There seem to be some a lot debate about why we follow laws, are laws just and where do laws comes from. The bottom line is that we do follow laws and will continue to follow laws because when people live with no laws, anarchy and chaos ensue. For instance, when people riot they don’t follow any rules. But as a result of this chaos property is damaged and people are hurt. The majority of the written laws are just, the application of the law may sometimes be unjust. The laws were made to fit different situations and you can’t always fit a situation to a law. People follow laws because of the negative consequences and for the benefits that laws give us. People benefit from personal property laws because they are able to own property. If anyone violates these property laws, they will be punished, so they are less inclined to break these rules. No one wants to go to jail, pay a fine, or endure any other negative consequences. If a crime is serious enough, most would not be able to live with the guilt of harming another individual. Most people are not vindictive by nature and live by the Golden Rule because they were conditioned to from childhood. Most people abide by laws because of a combination of its benefits, consequences, and because living with laws is better than the alternative.
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I agree with you that people follow laws because the alternative is so much worse. I think a lot people follow the law because that is what they have always been conditioned to do. It grants them rights and protects them from harm. I also think that law has to come from some type of authority because that makes it more legitimate than if some random person decided to declare something law.
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