Thomasius and the Natural Law

Abstract

This paper discusses the ideas of Christian Thomasius on Natural Law, from his most important work, Fundamenta natura et jure gentium. Thomasius was one of the most representatives theorists on the rationalist branch of Natural Law, alongside Hugo Grotius, Samuel von Pufendorf and Christian Wolff, and contributed decisively to the formation of modern Law. The purposes of this paper are to clarify the most important assumptions of the works of Thomasius, connecting them to the leading branches of Law at the time (Private Law, Criminal Law and Public Law), and finally to demonstrate the European dissemination of Thomasius’ contributions on Natural Law.