This is just an untrue statement, as morality can be and is legislated, for example saying that murder is illegal, etc. How can people make the argument that you "can't' legislate morality?
2007-11-08 16:30:25 · 19 answers · asked by dontworrybehappy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If your strategy is to make people do the right thing by making it illegal to do the wrong thing--well, that's a bad strategy. It's just not practical to enforce it.
Your morality needs to be legislated precisely where it infringes on my life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. No further.
2007-11-08 16:36:38 · answer #1 · answered by BAMAMBA 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I will admit that the wording of the statement leaves something to be desired.
Truth to tell a more proper wording would be that morality is something that SHOULD NEVER be legislated.
Just becasue something CAN be legislated doesn't not mean that it is right to do so. Esentially when morality is legislated it is the morality of the person (or persons) writing thelegislation that is being followed, and considering the wide variety of moral principles followed in this, or any other country, attempting to legislate it is just a bad idea all around.
2007-11-08 18:45:19 · answer #2 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, all legislation that regulates behavior is legislating morality. But people typically use the expression for instances where the law crosses the boundaries of personal freedom. Of course, when people say that you can't legislate morality, they usually mean that you shouldn't legislate morality.
2007-11-08 16:52:38 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We all know murder is wrong. Even those who commit it know it's wrong.
I agree with the statement. Aside from the things that we all know are wrong, the things that have been taboo in human cvilizations pre-dating Christianity, such as murder, theft, perjury, the rest is personal morality. It's subjective. What may seem wrong to some (abortion, for example) may not to others.
Let's look at abortion. Some call it murder. Others disagree. With abortion legal, are pregnant women who think they are morally wrong forced to have them? No. Can a woman have one if she chooses? Yes.
Let's imagine abortion were illegal. Now, the woman who felt it was morally acceptable to have an abortion can't have one. She'd be breaking the law if she did (and putting her life at risk), whereas the woman who disagreed with abortions still isn't forced to do anything. Her life has not changed. Her life has not been affected. The second woman's has.
This is the problem with legislating morality. Mandating prayer in schools. Forbidding homosexuals to form legal unions. One side is usually not affected either way (people can pray on their own, in their homes, in their churches. No one is forcing a heterosexual person into a homosexual relationship), whereas the other side is affected (forcing prayer on those of other and/or no faith, keeping people who love each other from legally joining, as other do heterosexual couples).
2007-11-08 16:47:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ultimately, you can't impose moral values by deciding that certain things are "illegal". You can make certain activities illegal. You can make life unbearable for people who don't hold to the morality in question. But you can't make those values their own. Morality should affect legislation ideally and not the other way around. That morality must ring true to those under the auspices of the laws being passed.
2007-11-08 16:39:51 · answer #5 · answered by Clipper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a person is so out of control of him/her self that he/she is contemplating murder, a piece of legislation will not stop the murder. Hence the saying "You can't legislate morality".
2007-11-08 16:43:03 · answer #6 · answered by What? Me Worry? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that you 'shouldn't' legislate morality.
Congress legislates morality everyday.
Morality being personal choices that don't affect others-murder doesn't count, but wearing a seatbelt does.
2007-11-08 16:41:06 · answer #7 · answered by CK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that doctors take a view to the human body that is very constructive as an analogy, because they treat the body's overall health, function, and habits. When they are seeing a patient, they should not be distracted by that patient's physical attractiveness, race, religion, or circumstances. Their goal is health (and the patient's job is to screw that up).
Legislators are authorized to use funds to make laws for the health, benifit, and education of their constituents and the country. That is all, and the arrangement is actually very utilitarian. Other concerns are for clergy, friends, and family to address.
2007-11-08 16:48:08 · answer #8 · answered by rambling vine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to sweeny: legislate just means make laws. It doesnt mean prevent.
You can certainly legislate morality. Our Bill of Rights are about morality
2007-11-08 16:37:47 · answer #9 · answered by Soonerfootball 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First explain to me how a murder is immoral?
Since this question is in Religion & Spirituality, I assume that you are a Christian of some sort. The Bible describes some of the most hideous murders in the History of the world.It describes that King David "KILLED" Goliath and had many wives, however he's considered a Biblical hero. Should I conclude buy your own assumptions that the Bible is immoral?
2007-11-08 16:43:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋