whyBish,Oct 5 2005, 05:43 AM Wrote:"has" or "should have"?
If it isn't based on morality, then what is it based on? Religion? Science? Some particular philosophy? Custom? Something else?
How does the above selection justify that:
- new laws get created
- murder is a crime or not
- abortion is legal or not
- Sex with a 17 yr old is legal or not depending on which side of the state line you stand on, and what your own age is
- (Looking at / trading) pictures of a crime is illegal or not based on what the content is
- etc.
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IMHO, criminal laws are put into place to facilitate a society where people are safe to live, thrive, and contribute (hopefully). They are meant to discourage/punish/prevent anti-social behavior that can unravel the fabric of a community. Activities like murder, rape, and burglary are clearly detrimental to a production and evolution of a group of people living together. There is no morality consideration in this respect. A country, state, or town cannot allow criminal behavior and still maintain its cohesion.
Unfortunately, a lot of nonsense also gets passed as laws in the name of the betterment of the community, when they are only serving the interest/beliefs of one group. Morality is one of the most commonly used excuses for passsing self-serving laws in a society.
Signature? What do you mean?