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Single Idea 22556

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / a. Legal system ]

Full Idea

Laws that are in accord with habits have more control and deal with things that have more control than do written laws.

Gist of Idea

Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules

Source

Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1287b05)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.80


A Reaction

This is the problem of bringing the law into disrepute, by insisting on behaviour that goes against the grain. But there are laws, such as those against racism, which are designed to break bad habits.

Related Idea

Idea 2829 The law is the mean [Aristotle]


The 17 ideas with the same theme [the system used by a government to enforce laws]:

The better known the law, the more criminals there are [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
Will I stand up against the law, simply because I have been unjustly judged? [Socrates]
Man is the worst of all animals when divorced from law and justice [Aristotle]
If it is easy to change the laws, that makes them weaker [Aristotle]
Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules [Aristotle]
The aim of law is not restraint, but to make freedom possible [Locke]
The state ensures liberty, so civil law separates citizens, and binds them to the state [Rousseau]
Laws that are well thought out, or laws that are easy to understand? [Nietzsche]
Positive law needs secondary 'rules of recognition' for their correct application [Hart,HLA, by Zimmermann,J]
The principle of legality requires crimes to be precisely defined in advance of any action [Hart,HLA]
Some private moral issues are no concern of the law [Hart,HLA]
Do morals influence law? Is morality an aspect of law? Can law be morally criticised? [Hart,HLA]
Is the enforcement of morality morally justifiable? [Hart,HLA]
Modern law still suppresses practices seen as immoral, and yet harmless [Hart,HLA]
There should be separate legislative, executive and judicial institutions [Grayling]
If being subject to the law resembles a promise, we are morally obliged to obey it [Tuckness/Wolf]
If others must obey laws that we like, we must obey laws that they like? [Tuckness/Wolf]