The Relationship between Morality and Criminal Law: The Moral Foundations of the Criminal Liability of Juveniles

Abstract

The study examines one of the most fundamental questions in legal philosophy and legal theory: the relationship between law and morality, with particular emphasis on the field of criminal law. By exploring the perspectives of legal positivism and natural law theory, it provides a clear understanding of this evolving relationship as well as the contrasting views of legal philosophers. A central objective of the research is to address the question of how legal and moral responsibility are interconnected and to what extent criminal liability may be grounded in moral considerations. The study is based on doctrinal legal analysis and jurisprudential inquiry, aiming to examine the accountability of juveniles and the concept of free will through a legal-philosophical exploration of the relationship between (criminal) law and morality.