Why do rules against murder and assault help make social life possible?

Rules against murder and assault are fundamental to social life because they provide the necessary security for individuals to coexist. While ethical relativism suggests that moral codes vary by culture, anthropologists have observed that certain values are nearly universal because they are essential for a society to function.12

Without these prohibitions, the constant threat of violence would make communal living impossible. By establishing norms that protect personal welfare, societies create a framework where individuals can interact, communicate, and cooperate rather than existing in a state of constant conflict. This necessity for order is also reflected in political theory; for instance, John Locke argued that in a "state of nature," the lack of a common authority to enforce laws against injustice and violence leads to instability. Consequently, societies form civil governments to enforce these moral standards, ensuring that the public good is protected and that individuals can live together securely.123

Ultimately, these rules serve as a foundational requirement for any stable society, transcending local variations in moral belief.2