In a CBC interview, a noted environmentalist said that if he were forced to choose between the lives of the last breeding pair of whales and those of a boatload of men who were out to kill them, he would sacrifice the men to save the whales. He cited the war-crimes trials after World War II for the principle that immoral laws should be resisted to protect "the higher good." This position exemplifies which of the following?
A) Legal realism
B) Legal positivism
C) The law of the sea
D) Natural law
E) The law of equity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The environmentalist's position is an example of natural law, which suggests that there are certain moral principles inherent in the nature of human beings and the world, and these principles are above human-made laws. By prioritizing the survival of the last breeding pair of whales over the lives of the men intending to harm them, and referencing the principle of resisting immoral laws from the war-crimes trials, the environmentalist is appealing to a moral order that supersedes legal statutes, which is a core concept of natural law.

In a CBC Interview, a Noted Environmentalist Said That If