Is a law a good one when it helps solve a social problem?

Answer 1

These types of laws are often called "victimless crime laws" because they really only exist to protect the person who may be victimized by the act. For example seatbelt laws and prostitution are both acts that really only injure the person committing the act. Some people may say that prostitution injures many people, but if you consider just the act itself, it only injures the woman. However prostitution is illegal because of the other crimes that often are associated with it (i.e. drugs, gang activity, etc). So it is illegal to help rid society of a problem.

I really cannot think of any laws in existance that do not in some way attempt to solve some morally unacceptable issue. Morals are the basis for most laws and have been back to the time of King Hammurabi (eye for an eye). In fact it is hard to identify morally unacceptable acts that are not illegal...except of course minor offenses like lying, cheating and stealing which at a greater extent are illegal.

So to answer your question, yes I think a law is a good one if it helps solve a social problem.

Answer 2

Solving a social problem is what laws are supposed to be about. If society did not have problems it would not need laws. It is almost tautological. If the law solves no problem or makes things even worse then it is not a good law and would be better if it did not exist. An unenforcible law is also in this catagory.

Answer 3

Not always, because the term "social problem" is too broad.

A law is a good one when it is necessary, or at least directly useful, in preventing people from getting hurt, and when the law protects life, liberty and property.

There are too many laws on the books that try to regulate morality, which many religious folk see as a social problem. But religion and morality should not be enforced using secular laws.

Answer 4

probably not. A socal problem needs to be solved by the consensus of people whom it affects not by a law which the police will be powerless to enforce.

Some countries, eg Australia, USA enact laws against jay-walking, littering, excessive noise, speeding and so on. All this does is to make more people disrespect the law in general, they go on to commit theft, assault etc with the excuse that the legal framework in general is oppressive (which it is)

Answer 5

define "good", "problem" and "solve"... then you'll see the answer is "possibly".

laws are funny things. basically, they are a set of expectations about reality that societies try to encourage and maintain.

here's one: is poverty a social problem?

should it be illegal to panhandle? should it be illegal to give panhandlers money? the law can only describe what it knows. should it be illegal to ask someone for money?

Answer 6

Not necessarily ... and don't expect much of an answer given the lack of details.

Answer 7

Maybe... Too many factors involved to say for sure. Need more specifics.

Answer 8

What, like prohibition? Can you give an example?