The Authority of Law in Plato's Crito. Issue 2 (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hatzistavrou, Antony
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of law and jurisprudence. Volume 32:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 387
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: authority of law, -- Plato, -- Crito, -- ancient Athenian law; Law -- Periodicals; Law -- Canada -- Periodicals; Droit -- Périodiques -- Ontario; Droit -- Canada -- Périodiques; Rechtsfilosofie; Rechtstheorie; Law; Canada; Periodicals; 340.05
• DOI: 10.1017/cjlj.2019.24
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0841-8209

Abstract

Abstract: In this article I analyze the speech of the Laws in Plato's Crito from a jurisprudential perspective. More specifically I explore the Laws' views about the authority of law. I offer new interpretations of their famous 'persuade or obey' alternative and of their arguments about their superior moral status and the agreements of the citizens with them. I also explore the rather neglected topic of the mental attitude towards their authority that they demand from the citizens and conclude with a discussion of their understanding of the relation between law and morality. I approach the speech of the Laws as a historian of legal thought and try to locate their arguments firmly within both the context of the ancient Athenian legal system and the context of Platonic philosophy.