The Morality of Law - Essay Example

Running Head: the morality of law The Morality of Law of the of the of the Introduction L.Fuller is a noted philosopher who wrote “The Morality of Law” in the mid 60s highlighting the conflict between the morals and laws in personal and professional lives. The discussion aims at highlighting the notions of the author by analyzing three situations based on morals and law. Scenario-1: Drugs at a Friend’s HouseBeing an off duty police officer allows present personal behaviour and intention that should be legal in every sense and finding drugs at a friend’s house can be considered as a moral issue.

Morality differentiates between the right and the wrong. It needs to be understood that possessing and consuming drugs is an offence if caught and being a police officer, it becomes a responsibility of promote law and regulations.In this case professional discretion should be applied as possessing and consuming drugs is an offence affecting the society in a wrong and bad manner and up to some extent questioning conscience of an individual responsible to the society.Being a responsible citizen and friend, it becomes important to stop illegal activities along with making people understand on its consequences.

Moral realism does not allow to being a spectator for activities affecting individuals and later, the society.In that position, it is important to communicate with the actual friend along with asking him to pull a break on these activities. It would have been followed by a warning as illegal and immoral activities need to be stopped.Scenario-2: Accepting a GiftAnyone offering a gift with a good intention is usually well accepted in the society irrespective of personal and professional spheres but offering something not in front of others raises questions over the intention and behavior of the giver raising moral issue.

In this case, it cannot be considered as a mere gift.In this case professional discretion is required as the officers are not supposed to accept gifts and kinds from the society. It becomes important to appreciate the kindness along with stating the inappropriate manner of giving the gift.The police officers are civil servants responsible for promoting law and order rather than manipulating it for personal benefits and interests. If the gift would have been offered in front of everyone with a personal touch, it would have been considered as a gift but behind the back of others, it can be considered as a bribe, an intention to highlight one’s personal kindness.

The police officer would have returned the gift considering it as a favor and an attempt to impress the civil servant in order to gain personal and professional advantagesScenario-3: Homosexual PartnerBeing a homosexual is not a crime and immoral behaviour. The moral issue is not with police department but with the officer Davis, whose behavior and conscience is not allowing him to be with the officer Jones as a part of a team.In this case professional discretion does not have great scope as the law does not discriminate between straights and homosexuals.

One needs to abide rules and regulations that allow freedom of speech, expression, behavior and orientation.As a part of the decision, the supervisor would not have changed his decision considering Officer Jones did not hurt or abuse Officer Davis in any sense and he also does not have a past history of any sexual enforcement.The supervisor would have teamed Davis and Jones as decided to avoid professional conflicts along with stop judging someone’s sexual behavior and orientation on ground zero.