(W.E.Talk) Stephen Brawer: The significance of natural law in these uncertain and turbulent times(2)

"The Charity of the Wise" in the natural law

What then is this criterion that cuts across all civilizations? It does not undermine diversity, but nonetheless it lifts the universal qualities which characterize all human beings and all civilizations no matter what or where their origins.

To resolve this paradox in international relations peacefully, to avoid conflict, and war requires precisely the need to understand and elevate the principle of "natural law". Natural law is a European Renaissance concept most clearly defined by the great universal genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Leibniz's political thinking was in direct opposition to Thomas Hobbes, and the "Law of the Jungle". In a series of essays Leibniz elaborates a concept of justice based upon "the charity of the wise". It is however, combined with a spiritual and philosophical concept of mankind in operating in what he calls a "Preestablished Harmony", whereby humanity's creative thinking works together with a harmonious ordering of the universe itself.

This is natural law. It is the alternative to “the Law of the Jungle”. Clearly, multipolarity is far superior to the unipolar world of imperialism and dominance. Yet, multipolarity with all respect for the diversity of cultures and nations, must be guided by certain eternal principles that are essential for successful world development. Natural law is the defining principle for international relations in a successful world order. Natural law is not random or arbitrary. It is written in the unfolding reality of the universe and man’s relationship with it. This unfolding of human history is highly complex but not without reason and understanding.

The similarities between Leibniz's insights and Confucius's thinking

This European renaissance thinking of Leibniz was very similar in nature to the Chinese thinking of the great Sage Confucius and the even older Yi Ching (Book of Changes) which characterizes human thinking in harmony with nature. Leibniz wrote a document at the very end of his life "On the Natural Theology of the Chinese". These similar concepts in European Renaissance thinking and Chinese cultural lay the basis for bridging European and Chinese or even Asian civilization today.

His writings on China, especially "the Discourse on the Natural Theology of the Chinese" was written at the very end of his life, yet it still is the best foundation for building a deeper more profound bridge between the thinking of Europe and China. Because of the nature of his thinking, he was able to see the similarities which could unite people rather than separate them. Leibniz's insights into law and the nature of reality combined to provide him with the unique ability to see how different countries or civilizations with different languages could come together in the divine ordering of creation and mankind's part within it. He called this idea "the charity of the wise". In today's sense, charity is meant to be love for mankind. This idea of natural law is of a much higher order than common law or the settling of personal disputes, or even distributive law whereby the common interests of people or citizens are defined by positive agreements to facilitate peaceful harmony and the common good.