moral law
Rules of conscience
Moral law refers to principles of right and wrong considered universally binding, independent of civil legislation.
In philosophy and theology, it describes ethical standards believed to govern human conduct—whether derived from divine command, reason, or human nature.
Natural moral law holds that certain truths are self-evident.
The term often contrasts with positive law (enacted statutes): civil law permits many things moral law forbids.
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- inner voiceUnspoken mental dialogue
- categorical imperativeUnconditional ethical obligation
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- dutyRequired moral task
do the right thing · deontology · obligation · jurisprudence · Sermon on the Mount · Immanuel Kant · human rights · practical reason · autonomy · dharma · golden rule · code of conduct · integrity · Ten Commandments · thou shalt not · absolutes · justice · righteousness
- moralityimmoral, morality, ethics, morals, right and wrong
- moral sayingsdo unto others, golden rule, do the right thing, honesty is the best policy, treat others fairly
- moralsmorality, ethics lessons, conscience, principles, morality tale
- principlesprinciple, ethics, tenet, morals, axiom
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- moral philosophyethics, morality, morals, consequentialism, utilitarianism
moral lawstatutory law
Legislature-made legal rules
legal statute · civil law · human law · secular law · state law
moral lawamorality
Lacking ethical concern
lawlessness · immorality · licentiousness · wickedness · vice
moral lawmoral relativism
Values vary by context
situational ethics · cultural relativism · consequentialism · expedience · caprice