Issue17 法律 v6 8.21

kobestrongUID: 2117374

Issue17
"There are two types of laws: just and unjust. Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more importantly, to disobey and resist unjust laws."


I insofar agree with the speaker's contention that every individual is required to obey the laws. However, in my view, due to the different conceptions and demands, it is hard to tell whether a law is just or unjust. In addition, for those laws that violate majority's will, we should disobey or even resist them with peaceful and democratic ways.

To begin with, laws are the foundation of one society, and every citizen is responsible to obey them. As the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said, law is order, and good law is good order. In most societies, laws are the codification of the societies' values, beliefs and morals, and also the guidelines of the citizens' behaviors. Without laws or without the citizens' compliance with the laws, the society would lapse into a chaos that the rulers may abuse their power and populace may lead a life with unsettlement. We can image that if there are no laws to protect our rights when consuming, or no one complies to the traffic rules on the street, the society may become disharmonious and troublesome. Thus, compliance to the laws in society is every individual's responsibility, otherwise the society will be disturbed.

However, it is hardly possible to define whether a law is just or unjust, because the conceptions and demands vary from one society to another. As we know, laws are the guidance of one society's value and beliefs, and demonstrate one society's demands during different period. For example, in western countries, abortion is considered as illegal, while in some eastern countries, it is not forbidden; in slavery society, it is legal for a slave owner ordering or beating the slaves anytime, while in democratic society, everyone is equal that these behaviors are considered illegal. Just as Thomas Jefferson, one American president, said: no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. Thus, as long as the current laws are profitable for the society and serving for the majority, we can consider the laws just.

Additionally, when facing the laws and constitutions that violate most people's will and only serve for the rulers to tyrannize, peaceful and democratic ways should be implemented to abolish the laws. The numerous abolishment and establishments of the laws make them more and more suitable for the developed society and accordant with the relationship of rulers and populace. What's more, the violent methods which would cause more conflicts and victimizations should not be advocated and peaceful and democratic approaches are needed. Take an example of the campaign leaded by Martin Luther King to abolish the racial discrimination towards African Americans. The peaceful methods just like speech, propaganda and parade ultimately successfully gain legal equality for the Blacks.

To sum up, as long as the laws are serving for majority, everyone should comply with them. When the laws are violating most people's will, people should use peaceful and democratic method to resist and abolish them.

hustzwjUID: 203387

我来看看！听说有点难！
同系的一个刚考过，她竟选的就是这个！
汗！