Have you ever heard someone say the following or something like it:
"You can't legislate morality?"
I have. Usually the context is a discussion of whether or not certain behaviors should be against the law. For example, one individual might argue that some behavior should be against the law because it is immoral and the other individual will respond and say "But you can't legislate morality." I have always thought that such a response doesn't make much sense because in my view laws are always codifying someone's morality.
From reading alot of the discussions here on the issue of morality, I know that many of you hold that morality is essentially adhering to what society has agreed upon as being acceptable behavior. (I hope I characterized this accurately. If I have not, please correct me.) In this case, it would seem to follow that you would also agree with me that the argument "you can't legislate morality" is not a good argument in such discussions because all laws are codifying some morality.
Am I correct in my conclusion? If not, I would appreciate hearing your take on the issue.
"You can't legislate morality?"
I have. Usually the context is a discussion of whether or not certain behaviors should be against the law. For example, one individual might argue that some behavior should be against the law because it is immoral and the other individual will respond and say "But you can't legislate morality." I have always thought that such a response doesn't make much sense because in my view laws are always codifying someone's morality.
From reading alot of the discussions here on the issue of morality, I know that many of you hold that morality is essentially adhering to what society has agreed upon as being acceptable behavior. (I hope I characterized this accurately. If I have not, please correct me.) In this case, it would seem to follow that you would also agree with me that the argument "you can't legislate morality" is not a good argument in such discussions because all laws are codifying some morality.
Am I correct in my conclusion? If not, I would appreciate hearing your take on the issue.
