positive law, n.All

Positive law (n.) guarantees ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠just ends by just means, as natural law justifies means by just ends — two traditions turning in the same dogmatic circle.

Positive law (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠right only so far as it is founded on the law of nature; most municipal law is hidden interests dressed up in words.

Positive law (n.) today ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠knows no limit: where Rome had senate against people and the Middle Ages pope against emperor, modern states run on one sole principle of power.

Positive law (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠never bridge legality and justice: its standards must be general, so each concrete case with its unrepeatable circumstances somehow escapes it.

Positive law (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠designed as a stabilizing factor for the ever-changing movements of men, drawing its relative permanence from an eternal source of authority.