What does Law without morals is not law mean?

Answer 1

Answer 1

There are ethical standards in the world and without ethics and morals who is to say you can't murder someone just because you felt it was right? Morals and Ethics are in law to enforce the universal laws of human rights, without them we would be uncivilized barbarians all with different opinions on what is right and what is wrong. Morals and Ethics are the guidelines on which all humans "should" abide by to make the world a better place for generations to come.

Answer 2

In order to explain this quote, we need to define "law" and "morals". "Law" is the particular rules articulated by the government. "Morals" is the ethical behavior that a person should aspire to have.

Most laws are based on morals; for example, since stealing is morally wrong, there are laws prohibiting stealing, jailing those who do, and providing for restitution of stolen goods. However, some laws are not based on morality, usually because they are designed to protect those in power against others. Some of these laws are discriminatory (such as apartheid or segregation laws) and others provide loopholes for abusive corporations or agencies.

When someone says "Law without morals is not law", what the person is really saying is that "Laws without moral basis have no justification for existing and that any law not based on morals is coercive." Typically the people who have said lines like this are those who are opposing segregation, repression, or apartheid by performing illegal but moral activities (such as the members of the Underground Railroad, the supporters of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc.).

Answer 2

Answer 1

Morals: the personal reflection and beliefs of an individual in conducting themselves in daily life.

In a democratic system of law, the government is a representative of the people. If there is an issue that reflects MAJORITY morals, than this government will be in power and the laws will be made accordingly.

HOWEVER, there are instances where the law and morals conflict. Such examples (In Australia particularly) include same sex marriage, and euthanasia. It may be morally righteousness to stop someone terminally ill from living in pain... but the law forbids this.

It can be seen that the majority of law will reflect the majority values and morals. But there are instances where this is not the case.

Answer 2

In order to explain this quote, we need to define "law" and "morals". "Law" is the particular rules articulated by the government. "Morals" is the ethical behavior that a person should aspire to have.

Most laws are based on morals; for example, since stealing is morally wrong, there are laws prohibiting stealing, jailing those who do, and providing for restitution of stolen goods. However, some laws are not based on morality, usually because they are designed to protect those in power against others. Some of these laws are discriminatory (such as apartheid or segregation laws) and others provide loopholes for abusive corporations or agencies. When someone says "Law without morals is not law", what the person is really saying is that "Laws without moral basis have no justification for existing and that any law not based on morals is coercive."

Typically the people who have said lines like this are those who are opposing segregation, repression, or apartheid by performing illegal but moral activities (such as the members of the Underground Railroad, the supporters of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc.).