-
to be entirely relative to circumstance, context dependent,
-
is that what Aristotle is saying?
-
Not at all.
-
Aristotle emphasizes the mutable character of natural right in part
-
to preserve the latitude, the freedom of action required by the statesmen.
-
Every statesman must confront new and sometimes extreme situations
-
that require inventiveness and creative action.
-
And in such situations where the very survival of the community
-
may be at stake, we might call these emergency situations,
-
the conscientious statesmen must be able to respond appropriately.
-
Nine-eleven for example, a moral law that refused to allow
-
the statesmen to protect the community in times of crisis