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In this essay, C.S. Lewis clarifies the concept of the Moral Law, or the Law of Human Nature, by addressing common misunderstandings. He argues that the Moral Law is not simply a herd instinct or a social convention but an inherent standard that guides our behavior. Unlike instincts, which are desires to act in specific ways, the Moral Law is a higher directive that tells us which instincts to follow and when to suppress them. He explains that the Moral Law judges between competing instincts and often encourages us to act against our stronger impulses for the sake of doing what is right.
Lewis also argues that the Moral Law cannot be a mere social convention because it shows consistency across different cultures and times, indicating that it is a real, objective standard rather than a human invention. He uses examples to illustrate that moral progress and the comparison of different moralities imply the existence of a true moral standard. Finally, he distinguishes between differences in moral principles and differences in beliefs about facts, using the historical example of witch executions to demonstrate that changes in moral practices often stem from changes in factual beliefs rather than changes in moral understanding.