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Natural law, or the law of nature (), is a system of law that is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal.

Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature — both social and personal — and deduce binding rules of moral behavior.

Natural law is contrasted with the positive law ( meaning " man-made law ", not " good law "; cf.

posit ) of a given political community, society, or nation-state, and thus serves as a standard by which to critique said positive law.

According to natural law theory, which holds that morality is a function of human nature and reason can discover valid moral principles by looking at the nature of humanity in society, the content of positive law cannot be known without some reference to natural law ( or something like it ).

Used in this way, natural law can be invoked to criticize decisions about the statutes, but less so to criticize the law itself.

Some use natural law synonymously with natural justice or natural right ( Latin ius naturale )