Single Idea 6225

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / c. Natural law]

Full Idea

Obligation to obey all positive laws is older than all laws.

Gist of Idea

Obligation to obey all positive laws is older than all laws

Source

Ralph Cudworth (On Eternal and Immutable Morality [1688], Ch.II.3)

Book Reference

'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.109


A Reaction

Clearly villains can pass wicked laws, so there can't be an obligation to obey all laws (even if they are 'positive', which seems to beg the question). Nevertheless this is a good reason why laws cannot be the grounding of morality.