4 The Hope References Chapter 2: Human Flourishing 2.1 Human Nature and Other Key Natural Law Concepts 2.2 What Is Human Flourishing? 2.3 Practical Reason and the Practical Syllogism 2.4 Virtue – Our Second Nature 2.5 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 3: Moral Government 3.1 Government as a Moral Enterprise 3.2 Function of Government: The Common Good 3.3 Principles of Moral Government 3.3.1 Practical Reason and Government 3.3.2 Virtue and Government 3.3.3 The Principle of Subsidiarity and Government 3.3.4 The Principle of Double Effect and Government 3.4 Concluding Remarks Appendix: The Rise and Risk of the Public Value Paradigm References Chapter 4: Sortition: A Partial Defence of Human Dignity 4.1 The Failings of Western Majoritarian Democracy 4.2 Sortition as a Device to Protect Human Dignity 4.3 Some Practicalities Regarding Sortition 4.3.1 Selection Criteria 4.3.2 Operation of the House of Review 4.4 How Sortition Fits in with Theory and Other Measures 4.5 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 5: Structure, Remit, and Size of Government 5.1 The Structure of Government 5.2 A Limited Remit for Government 5.3 Human-Sized Government 5.4 How to Establish and Maintain Optimal Structure, Remit, and Size 5.5 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 6: Evaluating Policy Success: COVID Response and Human Flourishing 6.1 The Gaps in Extant Evaluative Frameworks 6.2 Evaluation of Mask Mandates Through a Moral Lens 6.3 Evaluation of Lockdowns Through a Moral Lens 6.4 Evaluation of Vaccines and Vaccine Mandates Through a Moral Lens 6.5 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 7: Funding Moral Government 7.1 Government Finance and the Natural Law 7.2 Principles of Moral Taxation 7.3 Applying Natural Law Principles of Taxation: Some Specific Examples 7.4 Debt 7.5 Concluding Remarks Appendix: Debt Brakes, Balanced Budget Legislation, Tax and Expenditure Legislation Balanced Budget Legislation Debt Brakes Tax and Expenditure Legislation References Chapter 8: Education 8.1 Goal of Education: The Good Person and Good Society 8.2 The School 8.3 The University 8.4 On the Importance of Education References Chapter 9: Can We Have Government and Human Flourishing? 9.1 Has Government Become Leviathan? 9.2 A Moral and Competent Approach to Coronavirus Policy 9.2.1 Critical Moral Considerations for Public Policy Intervention 9.2.2 Some Practical and Competent Interventions 9.3 Long-COVID 9.4 What to Do? 9.4.1 Everyday Things We Can All Do to Usher in Government Consistent with the Natural Law 9.5 Parting Words 9.6 PostScript References