Isn't there a difference between Morals,Values and the Law?

Question

they are not always the same thing

Stemmed from the following question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070612113947AAMCcyG&r=w#Ea13LzPmFXnvy1n1FCt3

Answer 1

There is a MASSIVE difference between morals, values and the law!

Your morals are probably far different from mine as well as your values.

I personally don't want your morals enforced upon me as law.

In religion based governments there isn't much difference.

Answer 2

Moral Values are based on a personal concept of right and wrong; which can be religious in nature. The Law can give the public the freedom of deciding what is right or wrong for them. The ABORTION issue is an example of this. The age one can drive at is another one: one State says 15, another 16, still another 17, and NY says 18 years old to legally drive. In retrospect the law can be in Moral at times; the law is the limits that the general public is willing to except and the courts deam acceptable by law.

Answer 3

Good question. Yes there is. Values are beliefs or conduct that you adhere to because it serves your purpose to do so. Morals are a kind of code defining 'right and wrong'. Laws are codified morals to deter and punish transgressions against others, the state, or just order.

A good way to illustratte the differnces are to look at something handy most are familiar with. One can look at the 10 commandments and classify them as morals, values or laws.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me
2. Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol
3. Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
The first 4 are instructions on the practice of the religion. They do not define transgressions against others or the state. People not of the faith are not expected to adhere to them. So they are values.

5. Honor thy Mother and Father
Number 5 could be classified as a moral or a value, but I think it leans toward 'value'

6. Thou shalt not murder
Number 6 is a law. It defines a transgression against another that must be deterred and punished

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery
Number 7 is a moral, but in the past it has been a law. It is indeed a transgression against another, but is looked at as a civil matter, rather than a criminal one

8. Thou shalt not steal
Here again, a law based on the need to deter an punish crimes

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness
Either a moral or a law. In sworn testimony, it is a crime. In idle gossip it is a moral failing (put possibly a civil matter - slander, libel)

10 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife or thy neighbior's house.
This is a value, as coveting is often incouraged in secular.

Answer 4

Values- vary from subjective to large groups of people value things or beliefs. Like some value life and believe it should be perserved at all cost.
Other groups would also value life but understand that you can protect yourself to have life and those in your group.

Morals- The right and wrong of life.
Some morals we can agree on like it is wrong to murder people in cold blood. To other morals that are shared by few like don't drink alcohol or dance. They have not legal weigth but they are important.

Laws- That is written down and legal morals like don't murder. This is pass by the government in charge.

There is no hard line between any of the 3. Some places it is gray what is law or morals or values.

Answer 5

So, I followed your link. The people who answered your question completely lacked the ability to see the difference between the law and ethics.

The law should reflect what's right and what's wrong, but fallible human being created the law. The law is imperfect. If that law doesn't exist for that purpose, then why have law at all? Morality is higher than the law, it exists on a different plane. The law is simply the man-made recognition of what's universally true.

Answer 6

Morals make judgments based on values. If we think human life is cheap, we will not feel immoral if we see life destroyed.
War is killing but not justifiable killing.
The law supposedly holds up good values but justice is so perverted by special interest groups and the use of lawyers who know how to bamboozle juries, and the rich who can get away with just about anything if they have helped the judges get their seats or are owed "favors" or are part of the crony system.

Answer 7

There's an ever-decreasing difference, unfortunately. People are neglecting individual liberty in an attempt to mold the country to their way of living.

If I value individual liberty, there will be a lot of things that are legal that are against my morals. But that's the point - they're MY morals. I want the right to make my own decisions regarding religion and lifestyle, but to have that, I must respect everyone else's right to do the same for themselves. Sadly, that's not good enough for many people. Many individuals feel the need to save people from themselves. Even if I'm perfectly capable of saving myself, I must suffer a lack of liberty...Much like an inmate who has sharp objects removed from his cell even though he has no plans to misuse them.

Okay, so my analogies are a bit lacking, but I'm sure you get the point. =P

Answer 8

I would say that morals and values are things that a person lives their own life by, they're made up from your life experiences, maybe your faith, your upbringing, etc. and they are fluid...they can change. Laws are a set of rules that everyone in a society has to live by. They are based on what the person who writes them thinks is the best way to have a civilized and (basicly) calm society.

Answer 9

The only difference I can think of is that society can punish people for breaking laws. There is no established punishment for having bad morals or values per se. All three of these things are subjective though, there are no "right answers".

Answer 10

They are different, but there is some relation between them.

For example, many people would consider adultry immoral, but it is not against the law. However, a number of our laws are based on certain values and morals.

Answer 11

Morals are the basis upon what you judge is right

Values are how you set your priorities and morals in a practical situation

Law is something we have to do not because we feel it is moral or it has ethical value but because if we don't follow them we go to jail