“Laws may be objective, but cases have different sets of facts.

Law, as defined, is a rule of conduct promulgated and formulated, and made obligatory by
the legitimate power of the state. The main source of our Law is the Constitution, which is the
fundamental and supreme law of the land. It is also considered as the highest order and believed
that no other authority can prevail. Our actions in order to be valid must conform to the
Constitution. Our statutes are also derived from different sources like Acts of Congress, Municipal
Legislations, Administrative rules, Legislative Orders, and Presidential Decrees. Our statutes and
laws are numerous and are varied in their contents but all are intended to govern the conduct of
the people in the case of every changing conditions. Given with these thoughts we came up with a
query about whether “Laws” are objective or subjective.

Objective means making an unbiased, balanced observation based on the facts which can
be verified. On the other hand, subjective means making assumptions, making interpretations
based on personal opinions without any verifiable facts. As to Laws are concerned, my stand here
is that laws may objective and subjective. Laws both possessed an objective and subjective
character depending on the different matters. Furthermore, Law must not be viewed from a one-
sided aspect, instead, we need to look at the other side of it.

First, as to whether Laws are objective, here we consider actions or omissions whether it
is “right”. Here, the principles and groundworks exist independently of their application. Examples
of this are crimes that are mala in se or bad in itself or wrongful in their nature. They are those so
serious in their effects on society as to call for almost unanimous condemnation of its members.
Crimes such as murder, rape, theft, etc., are bad in themselves. Obviously, when you kill someone
you are considered felonious and the law will tell you that the act of killing is a bad thing. Killing
will never be considered good. Taking someone’s life is obviously immoral. Another example is
when you get something that is not yours and that thing belongs to someone else and we took it
and keep it as if it is ours, we can immediately tell that it is stealing. Law is straightforward in
saying that killing and stealing are both punishable by law because there is a law that punishes
such actions. The law is objective when the end result of an action is clearly seen which is against
our morality. When the acts are inherently immoral in substance and there the laws are applied
objectively.

Second, as to whether Laws are subjective, here we look at the other side which is on the
“rights”. Here, there can be an opinion and it does not have defined parameters and there will be
exceptions. There is a distinction set to differentiate between applications of the laws onto specific
cases and subjects. Its application differs from case to case. Here we look at the accused and apply
some parameters on whether he/she is liable for his/her actions. Examples of this are those actions
that are mala prohibita or wrong merely because they are prohibited by statute, such as illegal
parking, illegal possession of firearms, speeding, etc. These actions are considered bad only
because there are some special laws that are punishing such actions and not because they are really
bad in their nature. Parking per se is not immoral because obviously you did not violate or harm
anyone but parking in those places that are prohibited like in intersections and in the middle of the
highway is punishable by law as it is stated in RA 4136 or the “Land Transportation and Traffic
Code”. Driving a car with a speed of 90kph is not immoral in itself but doing it in places that
requires less than 90kph, you will be punished with over-speeding. So it is clearly seen that laws
here are applied subjectively.

In conclusion, Laws are considered to be both objective and subjective depending on some
instances and clearly seen with some exceptions. Laws, generally, are objective as it was imposed
on us and we must abide by them. We can never violate them because of the idea that we will be
punished or there is a corresponding consequence to violating the law. Laws are provided to
safeguard us and prevent immoralities from happening. Laws become subjective when there are
statutes that punish certain acts that are not really immoral in their nature but instead we look at a
certain law that prohibits such actions. Laws are objective when we only consider actions whether
it is right or wrong, and Laws are subjective if it involves the rights of the person in judging the
acts done or performed. Objective or subjective laws may be, we need to do good and avoid evil.