Basically, the difference is your motivation. Breaking an 'unjust' law is called civil disobedience, and some very brave and principled people have done this to the benefit of us all. I put quotes around the word unjust because there is necessarily a personal judgement about whether or not a law is 'just'. In some cases it may seem obvious, like the heroic defiance of Rosa Parks. In some cases, an individual or a small number of people may be more interested in the fact that a law is simply inconvenient to them and is not necessarily unjust. In democracies, society as a whole determines what kind of laws will hold, and it is the nature of law that the actions of people will be restricted from time to time in order to bring about the greater good. In either case, someone engaging in civil disobedience will have to accept ahead of time the consequences of violating the law, and even correct civil disobedience will not always produce the desired result quickly.
So someone engaging in civil disobedience is doing so because of a real conviction that a law is itself harmful to everyone. A person just defying the law is interested in self-gain without regard for the people as a whole.
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Defying the law means intentionally disregarding or disobeying a law without necessarily taking action against it. Breaking an unjust law involves intentionally violating a law that is considered unfair or immoral, with the aim of challenging or changing it through civil disobedience.
"Unjust" is used to describe actions, decisions, or situations that are not fair or based on principles of morality. "Injustice" refers to the presence of unfairness, bias, discrimination, or violation of rights in a broader context, often involving systemic or societal issues. In other words, injustice encompasses a broader scope and impact compared to individual acts that are unjust.
Just laws are fair and promote justice and equality, while unjust laws are discriminatory and create inequalities. Just laws are based on ethical principles and protect the rights of all individuals, whereas unjust laws violate fundamental rights and harm certain groups or individuals. Ultimately, just laws contribute to a just society where everyone is treated with dignity and fairness.
The judge ruled the decision as unjust, as it did not account for all the evidence presented.
The decision to convict the innocent man was seen as unjust by many.
Breaking the laws of prohibition was considered illegal at the time, as these laws were enacted and enforced by the government. However, it's important to consider the context and reasons behind why individuals chose to break these laws, such as the desire for personal freedom or opposition to unjust legislation.