Natural or Social Law – the principles that protect and promote trust and society and enable mutually beneficial reciprocity
Morality – theory of Natural or Social Law; a hierarchy of rules that increase trust for society to be established and grow stronger; it is divided into Law at the base, followed by Ethics, and that culminates with Altruism or Virtue
Law – the minimum of rules necessary to interact freely; the only ones for which the use of force can be morally justified
Ethics – voluntary rules that facilitate cooperation and encourage equity in exchanges
Altruism or Virtue – love, to do good for those who need it without violating the Law nor Ethics and without expecting to receive something in return
CONTEXT FOR THE TERMS
Morality is the set of principles that protect and promote trust and society. They are principles that fall into three categories: the Law, Ethics, and Altruism or Virtue. The Law is the minimum of rules necessary to interact freely. Ethics promotes cooperation and equity in exchanges. Finally, Altruism is unconditional beneficence for those who need it.
The Law limits and obligates, by force. It is the only moral category that justifies force to punish the violation of its rules. It is the only thing that can defend from force and dissuade the most dangerous deceitfulness that can damage society irreparably.
Ethics has as a foundational respect for the Law and it promotes equity in reciprocity. Ethics is conditional and completely voluntary, but it produces what force never can, more trust and more society.
Altruism or Virtue is unconditional love, the scarcest of resources. He who loves unconditionally, never demands, but gives. Without expecting something in return, she gives when she can to someone that needs it and can’t give in return. More than anything, Virtue is bravery because Morality without action is useless.
The only level of Morality that can be demanded is the Law because coercion and deceit, besides the damage they can cause, can impede reciprocity and cooperation, the source of most of our welfare.
Photograph: Alex Hudson on Unsplash
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