There’s a dangerous misconception that written law inherently represents justice. This belief is deeply embedded in modern legal systems, where laws are followed simply because they exist. Not all laws are legitimate. There are two forms of law: natural and positive. Natural law is based on universal principles of right and wrong, rooted in reason and existing independently of human commands. Positive law, however, is man-made and derives its authority solely from the power to enforce it. The widespread dominance of positive law has turned the legal system into a tool of control, prioritizing obedience over true justice.
When courts review laws, they rarely question whether a law is just. They focus instead on whether it aligns with other statutes or previous rulings. This narrow approach ignores the fact that a law’s existence doesn’t equate to its legitimacy. Positive law is inherently coercive because it lacks a natural foundation. It relies on threats and penalties to ensure compliance, which reveals its true nature: a mechanism of force disguised as justice. People follow these laws not out of respect but out of fear.
Natural law, in contrast, doesn’t depend on compulsion because it reflects what is self-evidently right. A prohibition against murder or theft, for example, is respected because it protects fundamental rights, not because it’s written. Laws that infringe on property rights through excessive taxation or curtail free speech through censorship lack any natural justification. These are not genuine laws, but arbitrary decrees imposed by those in power, upheld by coercion and threat of punishment. Such laws may be legal, but they are not just.
The real danger lies in society’s acceptance of positive law as the standard for justice. People are taught to equate obedience to the law with virtue, believing that compliance is always morally right. This conditioning allows those in power to reshape morality according to their interests, using the legal system to secure control rather than protect rights. It blurs the line between true justice and arbitrary authority, creating a society where morality is dictated by power rather than reason.
To restore genuine justice, society must recognize that natural law, not positive law, is the true foundation of a just system. Natural law respects individual rights and is based on principles that are unchanging and universal. Positive law, on the other hand, is fluid, subject to the whims of those in control. It often conflicts with these principles, replacing justice with compulsion. True law must be discovered through reason and uphold natural rights, not imposed through force. Until this distinction is understood, society will remain trapped in a cycle of coercion, mistaking power for justice and obedience for morality.