WORKSHEET 1: THE CODES REGULATING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

There are similar concepts which aim to regulate human behaviour. The most important are
morality, norms, tradition and law. There are similarities as well as differences.

1. Match the description with the concept – the crucial idea has been stressed.

1. tradition A) accepted standards of behavior, informal, unwritten

understandings that govern the behavior of member of
community in specific time, they provide us with an
expected idea of how to behave in a particular situation
2. norm B) principles concerning the distinction between right and
wrong or good and bad behaviour.
3. law C) system of rules that are created and enforced through societal
and governmental institutions to regulate behavior.

4. morality D) Behaviour passed down within a group or society with

symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the
past. It regulated human behaviour before institutionalized
forms.

2. Try to write down the example of a positive and negative aspect of a social norm.

EXAMPLE:

POSITIVE ASPECT

NEGATIVE ASPECT

3. Here are some features. Do they describe morality or the law ?

Its violation is called a sin

Written, explicit

They are usually of sacred origin – e.g given by God

It concerns the whole of human life (every human act might be taken into consideration)

It is enforced by state institutions.

It is more subjective

It acts within a territory of a state

External acts are more important than motifs

COMMENT: none of these is valid absolutely.

THE LAW EVOLVED FROM TRADITION, RELIGIOUS CODES AND MORALITY: e.g: the
Western Law copies The Decalogue
 MORALITY LAW

HOME ASSIGMENT: The symbol of justice, legislature and the law is LADY JUSTICIA. Try
to search for the symbolic meaning of the objects interconnected with her image

Blindfold

Scale

sward
.