Introduction
While most of the citizens of democratic countries are governed by written and practiced laws, it is also seen that unwritten or tacit laws form a major part of our working and living lives. In his newspaper article entitled “how Written rules circumscribe our lives” Bob Greence dwells upon the strengths of tacit codes in our lives.
Civic Sense and proprietary
He discussed about the need to maintain civic discipline and conduct in public. These things include the need to speak softly in public places. He cites the example of how a man shouted at his partner while having food r in a restaurant. No matter what public position or justification this held, it intruded into the space of others and defies civic norms of public behavior and deserves to be condemned.
He also cites the case of a person who uses to pinch the tips left by customers for bartenders before the poor man could collect it from the table. This man positioned him in such a position from where he was able to have a view of the tables and the tips left at the tables, and conveniently stole the tips meant for others. Such deviant behavior , according to Bob Greence defied social conventions and moral moorings.
Unwritten law is an essential rule within society which needed to be obeyed. If people did not have good control over their emotions we would be no better than animals relying on their instinct, and not intelligence. The power of superior intellect and judgment are given by nature to humans for superior thoughts, actions and words and to a very large extent, determine his happiness and contentment on earth. People may tread on others and become wealthy and prosperous but never happy in its true sense. “People should be treated as individuals with rights to be honored and defended.
Respect empowers others to claim their rights and to achieve their potential. Respect for the rights of other people is the basis on which individuals become members of a community and accept their social responsibilities to behave with integrity … Demonstrating respect for persons requires, for example, dealing with disagreements by reasoned argument rather than by using language (words, style and tone) that have the effect of inappropriately attacking or demeaning the listener.” (Code of ethics & code of conduct, 2010, para.11).
Purposes of unwritten codes
Unwritten codes need to serve three main purposes:
- Represent respect for others in public places
- Foster and gain a better knowledge and understanding of culture
- Clarity and coherence in communicating thoughts and actions to others.
While there may be codes and edicts that govern public behavior the dereliction of which could cause confinement, arrest and prosecution, besides other civil or criminal punishment. But the enforcement of these is also major aspects that need to be looked into. Even if written codes cannot be enforceable due to lack of witnesses or evidence, the unwritten or tacit codes could set the tone for justice and fair play. Thus if the unwritten law of respect for others are followed, it is possible that many violations could be avoided. Again, the knowledge of culture stems not only from promoting and enhancing one’s own culture, but is also in terms of caring for the cultures of others.
Perhaps one of the major areas in which humans fail is to express facts and opinions such that the listener or receiver is able to understand it in the same objective for which it was intended. Human beings are all different in many respects and their outlook and perspective of life may also differ. Even an individual himself or herself may have different emotions at different times of the day and in different places. Human personalities are complex, and even a person may not truly know oneself. Thus, under such circumstances, the enforcement of unwritten laws or Tacit Code of Conduct needs to be respected and honored.
Therefore it has become necessary to seek out ways and means by which time honored dogmas, rules and precepts need to be incorporated in to the lives of people in order to allow them to lead better lives for themselves and others with whom they come into contact. These laws are voluntarily accepted by humans as against the other laws that are enforced and thrust upon people; humans generally believe in doing acts voluntarily and in a better way rather than to have them forced upon them, which disturbs their mental equilibrium, rendering them incapable of doing even what they are quite capable of doing.
Conclusions
That being said it is now necessary to consider how tacit laws in relation to written laws are more effective. As mentioned earlier, Principles serve to guide people in their everyday lives like a friend and guide. During the time of dilemma, they offer correct solutions to resolve the issues in the best interests of all. Besides, these axioms and tenets of living offer solutions to handle vexatious problems that are saddled to lives of people and help them to overcome without fear.
Reference List
Code of ethics & code of conduct. (2010). The University of Western Australia. Web.