Is it ever morally acceptable to break the law?

Is it ever morally acceptable to break the law?

Sometimes laws may feel unjust. There are also examples of the opposite, morally wrong actions that are legally permitted (lying to a friend, exploiting a loophole in the law to avoid paying taxes). Therefore, it can indeed be morally right, and even indicated, to break the law in certain situations.

Can you break the law for a good reason?

In short, if anybody ever has a right to break the law, this cannot be a legal right under the law. It has to be a moral right against the law. And this moral right is not an unlimited right to disobey any law which one regards as unjust.

On what grounds is it justifiable to break the law?

Thus, breaking the law becomes a necessity and can be justified because one cannot simply endure such unjust law. On the other hand, laws are destined to be perceived faulty by some, and to bring about a change or correct the incorrect, laws must be broken.

Is breaking the law unethical?

‘Unethical’ defines as something that is morally wrong, whilst something being ‘illegal’ means it is against the law. An unethical deed may be against morality but not against the law. An illegal deed is always unethical while an unethical action may or may not be illegal.

Can an act be legal but immoral can an act be morally right but unlawful explain?

You can not equate the two. Just because something is immoral does not make it illegal and just because something is illegal it does not make it immoral. Not all immoral acts are illegal. Some immoral acts are legally permissible.

What laws are morally wrong?

Morally wrong acts are activities such as murder, theft, rape, lying, and breaking promises. Other descriptions would be that they are morally prohibited, morally impermissible, acts one ought not to do, and acts one has a duty to refrain from doing.

Do you have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws?

One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.

Can breaking the law ever be justified cons?

Breaking the law is morally justifiable and acceptable when the law in itself is iniquitous and if that law violates human rights and conscience; Certainly, rules are established for us to follow but we as human beings should be able to differentiate the right and the wrong and incase laws need to be violated for the …

How do you know if the law is unjust?

Any law that forbids transparency, and thereby attempts to compel, coerce or manipulate a responsible adults by withholding facts, OR any law that allows one person to control the actions of another (when those actions do no direct harm) is an unjust law.

Is law based on morality?

Law, however, is not necessarily the same as morality; there are many moral rules that are not regulated by human legal authorities. And so the question arises as to how one can have a workable set of moral guidelines if there is no one to enforce them.

Can an act be morally right but unlawful examples?

Example 2: If you took a child away from it’s home because they were being abused or something yes it would be morally right to do so but if you have no proof then it is illegal and you are charged for kidnapping. It absolutely can be morally right to do something but unlawful.