The importance of law in today's world can't be quantified, and despite the various laws made to curb the wings of crime across the world, it's sad that we still have so many terrible things happening out there. Regardless, laws aren't irrelevant, and I believe their absence would have made things more disastrous than we are already experiencing.
In response to the HL prompt, should ethics and morals be considered when making laws in a country? I believe that laws primarily exist for the sake of general protection and preventing crime, which, without doubts, are also the society's shared values regardless of ethics and whatever we consider moral or immoral.
A typical example is murder, which is a crime at every standard except probably when it occurred in the process of self-defense. It is a crime legally, it is morally unacceptable, and as well defy ethics.
Balancing Ethics, Morals, and Freedom.
I really do not see any problem in putting ethics and moral into consideration when making laws because the trio definitely works together for our well-being.
However, we can't rely too much or use them as basis because the moment laws are made on the basis of ethics and moral, they become one-sided, plus they become capable of taking away people freedom, or depriving them of living their lives as it pleases them despite the fact that whatever they do is harmless.
The Challenge of Subjective Morals.
Our definition for morals might be the same, but our approach or perspective about it varies, making it automatically impossible to create a balance between laws, ethics or morals. Thinking about it properly, it becomes complicated trying to combine the three without infringing on people's right or freedom.
For instance, lying is considered immoral by many people, but there is definitely no law against it here in Nigeria just like it is across the world. Everyone lie at different times, and it can be very harmless in many situations; it's just like lying to avoid a hangout you consider is not safe.
So let's imagine that it becomes a law that people who lie should be punished severely; it automatically means that you can't lie to save yourself from troubles or even when it doesn't cause any harm, which contradicts the purpose of laws, or aren't laws made to prevent harm anymore?
When Morals Should Influence Laws?
I strongly believe that a lot of things will be affected when laws are deeply influenced by morals. Because we find something immoral doesn't make it a crime. The thing might not sit well to us, but to other people, it's normal, and making a law against them makes no sense.
The only time when ethics or morals should influence laws is when these things can harm people. Every one should be free to do whatever they want with themselves as long as they aren't hurting or threatening lives and property.
In conclusion, while ethics and morals can guide us with creating laws, they should not be the basis. I believe that laws must prioritize maintaining fairness and protect individuals’ freedom.
All Image Are Mine.