Which of the following refers to acts considered wrong only because of a law against them?

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The concept of crimes that are deemed wrong primarily because there is a law prohibiting them falls under the category of mala prohibita crimes. Unlike mala en se crimes, which are considered inherently wrong regardless of the law, mala prohibita offenses include activities that society has decided to regulate through legislation. Examples of mala prohibita crimes include regulatory violations such as speeding, selling alcohol without a license, or other actions that are unlawful due to legal stipulations rather than moral grounds.

This distinction emphasizes that the wrongdoing is not based on the nature of the act itself but rather on its prohibition by law. In contrast, mala en se crimes involve acts that are universally recognized as wrong, such as murder or theft, and would be considered immoral regardless of whether laws exist to prohibit them. Thus, the definition and understanding of mala prohibita are crucial in exploring how laws are shaped by societal agreements rather than intrinsic moral judgments.

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