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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Sources of Law

Meera says, 'It is morally wrong to break a promise to a friend, so a court must always punish a person who does so.' Which feature of law shows why Meera's statement is incorrect?

Meera is wrong because law is enforced by the State, whereas a purely moral duty carries no legal sanction unless the law makes it enforceable. Morality and law overlap in places but are not identical, so not every moral wrong leads to court punishment.

  1. ALaw is made only by private individuals, so courts cannot act on it
  2. BLaw is enforced by the State, while a purely moral duty carries no legal sanction unless the law makes it enforceableCorrect
  3. CLaw and morality are identical, so every moral wrong is also a legal wrong
  4. DLaw applies only to commercial promises and never to personal promises

Explanation

Law differs from morality because the State enforces legal rules through courts and penalties. A purely moral duty, such as keeping a casual promise to a friend, is not legally enforceable unless it meets legal requirements. Morality and law overlap but are not identical.

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