What is “morality”?

Morality and the Law

• To distinguish between morality and the law

• To reflect on the relationship between morality and the law

• To evaluate whether the law is always right

What laws do you know in the UK?

Are these laws to stop anyone doing WRONG?

Is wrong always = illegal ?Is what is right always = legal ?

1. Give 2 examples of something that is wrong, and also against the law.

2. Can you think of any examples where something could be wrong, but the law allows it?

**Can you think of an example where something is right to do, but the law forbids it?

This man is in prison because he asked his wife to pay his speeding fine…

Did he do wrong ?

This man is in prison because he mugged and old lady and killed her…

Did he do wrong?

EXAMPLE CMr Jones has an affair, cheating on his wife of 25 years. She is devastated. Is what he did legal?

Is it morally right?

illegal, but morally right…

EXAMPLE DOscar Schindler was a rich businessman

who was a member of the Nazi party. He saved thousands of Jews by employing them in his factories, thus saving them from arrest and death in the gas chambers. Was what he did legally right? Was it morally right?

Legal, but morally wrong .. OR

EXAMPLE AJoe is black, and lives at a time when apartheid laws meant blacks could not mix with whites. One day, he drinks from a water fountain only meant for whites. Someone sees him and he is sent to prison for 2 years. Was arresting him legally or morally right?

EXAMPLE BA manager in the NHS signed an agreement

when he left, saying he would not disclose any information about the way the hospital was run. However, he went public on how hospital mismanagement was leading to many patient deaths. He was going to be taken to court for what he had done…Was whistleblowing on the hospital legally right? Morally right ?

EXAMPLE AJoe is black, and lives at a time when apartheid laws meant blacks could not mix with whites. One day, he drinks from a water fountain only meant for whites. Someone sees him and he is sent to prison for 2 years. Was arresting him legally or morally right?

EXAMPLE BMr Jones has an affair, cheating on his wife of 25 years. She is devastated. Is what he did legal?

Is it morally right?

Illegal, but morally right…EXAMPLE AA manager in the NHS signed an agreement

when he left, saying he would not disclose any information about the way the hospital was run. However, he went public on how hospital mismanagement was leading to many patient deaths. He was going to be taken to court for what he had done…Was whistleblowing on the hospital legally right? Morally right ?

EXAMPLE BOscar Schindler was a rich businessman who was

a member of the Nazi party. He saved thousands of Jews by employing them in his factories, thus saving them from arrest and death in the gas chambers.

Was what he did legally right? Was it morally right?

Legal, but morally wrong ..

1. Legally right …but morally wrong to do1. a. Describe an example of something legal, but is morally wrong . b. Explain why it is morally wrong, even though it was legal.2. a. Describe an example of something illegal, but is morally right b. Explain why it is morally right, even though it was illegal?**What could you do if lawyers disagree about whether something is morally right?

The Law tries very hard to make sure that it’s not illegal to do the right thing.

Choose one of these examples. Explain what you think about it – is it morally wrong? Should it be illegal?

Bullet point your arguments, then present to the class.

**What should the Law do, if people disagree about whether it is morally wrong, and therefore should be illegal?

some people strongly believe the following to be morally wrong, but the Law allows it – what do you think?

– abortion, and helping with abortions– allowing pornography to be widely available– selling cheap, strong alcohol– same-sex marriage – euthanasia (medical killing of the sick)

Homework: Morality and the Law

Choose one of the issues. – abortion, and helping with abortions– allowing pornography to be widely available– selling cheap, strong alcohol– same-sex marriage – euthanasia (medical killing of the sick

1. Explain if you think it is morally wrong or not. 2. Explain how someone might disagree with you.3. Explain what you would reply to that person. 4. Conclude: should it be made illegal?

Your views..

• Do you think we have moral Laws in the UK?• Do our laws “get it right” ?• Should people be able to morally disagree

with the Law, and refuse to follow it ?