Legislating Morality

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe_Bland
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
If you start cirminalising things like murder, rape, bank robbery, etc, then isn’t that interfering with free will?😉
Of course but those things infringe on others rights, (to life, to property). They are already illegal because of that. Is this relevant to what consenting adults do in private?
 
Society needs some basic order and structure - most people, on some level, would agree that murder, theft, rape and lying (purgury) are all detrimental to the good of society. This is legislating “morality.”

Most people//governments derive laws from personal beliefs, religion, and interpertation of natural law.
I agree with what you say. It is also legislating order without which chaos would prevail. 🙂 Peace.
 
Society needs some basic order and structure - most people, on some level, would agree that murder, theft, rape and lying (purgury) are all detrimental to the good of society. This is legislating “morality.”

Most people//governments derive laws from personal beliefs, religion, and interpertation of natural law.
Of course but those things infringe on others rights, (to life, to property). They are already illegal because of that. Is this relevant to what consenting adults do in private?
With freedom comes responsibility, or it isn’t freedom. Who said that??? 🙂 Peace.
 
Of course but those things infringe on others rights, (to life, to property). They are already illegal because of that. Is this relevant to what consenting adults do in private?
The idea that “what consenting adults do in private” stays private is false. Drug abuse, out-of-wedlock sex, and dueling all have consequences that impact the public.
 
Of course but those things infringe on others rights, (to life, to property). They are already illegal because of that. Is this relevant to what consenting adults do in private?
Is adultery between consenting adults is private? Does this have an affect on surrounding society? How about the abortions oftentimes resulting?
 
If you start cirminalising things like homosxuality, adultery etc, then isn’t that interfering with free will?
It doesn’t prevent you from willing whatever you want. It discourages one from acting out those intentions and allows for prosecution of criminal actions as well use of legal force necessary to prevent one from acting out those intentions. Free will is not interferred with. I could will evil befall my neighbor. Whether the evil I consider is legal or not, does not affect my will in the matter.
 
One of the reasons that things like adultery and private homosexual behavior are no longer legislated against is because many such laws can only be enforced in an uneven and spotty manner. The 14th amendment which pertained to the evils of slavery is now interpreted to apply to laws where enforcement is not able to catch and prosecute the majority of offenders, thus everyone in such an instance becomes essentially not equal before the law. To put it another way, some are caught and punished, but many are not.
 
The idea that “what consenting adults do in private” stays private is false. Drug abuse, out-of-wedlock sex, and dueling all have consequences that impact the public.
so you want to use the law to **force **people to act in a way you think is best for society with regards to these things.
 
It doesn’t prevent you from willing whatever you want. It discourages one from acting out those intentions and allows for prosecution of criminal actions as well use of legal force necessary to prevent one from acting out those intentions. Free will is not interferred with. I could will evil befall my neighbor. Whether the evil I consider is legal or not, does not affect my will in the matter.
thinking something and making the decision to act on it are different things. You are advocating using force to discourage people from doing things that primarly effect themselves. Using societal effects as the justification is dodgy ; government can promote morality in other ways without using the law to prosecute or punish individuals. What you’re really talking about is punishing people on behalf of God, for acts that offend God. With this reasoning why not outlaw that practice of non-christian religion?
 
so you want to use the law to **force **people to act in a way you think is best for society with regards to these things.
No, I want to use the law to stop people from doing things that hurt society.

For example, I want people to take responsibility for their children – is that wrong?

I want the smuggling and sale of illegal drugs stopped – its that wrong?

I want people to not meet in some isolated spot and shoot it out – is that wrong?
 
The ten Commandments legislate morality don’t they? Can’t have a society without legislation. Many people don’t have the common sense to know what is right and wrong. Peace.
 
Speed limits are based on the same moral principle as laws against drunk driving – that it is immoral to drive so as to endanger others.
No. You really have to stretch to say speed limits have anything to do with morality.

Paying a license renewal fee is not a legislation of moral laws.
 
No. You really have to stretch to say speed limits have anything to do with morality.
Do you think it’s a moral act to drive at unsafe speeds, or to drive drunk?
Paying a license renewal fee is not a legislation of moral laws.
That’s a tax, to support the licensing system, the purpose of which is to see that only qualified people are allowed to operate motor vehicles on the public roads.
 
Do you think it’s a moral act to drive at unsafe speeds, or to drive drunk?
Why do you keep throwing in drunk driving laws? Because you know that speed limits by themselves have nothing to do with morality.
That’s a tax, to support the licensing system, the purpose of which is to see that only qualified people are allowed to operate motor vehicles on the public roads.
Again, not a moral issue. I already have a license and have paid for it. There’s no test for a license renewal. You just send a check. It does not ensure competent drivers. If it did, there would be a lot less fatalities. But its irrelevant, because there is no requirement to take a new test or do anything other then send in a check.

Just admit that all laws are not based on any morality. Sometimes even you are wrong.
 
There are laws that prevent one from painting their houses certain colors or not cutting their grass. Legislating morality?
 
No. You really have to stretch to say speed limits have anything to do with morality.

Paying a license renewal fee is not a legislation of moral laws.
Speed limits have an association with the fifth commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. I take this to mean thou shalt not even take the risk of killing. Both killing and the risk of are negatives compared to a positive. 🙂 Peace
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top