Given that reason is a rule-based concept, are rational people also more inclined to obey the law?

Question

Don: Yes, but an unjust law is basically a rule which is non sequitur.

Answer 1

Exactly right.

Answer 2

Reason is not necessarily any of these: a concept, rule-based, or something given. Consider Abraham's inclination to obey the command to sacrifice Isaac. Yes, reason has a relation to law; to say this relation is problematic understates, falls short, and lags behind. Even the U.S. Constitution reflects this problem - there is a PREAMBLE to the law of the land. Some "rational people" will obey the law simply, others seem to need persuasion. An individual may escape the necessity for law in relation to him or herself. There is no such escape for society.

Answer 3

I'm not clear on how "rule-based" reason is. Rules, insofar as they are worthwhile, are baased on our reasoning ability. But those abilities, in turn, are founded not on rules (or we'd have a logical circle, like turtles all the way down) but on a combination of innate abilities and environmental perception.

I would say, then, that rational people are inclined to weigh costs and benefits better than others. This means that they wouldn't violate a law just for the heck of it, as a rebellious adolescent might, because they would consider the possibility of punishment as a cost balancing out the benefits.

But some laws aren't effectively enforced. Thus, the improbability of punishment would rationally be a discount against the costs, making the benefits weigh more.

Example, suppose (just hypothetically) that a rational person lives on the 'wrong' side of a border. There are better job/life opportunities on the northern side than on the southern side, where he is.

So there are clear benefits to crossing the boder, BUT doing so is against the law. Yet that law is easily evaded (in our hypothetical).

It seems to me that a rational person may well break that law quite readily -- even repeatedly.

Answer 4

Would this mean that a mathematician should be more law abiding? Logic is made up of the structures of arguments not the contents. The law has rules, but what is contained in these rules also boils down to a matter of ethics; opinion even. Governments don't generally construct law on either logic or reason.

[edit] If i got a TD because it seemed like I didn't answer if philosophical rule followers obey the law more, well, I can't answer questions constructed like fortune cookie questions.

Answer 5

Obeying laws is in one's own best interest. It is rational for that reason to obey them. If there are laws that seem unjust, the best thing to do is to work toward changing them. I think rational people understand that and perhaps are more inclined to obey them. There is a difference between obeying them and supporting them. The best way to bring about change is rationally.

There have been many laws that have changed through time. Most often, they are not changed because people refuse to follow them. It happens because people presented compelling rationale to bring about change.

To answer the question... I do think that rational people are more inclined, but I do not think it has to do with reason being rule based. After all, many laws are the product of religion and/or the Bible. Many rational people will tell you that is irrational. :)

Edit:
Good example, Chris. :)

Answer 6

i would say a rational person would weigh the odds, and yes often be more inclined to obey the law, or else feel they wouldnt be caught or that they could justify the breaking of the law, not only to their selves, but to others if caught
ps: they would also understand the reason for having laws in the first place, so that would be a motivation
for instance, i see the damage caused by speeding, i also know that under optimum conditions i am able to speed without high odds of causing damage, but i know many others do it without considering the conditions, so i support and obey the speeding limits, plus i dont want to use my money in that way, for fines, so even small odds of getting caught prevent me from doing it, that is my reasoning behind obeying that law

Answer 7

i dont think so.

if someone uses different logic than they can be reasonable but still break the law.

the king is stealing from us
stealing is wrong, we have a right to be free of this
rebel from the king

the king is stealing from us
but he is the king and its his loyal right
obey the king

both people are thinking with reason, but they are using different logic. you can have rebels who are completely reasonable with their thinking. Aristotle was reasonable yet he taught that the earth revolved around the sun. I considor myself reasonable yet I wont obey a law or rule if i think its stupid. i think im MORE reasonable than the people who make the laws. who makes laws? GOD? no! just some man. just some man. probably a man who is nothing like you and who you would disagree with in many areas. i say, you gotta think for yourself.

Answer 8

Rational people are more inclined to obey rational laws, and are less inclined to obey irrational laws.

Answer 9

Reason may tell us that the rule/law is unjust.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 10

Indeed.

But who is to say that the rules they use to construct reason conform with their view of the ones in place?

Answer 11

A recent questioner pointed out that less than 1% of prison population is atheist, when there is a much higher percentage in the general population. I think that speaks for itself.