CLAT 2024 Passage 1 by Career Leaders | Dec 7, 2023 | 0 comments In the realm of jurisprudence, the interplay between morality and legality is a complex and often contentious issue. While laws are designed to regulate human behavior and maintain social order, they may not always align with personal or societal moral values. This leads to a fundamental question: Should laws be based on moral principles, and if so, to what extent? One school of thought, known as legal moralism, asserts that the law should enforce moral values and prohibit actions that are considered immoral by society. Proponents argue that certain actions, such as murder or theft, are inherently wrong and that the law should reflect and enforce these moral judgments. However, legal moralism is not without its critics. They argue that enforcing moral values through the law can be overly intrusive, infringing on individual autonomy and diversity of thought. They contend that the law’s primary role is to protect individual rights and maintain social order, not to impose moral values. On the other hand, the principle of legal neutrality posits that the law should remain neutral on matters of morality. This perspective asserts that the law’s primary function is to protect individual rights and maintain order, and it should not be concerned with enforcing particular moral values. Legal neutrality allows for a more pluralistic and diverse society where individuals are free to live in accordance with their own moral values, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Nevertheless, this perspective raises challenging questions. If the law remains morally neutral, it may tolerate actions that many find morally repugnant, such as hate speech or discrimination. This leads to a moral dilemma—whether it is morally justifiable for the law to allow such actions in the name of freedom and neutrality. These philosophical debates highlight the complexity of balancing morality and legality within a legal system. They challenge us to consider the appropriate role of the law in shaping and reflecting societal values. 1. Which perspective argues that the law should enforce moral values and prohibit actions considered immoral by society? Legal moralism Legal realism Legal positivism Legal neutrality None 2. What is one criticism of legal moralism? It maintains legal neutrality. It allows for a more pluralistic society. It promotes individual and social order. It infringes on individual autonomy and diversity of thought. None 3. According to legal moralism, what is the law’s primary role? To protect individual rights and maintain social order. To impose moral values. To maintain legal neutrality. To enforce specific cultural practices. None 4. What is the central tenet of legal neutrality? The law should remain morally neutral. The law should regulate all aspects of individual behavior. The law should prioritize individual rights over morality. The law should enforce moral values. None 5. What moral dilemma is raised by the principle of legal neutrality? Whether the law should prioritize individual rights over morality. Whether the law should impose moral values on individuals. Whether the law should suppress individual autonomy. Whether it is morally justifiable to tolerate certain morally repugnant actions in the name of freedom and neutrality. None Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
