The following debate originally took place on my Facebook wall, upon my post, “Circular Reasoning, Statist Edition Series: Example 3“…
Rayn: Circular reasoning: “The law should be obeyed because it’s the law should be obeyed because it’s the law should be obeyed because…” *head spins*
“The law should be obeyed because it’s the law…”
Katherine C.: Well, the law should be obeyed because it’s basically the social contract that allows us to coexist peacefully (enough).
Genaire: The social contract in which no one has signed.
Katherine C.: If we had to rely on every idiot and moron to sign it, it would never get done, nor would it be efficient. I’m not saying the system is perfect, not even close, but the ideal isn’t a bad one.
Rayn: I don’t agree with you for two reasons, Katherine. For one, legality doesn’t equal morality. Confusing the two is a very dangerous mode of thinking.
“How does something immoral, when done privately, become moral when it is done collectively? Furthermore, does legality establish morality? Slavery was legal; apartheid is legal; Stalinist, Nazi, and Maoist purges were legal. Clearly, the fact of legality does not justify these crimes. Legality, alone, cannot be the talisman of moral people” – Walter E. Williams
