Laws Divine and Human

Li Er, the Old Master (571–500 BC),was a great philosopher of ancient China. His Laws Divine and Human of 5,000 words in 81 chapters is an influential philosophical work in the world.


In the very beginning of the first chapter of his book, Lao Zi says: “The divine law may be spoken of, but it is not the common law.” By common law Lao Zi means those enforced by human beings. The divine law is objective truth which does not depend on human will for its existence, while human laws do. The former may be called natural philosophy, while the latter social philosophy. The former will not change when the latter does. That is the reason why the Old Master says that the divine law is not the common law...