I have never before been on the side of the laws, and I'm looking forward to class tomorrow. If the law, the upholder of justice, is not given the authority to act, anarchy will reign. Socrates, in defying the law, defys the essence of the law's authority. The issue (for socrates) is not whether the laws are right or wrong, but whether it is right or wrong to disobey them. For him, the city is higher than man. The laws themselves can BE personified. Most of us probably would never even think to personify them. We see them as a collection of decisions we made about what we want. This is what Democracy means; "we the people." Socrates says "her, The Law". Under this view, I understand how he as no option but to submit to the authority of the law, but I'm just not sure if that view is right. I understand that laws have to be obeyed so that chaos doesn't rule, but it does seem like there should be a measure of man's reason that can transcend the laws. I've never been exactly sure where that line is.
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ReplyDeleteI think Socrates sees MISUSE of the laws as the problem. Didn't the laws say something about their inability to control how people used them, or how juries decided on verdicts? Socrates thought the jury wrongly decided that he was guilty, but, because he was prosecuted and convicted according to the law, he was willing to submit to the verdict.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some form of reason should be above the laws. Perhaps man's ability to make and amends the laws gives us that power. Also, as Christians, we are commanded to honor authority - unless that authority demands that we dishonor God. Socrates seemed to have a similar idea when he claimed that he would not stop his searching; he viewed the quest as a command from Apollo.
Very insightful as always Mallory. I think that in order to answer to the law of man, we must first compare it to the law of God. If we follow this human law, would we go against one of God's commands? This is definitely a good reason to know the word...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds alot like MLKJ in "letter from a birmingham jail." he says that when the laws of man interfere with the laws of God, we have a moral responsibility to break the laws of man.
ReplyDeleteThere is a point where the text states that Socrates had every right to leave Athens, and had he chosen to do so, would have no longer been subjected to the laws. In choosing to stay, he submitted himself to the laws. If I read correctly, he was even given the option of exile over death- a second chance to escape the laws. Socrates remained as a matter of principal and personal beliefs, knowing that he would be subject to the laws for his actions.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it, it's like an American Christian missionary in a country where Christianity is not allowed. In living in that country, they subject themselves to that country's law. They could go back to America where they can speak freely, but instead, they stay, and if they are found out, they are punished. Not because they had no choice, but because their beliefs were more important that escaping the law.
Excellent point!!
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