Why do we have laws?

Answer 1

Answer

New or ancient, Laws codify society's behavior.

While what was said above essentially is true, there is a deeper reason.

The fundamental reason why humans make laws to govern our behavior is based out of fear. The fear that we will be wronged in someway and not be able to do anything about it, due to the person that is doing the wrong being more powerful either in the way of strength, intelligence, wealth or whatever else the perceived power may be. The essence of a law is essentially an agreement of what justice is between the powerful and the weak.
why law is created

Answer 2

Fair and non-discriminatory laws are the framework for a civilized society. They provide a remedy when someone takes unfair advantage of another person. They protect property. They allow a person to know the consequences of their behavior before they act. They allow the removal from society of those who are dangerous. They protect every person's freedom and rights under the law. Laws can be a deterrent for those who would violate the rights of others.

Laws are necessary so people can be punished when they commit certain acts. Laws set the rules and boundaries for society, what is and is not allowed or tolerated. If we did not have laws, the society at large could not function due to differences in local customs. One school of thought holds that in the natural state only the strongest can benefit from their natural rights so people form a social contract ceding their natural rights to an authority (government) to protect them from abuse by the stronger individuals.

Answer 3

Think of your town, city, state, or country as a family or a household. All people live by rules, even people who live alone have their own personal way of doing things in their own home. When you start to put more people together, a roommate or two or a couple of family members, each person's own way of doing things can interfere with the others ways of doing things. Things as simple as how and what food is put in the refrigerator to which doors are kept open and which are kept closed. Agreements have to be made about how the expenses of the home are to be met and what discretionary household things that will be paid for. When the individuals preferences and habits conflict with another person's, those people sharing living space have to sit down and decide what the rules will be and how household money will be spent; they must compromise when agreement can't be made. When one is the owner or the leaseholder of the home, that is the person legally and financially responsible and should take the leadership role of the household. When the household is a family, the parent or parents must take the leadership role. When one of the adult persons of the household refuses to abide by the agreed upon rules and financial responsibilities or one person takes advantage of another or hurts another, emotionally, financially, or physically, that person is usually asked or legally forced to leave the household.

Local, state, federal and even international laws serve exactly the same function in the larger 'home'. Groups of people can not live together side by side without rules (laws). If there are no consequences for breaking the rules, then each person is at the mercy of everyone else. Humans learned far before history was written that survival depends on rules and cooperation. The more crowded that the planet becomes, the more rules are required, not only to survive but to support a quality of life.

It must also be noted that no 'system' is perfect, laws are enacted by humans and legal systems are operated by humans. Humans have flaws and make mistakes but humans are all we have to work with right now.

Answer To keep people in line when they offend against our rules of society. To try and rehabiliate them is a waste of time - as a high % of criminals re-offend all the time - as their intentions will never change. Its most certainly punishment - with revenge mixed in because of there actions.

Having said that - these 'do-gooders' see no wrong in their crimes and always defend them (criminals) with there so-called Human Rights - so the punishment becomes very 'watered down' (which is wrong) and the public wonder whats going on - as the law is 'stacked' in there (criminals) favour. And the public begin to wonder 'what is the purpose of punishment' at all. -David H

Answer 4

Law was created to keep people right and to stop violence and unwanted death. People break the law daily though therefore to be honest Law really isn't needed.

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Added: It has evolved that Civilization, as we know it, cannot exist without the rule of law. No laws equals Anarchy.

Answer 5

Without laws there would be chaos. Man has made laws for thousands of years so he can live, create, and have civilization. When the Roman Empire fell all laws and services were gone and the feudal dark ages began where man lived in fear, without clean water, justice, ruled by feudal kings.

Answer 6

In an advanced society, there would be anarcht if there were no laws.

Answer 7

in order to be able to live in a civilized society all the citizens need to agree on what actions that are allowed and what aren't.