Laws are an essential tool used by the society to function properly, as it provides the framework for social behavior, establishing rules by which all individuals need to follow or face the consequences of opposing it. The existence of law also safeguards the citizens, making sure that people will be treated equally although at times, it results for our freedom being restricted. But just think what will happen without laws, and people can do anything that they want. Without any restraint, crime rates will increase, and there will be no order, which will eventually result in the downfall of society.
So, as much as we want to have our freedom, it is still important that there are laws that will hold us accountable when we do something wrong. However, it is also important that ethics and morals should be considered when laws are being made. It is to ensure that the laws will be implemented fairly, regardless of the person's race, belief or status in the society with respect to human rights.
That said, there are situations where an action is neither ethical or moral but were considered legal in the eyes of the law. Alternatively, there are also ethical and moral acts but were considered to be against the law. Should laws be reworked and make all the things that the society deemed to be unethical and immoral illegal and all the things that the society thinks to be ethical and moral legal?
I think that there are not straight answer for that because when it comes to what's moral and ethical, it's not always black or white and that societal norms always change so what we deemed as moral and ethical today may be deemed as immoral and unethical tomorrow.
For example, there used to be a time that many countries finds nothing wrong with enslaving people but now, owning slaves are widely regarded as immoral and criminal by nature. At the same time, there were also things that are used to be looked badly and even considered as a crime such as same-sex marriage but but with changing laws and social attitudes, it becomes widely accepted and recognized as a basic human right. In both situations, the changes in the law and society brings positive results.
But what about when the person committed a completely degenerate act that everyone see as both immoral and unethical but is not considered as a crime, are they just free to do whatever they want regardless of how morally bankrupt their actions may be?
I think that while everyone is free to do whatever they want as long as it did not cross the law, I also think that everyone should have a responsibility for the potential consequences of the actions that they make.
For example, doing a "Ding Dong Ditch". It is one of those TikTok trends where people will ring the doorbell of a neighbor's house then immediately run for it. While it is generally harmless and not against the law, it is a great nuisance to the neighbor and should not be tolerated. In such cases, light punishments such as community service may be necessary to maintain public order.
In some situations, calling out this degenerate acts can also help to completely stop them from doing it like how few years back, some Youtuber gets de- platformed after they make multiple videos about a beloved youtuber that passed away in order to milk for views and ad revenue. Its a completely deplorable act that uses the passing of a dead person to earn money but no matter how morally, bankrupt it is, it is not against the law.
Morality and ethics can be a good guide in distinguishing right from wrong. By establishing a set of principles and values, individuals and societies can make informed decisions that helps to shape their laws but at the same time, they also needs to have the flexibility, critical thinking and most of all, empathy, when creating the laws while also taking the best interest of the people in consideration in our society that continuously evolve.
Thank you for reading my post and see you on the next one!
