The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Natural Law.: Part First.
• Chapter I.: The Science of Justice.
• Section I.
• Section II.
• Section III.
• Section IV.
• Chapter II.: The Science of Justice ( Continued )
• Section I.
• Section II.
• Section III.
• Section IV.
• Section V.
• Section VI.
• Section VII.
• Section VIII.
• Chapter III.: Natural Law Contrasted With Legislation.
• Section I.
• Section II.
• Section III.
• Section IV.

Section II.

Man, no doubt, owes many other moral duties to his fellow men; such as to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, protect the defenceless, assist the weak, and enlighten the ignorant. But these are simply moral duties, of which each man must be his own judge, in each particular case, as to whether, and how, and how far, he can, or will, perform them. But of his legal duty—that is, of his duty to live honestly towards his fellow men—his fellow men not only may judge, but, for their own protection, must judge. And, if need be, they may rightfully compel him to perform it. They may do this, acting singly, or in concert. They may do it on the instant, as the necessity arises, or deliberately and systematically, if they prefer to do so, and the exigency will admit of it.