The Moral is: States Make Laws
The Moral is: States Make Laws
This chapter argues that we may gain some insight into the nature of law by appreciating that it is a purposive activity, and that it is states that in the first instance have these purposes. By asking what the purposes of states are (why have states; could states be made better?), we get more grip on what the purpose of law is. It then addresses the following question: Why have states? It argues that there is a moral reason for there being law-making states because it assists one in achieving moral goals. Starting with one's individual moral, rather than self-interested, reasons, the state is used as an indirect means of achieving them.
Keywords: states, law, moral goals
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