Is no excuse. And yet….
We do not teach our citizens about our laws. We don’t require them to demonstrate knowledge of the laws of the land at all. Why not?
If we say to ourselves that “it’s too much work” or “it’s too complicated”, should we contemplate making it easier for the average citizen to learn?
- Jeff Linroth – Longmont
4 replies on “Ignorance of the Law…”
Good thoughts, Jeff. I agree we should do a better job of teaching law to citizens. Also, legal jargon is rather “heady,” to say the least. It is so full of words that the average person would likely need to carry around a thesaurus, a dictionary, and a book on logic (if…then…) to fully grasp its message.
With regard to wording, it seems that the law is written for judges (which, to some extent, it must be). I think a balance can be struck so that the wording is a bit more “user-friendly” for average citizens. Perhaps if justification for each law were published alongside (in the form of a link), that would help.
Yes man’s laws are complicated and wordy. How about making sure our children are taught the 10 commandments! they are simple and understandable and the basis of what are the complicated man’s laws.
John Finnis speaks to this point in his master work “Natural Law and Natural Rights.”
Speaking strictly in regards to the law, Finnis’ work makes it clear that the law is valid if and only if it represents a description of the objective good as it relates to the public morality, and those actions it is right and just to take in order to protect this objective good.
This implies that no training is necessary, as the objective good is accessible to any person by the exercise of the faculty of reason.
Again, however, this speaks to the proper definition of love. Just acts, properly speaking, are those which reify the good.