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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 4632373" data-attributes="member: 58197">Law and Chaos have never had clear definitions.  There are several different ways they can be (and often are) interpreted:Definition 1: Law represents abiding by the rules and strictures of society, while chaos represents defiance of those rules.  A Lawful character prefers to work within the system, reforming it if necessary.  A Chaotic character likes to work outside the system, or even challenge it directly.Under this definition:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Superman is Lawful; he upholds the law and is conscientious about his role as a citizen.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Batman (in his more recent incarnations) is Chaotic; he's a vigilante who often breaks the law in his pursuit of justice.  Similarly, Jack Bauer of 24 is Chaotic, as he often goes far beyond what the law will tolerate.</li> </ul>Definition 2: Law represents holding to a personal code of behavior, while Chaos represents a situational morality.  A Lawful character has a well-defined moral code and holds to it even when it becomes inconvenient or endangers the greater good.  A Chaotic character makes judgements based on the situation, trying to weigh one factor against another.Under this definition:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Both Superman and Batman are Lawful; they have well-defined personal codes and stick to them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Jack Bauer is Chaotic; he does what he feels he has to do, but decides what's acceptable based on the situation in front of him.</li> </ul>Definition 3: Law represents placing the needs of society over those of the individual, while Chaos represents the opposite.  A Lawful character believes that the good of the many outweighs the good of the few, and preserving the social order is paramount.  A Chaotic character believes that the rights of the individual must be preserved even at the expense of society.Under this definition, rather ironically:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Superman is Chaotic. When criminals stand on their rights, Superman yields, even though he knows he may be putting the community at risk by doing so.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Batman and Jack Bauer are Lawful; they disregard the rights of individuals, not hesitating to beat information out of criminals in order to protect the community.</li> </ul>(It may seem odd that the law-abiding character is Chaotic under this definition while the lawbreakers are Lawful; however, all three characters live in the United States, a society founded upon Chaotic principles.  Hence, those who uphold those principles are Chaotic while those who violate them tend toward Lawful.)D&D has never really nailed down which one of these definitions it wants to go with.  As a result, the Law/Chaos axis has been the source of many and many a flame war, until 4E more or less scrapped the whole concept.</blockquote>

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