Article: COLUMN: The differences between morality and law

Rachel Muchmore
University Wire
09-27-2004
(Oklahoma Daily) (U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. -- Morality and law must be two of the oldest concepts in human civilization. They are certainly related, but by no means are they synonymous.

Without boring you with Merriam-Webster's definitions, morality and law are both codes of behavior human groups impose on their constituents.

Where they differ is that law is a code of behavior for a group defined by territory, while morality is a code of behavior for a group that is less easily defined. Morality is not religion; a group believing in a certain set of morals may include more than one religious sect or may comprise only a small part of one religious group.

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