V. Bradley Lewis

This lecture was given on June 3, 2023, at the 12th Annual Aquinas Philosophy Workshop at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY For more information on upcoming events, please visit our website at www.thomisticinstitute.org. About the speaker: V. Bradley Lewis is an associate professor in the School of Philosophy at Catholic University of America. He specializes in political and legal philosophy, especially that of the classical Greeks and in the Thomistic tradition, and is currently working on a book on the idea of the common good. In addition to these things he has served as a consultant on ethics to the federal government, testified before a congressional subcommittee about immigration, and currently serves as associate editor of the American Journal of Jurisprudence.

Philosophy professor V. Bradley Lewis discusses the evolution of natural rights, exploring topics such as the transition from natural law, distinctions between natural and legal rights, and Aquinas' perspective on deriving rights from duties within the framework of natural law.

Explore the concept of natural rights and the evolution of individual perspectives on rights. Analyze the relationship between natural law and natural rights, discussing ethical dilemmas and conflicting rights. Delve into the historical background of rights, key figures like John Locke, and different types of rights with philosophical implications.