This article describes 12 differences between Law and Morality.
Law
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Law demands an absolute subjection to its rules and commands.
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Law has enforcing authority derived from state.
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It is heteronymous (being imposed upon men upon the outer life of men).
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Law regulates men’s relations with others and with society.
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A promissory note is in force for three years. It is the debtor’s duty to repay the loan. It is the legal duty. The creditor can enforce a legal action against the debtor within three years from the date of execution of promissory note before the court of law.
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The legal duty involves a corresponding right.
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The state provides the organized machinery for the enforcement of law.
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Legal disputes admit in principle of alteration by legislation.
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Legal disputes can only be settled by an appropriate court of law.
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Law is narrower than morality. It extends to a great number of such acts.
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The law applies to all the citizens whether they want or not.
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Law cannot be changed into morals.
Morality
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Morality demands that men should act from a sense of ethical duty.
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Morality has no such enforcing authority from state.
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It is autonomous (coming from the inner life of men).
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It governs the inner life of men.
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If the promissory note is time-barred, then the legal duty of the debtor turns into moral duty. Of course, moral duty is not enforceable before the court of law.
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It is also accompanied by a corresponding right. But right is not enforceable before the court of law.
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There is no such organization for the enforcement for morals.
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Moral rules do not admit even in principle admit of change by legislation.
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Moral disputes can be solved by the mediation of caste elders, village elders, etc.
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Morality applies to every human act.
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The morality also applies to all persons. But it depends from person to person, from religion to religion, society to society. It is his pleasure to follow or not.
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But morals sometimes can be converted into law. Example: donation to charity institution is a moral principle. The income-tax recognized and exempts certain percentage of income-tax towards donation from the total income.