CRIM 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Harm Reduction, Recreational Drug Use, Moral Relativism
6 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Crimes of morality- illegal activities that are against the law because they are regarded as threatening to values. Morals- the normative standards, codes, and belief governing judgements and values concerning right and wrong action, justice, and fairness. Consensus crimes such as murder, rape and assault inflict real harm on persons and society and thus require a matching societal response. Overcriminalization- the intrusion of the law into consensual activities which are relatively harmless to the actors and society. The rule of law is an instrument that ensures our happiness and is our greatest source of unhappiness. Purpose of law is to make people happy. For bentham an action was deemed morally justified if the action produced desirable result. Consequentialist perspective on morality is generally consistent with the modern view of law, which holds that its function is to maximize the good of the majority.
