LAW

Do we actually need laws? ⚖️

We have some pretty weird laws in the UK. For example, Section 23 of The Salmon Act 1986 makes it an offence to handle a fish while looking suspicious.

Laws are the rules and regulations that govern society. They are designed to protect our rights, maintain order, and promote justice. But do we actually need laws?

Some people argue that laws are unnecessary. They believe that people are capable of governing themselves without the need for external authority. They point to the fact that humans have lived in societies without laws for thousands of years. Others argue that laws are essential for a well-functioning society. They believe that laws are necessary to protect people from harm and to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. They also argue that laws provide a framework for economic activity and promote social order.

So, do we actually need laws? There is no easy answer to this question. It depends on one's values and beliefs. However, there are a number of factors to consider when answering this question.

💡 Things to consider

• The purpose of laws: Laws are designed to protect our rights, maintain order, and promote justice. However, laws can also be used to oppress and control people. It is important to consider the purpose of any given law when deciding whether or not it is necessary. For example, the law against murder is designed to protect people's right to life. This is a fundamental right, and most people would agree that it is important to have a law in place to protect this right. On the other hand, some laws have been used to oppress and control people. For example, the Jim Crow laws in the United States were designed to segregate black people from white people. These laws were unjust and harmful, and they should not have existed. Do humans really know what’s best for society? If not, does that mean we should do away with laws?

• The differing consequences of breaking laws: Breaking the law can have serious consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and even death. It is important to weigh the potential consequences of breaking the law before doing so. For example, if someone steals a loaf of bread to feed their starving family, the consequences of breaking the law may be justified. However, if someone steals a car for fun, the consequences of breaking the law are less likely to be justified. How important are laws when our instincts give us conflicting intuitions regarding the punishments of breaking laws? Do you actually think there are some laws someone is allowed to break, and if so, should they be laws in the first place?

• Case studies in literature: In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a group of young boys are stuck on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. They’re miles away from society, with no adults and no rules. Although they start off living in harmony, they end up splitting into tribes. The power struggle between the tribes ends with two of the boys being brutally murdered. It seems that Golding is suggesting that, without laws, we end up with an unchecked animalistic drive for power, leaving everyone in a dangerous situation. Do you agree?

🔎 Find out more

• "Could We Live in a World Without Rules?" by the BBC Future

• Lord of the Flies by William Golding

🍒 The cherry on top

• 🤖 AI Art: I’m sure we have all been equally impressed as we are unnerved by the power of AI to create remarkably realistic images. But how does it actually work? And what are the potential implications of this? Check out this video if you are into Computer Science, Art, or Ethics.

• 🔎 Disability and Research: Imagine waiting 30 years for a medical diagnosis. Sounds crazy, right? Yet this is the lived experience of so many disabled adults, some of whom never get a diagnosis. This fascinating Aeon essay explores the essential role that lived experience has played and will continue to play in researching tragically underfunded diseases. A great read if you are interested in Sociology or Medicine.

• ✍️ Poetry and Activism: Can poetry be a call to action? Can it really instil a sense of social justice (or injustice) in a reader? Simon Armitage’s new anthology aims to do just that. This article dives into this and much more. Worth reading if you are interested in English Literature.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• 23rd September

  • Cambridge Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Interview Webinar

  • Cambridge Human, Social, and Political Sciences Interview Webinar

  • Cambridge Linguistics Interview Webinar

• 24th September:

  • Cambridge Mathematics Interview Webinar

  • Cambridge Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Interview Webinar

  • Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages Interview Webinar

  • UEA Biology Taster Lecture

  • Northeastern University London Philosophy Webinar

• 25th September:

  • Cambridge Philosophy Interview Webinar

  • Cambridge Physics Interview Webinar

  • Cambridge Theology Interview Webinar

  • Northeastern University London Politics and International Relations Webinar

• 26th September:

  • Oxford Chemistry Conference

  • Cambridge Law Interview Webinar

🗳️ Poll