Why do we Obey Law: Positivism or Naturalism?
Lead author · Corresponding
Vikramaditya Mendiratta
Student at Amity Law School, Noida, India
Co-author
Tejas Sharma
Student at Amity Law School, Noida, India
Abstract
The authors of this paper sought to answer the reason behind why we, as a society, obey laws. The authors ponder whether it could be due to the influence of natural law, with its roots in morality and developed by philosophers such as Aristotle, St. Aquinas, Hobbes and many others, or whether it could be due to the analytical school of thought and legal positivism, the polar opposite theory which completely separates law and morality. This paper delves into the history, evolution and modern day relevance of the two schools of thought and the authors gave their opinions on the age old philosophies and what they believe is the correct view.
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