Amherst College Professor Hadley Arkes, a leading American scholar on the subject of “natural law,” will speak on the subject Aug. 8, noon at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Natural law was a primary principle of the American founding, and is an important part of the teachings of Catholic Church, which Professor Arkes joined four years ago. According to Arkes, neglect (or rejection) of the natural law has led to many of the decisional trends in today’s Supreme Court.
Arkes wrote “First Things,” the book that inspired the magazine, and has taught several generations of students at Amherst College, where he is the Edward N. Ney Professor of Jurisprudence and American Institutions. He also teaches lawyers and other legal professionals through the James Wilson Institute On Natural Rights and the American Founding.
Professor Arkes was the main advocate, and architect, of the bill that became known as the Born-Alive Infants’ Protection Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002. The account of his experience in moving the bill through Congress is contained as an epilogue to his book, “Natural Rights & the Right to Choose.”
Cost of admission is $12 and includes lunch. For information, call (213) 680-5200.
