ABSTRACT
For Thomist and other natural law theorists, the natural laws of human life are universal in their scope; if individuals, groups or societies transgress them, disaster is likely. Probably the century's most respected natural-law political philosopher has been Jacques Maritain, a Thomist philosopher and one of France's most controversial Catholic writers. Maritain's political-philosophic starting point was that men and women have material and spiritual needs which, in order to be satisfied, demand political and other rights and the recognition of corresponding duties. An awareness of political evil and the need to combat it was imperative, Maritain believed, if democracies were to survive and prosper. Yves Simon argued that democratic government depended upon political, economic and cultural leaders, their ability to understand the needs and aspirations of citizens, their commitment to the common good, and the acceptance of their authority by citizens.
