Law and Morals: Understanding the Relationship
The Basic Connection Law and morality have always influenced each other. Much of what makes law legitimate comes from the belief that we have a moral duty to obey it.[1] Laws are connected to the value systems and moral ideas of a society, and judges often interpret laws with the assumption that they should work justly and not offend settled moral principles.[2] Historically, law, morality, and religion were treated as interconnected. Ancient societies saw law as having divine origins, with some laws traced directly to a divine law giver, such as the Ten Commandments.[3] Today, we view law as made by humans...
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