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[azture]

Help a girl out. My philosophy class is asking me to ask people this question:

Why do you obey the law?

I would love the input of anyone that still reads this silly world of eljay.

(If you don't obey the law, that's fine, tell me why!)

Comments

[danser]

I obey most laws because they make sense to obey-- that is to say, I have some incentive in doing so, or some moral reason that's my own. eg no murdering, seat belts on, &c. Some laws, like petty theft, I am tempted to do for all sorts of institutional reasons, but I don't do so I can reduce the number of possible self-contradictions in my life: the less of those, the more I tend to like myself. Laws that are designed to keep me safe I sometimes break, like speeding, or jaywalking. In those situations I privilege my knowledge of what is safe over the general flat-rule approach that the law must take in order to be useful... Which is a point of danger and arrogance sometimes, but I don't lose a lot of sleep over it. I like to pretend that as long as I feel in control things are okay

[ticklemegrover]

I obey the laws because Mr. Griffith tells me to.

I can't think of a serious answer to this question right now...but good luck!

[burdurhur]

Depends on the laws. Some things that are illegal I've been conditioned to find so repugnant (murder, stealing from old women, showing my naughty bits to kids, rape, etc.) that doing them would fill me with hate for myself because I know others would suffer--which I don't want. Other potential actions that are illegal but not taboo (like, say, stealing CDs or smashing parking meters or driving without a licence) I don't do because I A) don't wanna get in trouble (fines and community service and jail time wouldn't be fun), B) I'd feel bad letting down the community (yes, seriously), and C) I find a certain dignity in following the laws of the land until there's one that just pisses me off. I'm all for civil disobedience but there's nothing on the books I know about that's really gripped me as horrible enough to lay myself on the line.