Legal Definitions - Moral Law

Definition: Moral law refers to the principles that determine what is right and wrong conduct. It is different from positive law, which is the set of rules that are actually created by society and enforced by its courts and police.

For example, stealing is considered morally wrong in most societies, and is therefore prohibited by moral law. However, there may be some societies where stealing is not considered wrong, and therefore not prohibited by moral law.

Another example is the principle of honesty. Most people believe that it is morally right to be honest, and therefore lying is considered morally wrong. This principle is reflected in many legal systems, where lying under oath is considered perjury and is punishable by law.

Overall, moral law is a set of principles that guide individuals and societies in determining what is right and wrong conduct, and is an important aspect of ethical and legal systems.