Arguments in favour of, and against, censorship have been plentiful since at least the days of th... more Arguments in favour of, and against, censorship have been plentiful since at least the days of the ancient Greeks. Soon after Pericles delivered his famous Funeral Oration championing the open society, Plato began defending a quite different vision of the ideal republic, one in which censors played a prominent and important role, and where rulers often had a moral obligation to promote false belief.
The trial at which Socrates was sentenced to death is legendary. In 399 BC he was charged with be... more The trial at which Socrates was sentenced to death is legendary. In 399 BC he was charged with believing in false gods and corrupting the young. After being found guilty, he was sentenced to death. Later, he was given the chance to escape. He refused, telling his friends that in a democracy we only have to do two things: obey the law and try to change it when it is wrong.
... Permissions & Reprints. Aristotle's early logic. John Woods and Andrew Irvine. Avail... more ... Permissions & Reprints. Aristotle's early logic. John Woods and Andrew Irvine. Available online 27 June 2007. Excerpt. Note: This is a one-page preview only. Click here to download preview. Enable JavaScript for PDF Excerpt to view it inline. LOADING... ...
Polis: The Journal for Ancient Greek Political Thought, 2006
In Politics III.10 and IV.4, Aristotle discusses the difference between governments that are regu... more In Politics III.10 and IV.4, Aristotle discusses the difference between governments that are regulated by the rule of law and those that are not. Although he concludes that the rule of law helps guard against arbitrary and injudicious government action, Aristotle is also sensitive to the fact that in a democracy it is essential for the people to remain sovereign over the law. His discussion is helpful for understanding, not only the tension between the ‘rule of law’ and the ‘rule of men’, but also the complex role the rule of law plays in any modern democracy.
Arguments in favour of, and against, censorship have been plentiful since at least the days of th... more Arguments in favour of, and against, censorship have been plentiful since at least the days of the ancient Greeks. Soon after Pericles delivered his famous Funeral Oration championing the open society, Plato began defending a quite different vision of the ideal republic, one in which censors played a prominent and important role, and where rulers often had a moral obligation to promote false belief.
The trial at which Socrates was sentenced to death is legendary. In 399 BC he was charged with be... more The trial at which Socrates was sentenced to death is legendary. In 399 BC he was charged with believing in false gods and corrupting the young. After being found guilty, he was sentenced to death. Later, he was given the chance to escape. He refused, telling his friends that in a democracy we only have to do two things: obey the law and try to change it when it is wrong.
... Permissions & Reprints. Aristotle's early logic. John Woods and Andrew Irvine. Avail... more ... Permissions & Reprints. Aristotle's early logic. John Woods and Andrew Irvine. Available online 27 June 2007. Excerpt. Note: This is a one-page preview only. Click here to download preview. Enable JavaScript for PDF Excerpt to view it inline. LOADING... ...
Polis: The Journal for Ancient Greek Political Thought, 2006
In Politics III.10 and IV.4, Aristotle discusses the difference between governments that are regu... more In Politics III.10 and IV.4, Aristotle discusses the difference between governments that are regulated by the rule of law and those that are not. Although he concludes that the rule of law helps guard against arbitrary and injudicious government action, Aristotle is also sensitive to the fact that in a democracy it is essential for the people to remain sovereign over the law. His discussion is helpful for understanding, not only the tension between the ‘rule of law’ and the ‘rule of men’, but also the complex role the rule of law plays in any modern democracy.
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