The Duty to Obey the Law

Selected Philosophical Readings

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Cover of the book The Duty to Obey the Law by , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9780742577510
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Publication: December 23, 1998
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9780742577510
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication: December 23, 1998
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Language: English

The question, 'Why should I obey the law?' introduces a contemporary puzzle that is as old as philosophy itself. The puzzle is especially troublesome if we think of cases in which breaking the law is not otherwise wrongful, and in which the chances of getting caught are negligible. Philosophers from Socrates to H.L.A. Hart have struggled to give reasoned support to the idea that we do have a general moral duty to obey the law but, more recently, the greater number of learned voices has expressed doubt that there is any such duty, at least as traditionally conceived. The thought that there is no such duty poses a challenge to our ordinary understanding of political authority and its legitimacy. In what sense can political officials have a right to rule us if there is no duty to obey the laws they lay down? Some thinkers, concluding that a general duty to obey the law cannot be defended, have gone so far as to embrace philosophical anarchism, the view that the state is necessarily illegitimate. Others argue that the duty to obey the law can be grounded on the idea of consent, or on fairness, or on other ideas, such as community.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The question, 'Why should I obey the law?' introduces a contemporary puzzle that is as old as philosophy itself. The puzzle is especially troublesome if we think of cases in which breaking the law is not otherwise wrongful, and in which the chances of getting caught are negligible. Philosophers from Socrates to H.L.A. Hart have struggled to give reasoned support to the idea that we do have a general moral duty to obey the law but, more recently, the greater number of learned voices has expressed doubt that there is any such duty, at least as traditionally conceived. The thought that there is no such duty poses a challenge to our ordinary understanding of political authority and its legitimacy. In what sense can political officials have a right to rule us if there is no duty to obey the laws they lay down? Some thinkers, concluding that a general duty to obey the law cannot be defended, have gone so far as to embrace philosophical anarchism, the view that the state is necessarily illegitimate. Others argue that the duty to obey the law can be grounded on the idea of consent, or on fairness, or on other ideas, such as community.

More books from Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Cover of the book Critique and Utopia by
Cover of the book Supervision and Evaluation for Learning and Growth by
Cover of the book Teaching Math, Science, and Technology in Schools Today by
Cover of the book The Making of a Quagmire by
Cover of the book Brainball by
Cover of the book A Turning Point in Teacher Education by
Cover of the book Native Americans in the Movies by
Cover of the book Jspr Vol 35-N4 by
Cover of the book Aging Masculinity in the American Novel by
Cover of the book The Blessings of Liberty by
Cover of the book Getting Started by
Cover of the book Teaching with Joy by
Cover of the book Made Men by
Cover of the book The Catholic Invasion of China by
Cover of the book Nature and Needs of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Severe Disabilities by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy