Consider the View That There Is a Close Relationship Between Law & Morality

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Consider the view that there is a close relationship between law and morality. Examine the debate as to whether the law should reflect moral values, and discuss issues which show the continuing importance of that debate. There has been much debate to whether the law should or should not reflect morals. Laws are in fact rules for society, the term ‘rule’ was defined by Twining & Miers as a general norm of guiding conduct meaning. A rule is something that determines the way in which we behave. The difference between laws & morality is the reasons behind following those rules, whether we submit ourselves to them voluntarily – as would be the case with moral rules, or because it is enforced by laws which would be reasoning behind following legal rules. There can be seen a close relationship between law & morality, for example murder. Murder is considered universally immoral and therefore is enforced by law & also carries the greatest sentencing. The question can be asked, is the sentencing so high because of how immoral it is or simply as punishment for taking someone’s life so your life should be punished for the duration of your existence. However, there are conflicting arguments, firstly being adultery. To commit adultery it is seen as immoral, however, adultery is not illegal. This is an example that there isn’t always a close relationship between law & morality. The second and maybe more complex issue is euthanasia. It is debatable whether euthanasia is morally unacceptable or not. At the moment, it is illegal in the UK but in countries such as Switzerland it is not. Is this because in Switzerland it is seen as morally acceptable? or just that it has been enforced through law. In the UK a more limited & passive form of euthanasia has been accepted as legal with ruling in Airedale NHS trust v Bland, where it was ruled that medical staff

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